Why Do So Many Americans Forget That There Is A Southern Hemisphere Where The Seasons Are Opposite?

[Anonymous]

I cannot tell you how many times I’ve met Americans and they always assume that my country (Australia) is in their specific season..

Like when Americans have fall they assume it’s fall everywhere else?

like are you guys really that stupid and ignorant to think the whole effing world doesn’t revolve around you guys

Updates

+1 y

Americans and GEOGRAPHY/ BASIC SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE OF THE EARTH don’t go hand in hand.

Updates

+1 y

I DO NOT MEAN ALL OF YOU AMERICANS OKAY!!!

I mean a lot of Australians are dumb as bricks too.

[God_of_Thunder]

Generally speaking, yes; a lot of Americans are ignorant of the rest of the world, but not all of us.

Unfortunately, it's not that they are stupid, although some are, it's the fact that our education system is crap. Many of the curriculums in American schools have a very Euro-centric focus. They will, in fact, spend most of their time focusing on that history which directly involved the US.

Christopher Columbus, the Pilgrims, Early American history (French & Indian war, War of 1812, American Revolution, etc), World War I, World War II. Many history classes even skim over the Korean & Vietnam wars. There are a handful of outliers, but they rarely go into too much detail.

It's unfortunate, but Geography is generally in the same boat: we are taught all about American geography, and some lucky students might be asked to memorize every country in Africa, or South America, but beyond that? Nope; most schools don't particularly seem to care.

Between patriotism & a very selfish education system, many/most Americans are, in fact, very ignorant of anything beyond our borders. It's a shame, and it's not right, but that's a big part of the reason why.

[Asker]

I appreciate your answer and whilst my question comes across as I’m assuming all Americans are dumb I DO NOT MEAN THAT

but the amount of times I’ve experienced this is alarming. You are one of the lucky ones

[God_of_Thunder]

I knew what you meant, and you're correct. That's why I gave you a legitimate answer, instead of some of these other posters, most of whom have proven my point.

It's a sad reality that a very large percentage of our population is not necessarily stupid, but they are ignorant. Unfortunately, as you can see, part of that is also just the outright selfishness of people who don't care about anything outside of our own country.

[ChrisMaster69]

It’s always been a thing with Americans and geography.

Canadians understand things really well.

When I was in Air Force and out in Qatar for example, the airbase there had Brits, Aussies, Americans, Odd Canadian and Kiwis.

it was always a bit of fun when 4 out of 5 understand things like sarcasm, geography and non Hollywood history.

I confess many Brits also assume Aussie land is sand sea and BBQ’s with 365 sun, but then get shocked when a family member who has emigrated mentions they are going skiing.

https://www.snowpak.co.uk/australia/best-ski-resorts

The best way to think of the Americans (generalising lol), is the big slow kid in the class , we all love him, he keeps the bullies away but we know he’s not getting any prizes at end of school.

[Anonymous]

*starts applauding* finally, someone asked this question!

I know right. *Most* Americans do that, but hey, some are well-educated and maybe they do know that Australia has a different season? And trust me, USA is becoming a very violent place, there's racist shootings and stuff. As one of the anons said, this is probably the least of their concerns

[Cherry234]

No I don't forget that. I know it's a different season in the southern hemisphere lol

[Anonymous]

Many don’t know this. I have experienced this myself when I was young. I was born in the Southern Hemisphere, moved to the US when I was 6 in a July, and thought it was weird how here it is summer, not winter in that time of the year.

Did you guys know that the Earth’s poles also rotate slowly about a point near the top once every 26,000 years? This means that 13,000 years ago, it was winter in July in the northern hemisphere and summer in the Southern hemisphere. I don’t know which direction it goes though, clockwise or counterclockwise. 6500 years ago, the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere was either on September 23 equivalence time period of the orbit or March 21 equivalence time period of the orbit. Also, days are slowly getting longer. 300 million years ago, it was only 21 hours long! When the Earth was first formed 4.6 billion years ago, it was only 8 hours long! The moon is slowly getting farther away, but its gravity force is slowly getting the Earth’s rotation to slow down by friction means caused by winds and tides, especially tides.

Another crazy thing is that the Earth’s axial tilt increases to 24.5 degrees, then down to 22.1 degrees, then back up to that amount in a period of 11,000 years. Right now it’s decreasing, and it’s currently tilting at 23.4 degrees.

[andreasderjuengere]

Trying to see it from an ''American'' point of view:
''You guys walk upside down; so it's logic that your weather also is inverted. We ain't stupid. During winter skiing will be difficult because of all the Penguins, I reckon?
How kangaroos keep their babies from falling out of the bag is a miracle, though. Maybe they have zippers?
The U. S. never have dropped a bomb on Australia - so you will understand that we ain't seen nothing much of your country yet.
May the Republicans win your next elections.
And steer clear from communism.
Yee-Hah''

[BrosephBrostar]

There's also the fact that I haven't seen anyone address here and it's the fact that an absurd percentage of the world's population, 90% or so lives in the Northern Hemisphere. The entirety of North America, Europe, and freaking ASIA, a significant chunk of Africa and a little bit of South America are all north of the equator, whereas only a little bit of Africa, most of South America and the entirety of Australia are south of it, and none of those places are overly population dense. Certainly not enough to compete with India and China.

I know America lives rent-free in the rest of the worlds minds, but there are other reasons why someone might not know something other than "hurr durr dey dum".

[TheBigGuy9]

People can’t be this dumb? The only thing I can guess is they live a very closed life. Like for instance, people think the USA is the only place to live in the whole world. That if we raise and lower CO2 production in our country, it is going to make a substantial difference on the 510 million square kilometers left in the world. We forget that 80% of our ocean has even been discovered. Humans don’t even occupy 1% of the planet in the entire world.
Didn’t mean to get off topic too much, but yeah that’s what I think.

[IAMNathanael]

I always thought I did pretty well in geography (it was one of my favorite school topics)

Eventually I lived in New Zealand for a while so I did experience reversed seasons first hand.

[Asker]

Do you think a lot of Americans don’t understand southern/northern hemisphere and seasons? Have you experienced it

[IAMNathanael]

I can't say, I haven't had the chance to talk about it very much. I have experienced it myself though, like I said.

[Derekk]

Nice try. Australia can't exist. If the Earth is a globe, how could Australia still be on the globe without tape or glue? The amount of adhesive equipment it would take to glue an entire city like Australia to the bottom of a sphere would be imposabal.

[Oigit]

Thank you for the info. Please do everyone and yourself a favor next time, leave out the childish insults. Because when you call people stupid and ignorant it makes you look like the stupid and ignorant person.

[Asker]

I was just having a bit of fun get the fuck over yourself baby

[maddie2003]

People are dumbfucks. This is why [some] people are manipulated into believing that all white people are racist, Marxism isn't harmful, all black people are victims, etc.

[Anonymous]

America is a strange place where they shoot each other and want to watch other people have sex with their wives. Not knowing the seasons in the southern hemisphere is probably the least of their issues.

[Asker]

It’s happened too many times tho that I start to wonder WHAT THE HELL DID THEY LEARN IN SCHOOL?

The ignorance is sickening

[Opinion Owner]

There's a very large population in that country so you never know.
Other countries tend to know more about US political issues than the average American, so expecting them to know anything about other countries is a stretch.
Especially Australia considering most Americans don't even know anything about Canada. Lol.

[Diodoro]

Not to be an arrogant American. But "like are you guys really that stupid and ignorant to think the whole effing world doesn’t revolve around you guys" describes self centered, arrogance. Not stupidity.

Maybe ignorant due to lack of care. But not stupid lol. However, drawing that conclusion when you're really talking about self centered behavior is actually a sign of your intelligence 😉

See how that works? Logic

[Asker]

Don’t get offended 😂

The DOZENS of people I met literally could not understand that the Southern Hemisphere has different seasons DO YOU UNDERSTAND it has nothing to do with “not caring” like most of you are saying (trying to use that as an excuse) but most of them were shocked and wanted to learn more so how can that be mistaken with “not caring”

Just admit it your country is full of some of the most least intelligent people I’ve met.

And this is coming from someone who has a PhD in physics and astrophysics so even average to somewhat high intelligence doesn’t impress Me.

[Diodoro]

To be real, I didn't read past don't get offended

Have fun kiddo

[Asker]

Dumb dumb 🤪

[Nightroads]

I don't assume nothing, generalized statements hurt you know... kidding.
Seriously though not everyone is like you describe. Many a Aussie and Kiwi are guilty of the same. Same thing with many around the world.

[Nightroads]

What would be real embarrassing is if i said happy Easter to you. Hope your spring is "Bonza"...

[Miristheiss]

It is common knowledge.
Yes, we don't even see the same stars in the sky.
I'm sure most know it.
There's tons of people ignorant to all types of facts.

[joeldalton]

[Asker]

Lol your profile picture says it all.

I’d be surprised if you can name 2 planets besides earth

[joeldalton]

I'd be surprised if you're allowed to leave your house without getting arrested.

[ItsTheNephilim]

It's kinda hypocrital how many Americans are ignorant about rest of the world yet they manage to invade other countries and destroy them.

[bamesjond0069]

Well usa russia Europe and china are all in northern hemisphere so everyone else has to conform to us... so you live in southern hemisphere? Too bad. Its fall here, its fall there. Suck a dick.

[Asker]

Dumb dumb 🤪

[Anonymous]

We're generally taught that yes, the world does revolve around us and anything that doesn't is beneath us, so it isn't worth acknowledging.

[Asker]

Don’t be offended, it’s not your fault you’re country is full of stupid idiots with an IQ average IQ of 80

[Wester1967]

I’m making plans to go to Colombia for the winter right now as we speak.

[red324]

LMAO. The world rotates once every 24hrs and also cycles around the moon once a year in an oval like shape which gives us our seasons.

[888theGreat]

were in Fall , so you are in Spring because our winters are your summers

[Anonymous]

We are aware. We’re not stupid. But you Aussies are irrelevant to us unless we are going on vaca. THEN we will check you weather. Otherwise unless you guys are planning another NASA worm we don’t think about you.

[Asker]

Wow someone is butthurt. You’re one of the smart ones I guess.

BUT I cannot tell you how many people I came across last Christmas in public and in bars and how shocked they were to know we don’t have a white Christmas.

A lot of Americans are so self absorbed and stupid that I can’t even wrap my head around it.

Absolutely no knowledge of the outside world, I’m guessing a lot of Americans can’t even name all the planets.

[Opinion Owner]

It’s not self absorbed, it’s focusing on what matters. Most of us will only ever travel and interact with people in North America and some of South America. We learn Spanish predominately to fit that. I have NEVER learned history of other continents unless it related to a war. Granted I skipped world history because I went to college early. We have our ethnicities and we embrace each others and that’s enough for us.

[Asker]

It’s not your fault it’s the education system that has failed you.

[Opinion Owner]

Eh, In Ohio you get college for free in high school and you can say screw you to high school if you qualify. And maintain a high gpa and are willing to pay for it if you do go below a gpa. You can graduate college with a bachelors by 18. It’s a pretty sweet deal. If I wanted to take world history in college I would. I get to choose. It’s just not relevant to biology or computer science. I can hyper specialize, and in a world of increasing complexity, that’s a necessity.