1. Hollywood.
No, it's not a nefarious Hollywood plot. The vast majority of popular movies and television shows are either set in the US or some bizarre fantasy world. American viewers rarely see other cultures or other countries. Meanwhile, the rest of the world gobbles up this Hollywood crap. The result? People in the rest of the world think they know more about the US than the average American knows about, say, Switzerland. For the most part they're right, although they do form rather weird misconceptions about the US.
2. Lazy parents.
I come from a family of voracious readers, and if you've read this far you probably did too. I've always loved to read. I've also always loved maps, and my parents encouraged this. Kids can easily discover the pleasures of learning about the rest of the world, but too many parents don't give a crap. Their kids are in day care all day, and when they come home Mom is content to plop their butts in front of the television, placated on a diet of Nintendo and bad Korean animation. (Not to pick on Mom, because she works hard. Mom and Dad are usually divorced at this point, if they were ever married in the first place, and Dad is out trolling the bars.)
I am convinced that this is the primary reason why so many of our kids are illiterate and/or oblivious to the world around them. Parents, get off your lazy asses and act as good role models.
3. Nonsense in our schools.
Schools have become warehouses for children, with hassled, underpaid teachers having to spend more time dealing with bureaucratic bullsh**, stupid educational theories (i.e., the Open Classroom concept and "self-esteem"), and disciplinary action than actual teaching. It doesn't help that so many parents don't give a hoot once their kid's in school - the school's simply now a free combination day care/restaurant/medical dispensary/discipline center for them to drop their kids off. Public education is a big suckhole that devours more of our tax dollars each year, so where the hell does our tax money go? It sure doesn't go to the teachers.
4. Self-Gratification
So many American kids get no direction in life other than self-gratification. "If it feels good, do it!" seems to be their motto, and since their parents live that way why should they be any different? I've never understood parents allowing their high school-age children to go on "spring break". Spring break is an excuse for children to get drunk without any supervision. It's natural for kids to want to do that. What's NOT natural is that so many parents think it's OK.
5. Perhaps Americans aren't that stupid.
The co-worker I mentioned above is highly skilled at what he does, working on sophisticated electronics. He does it well. He just doesn't know much about geography. Since the US is an enormous country compared to individual European countries, Americans haven't had to be as "international" as the residents of the many small European countries. While this is changing with the expansion of global trade, most Americans still only deal with other Americans in the course of their everyday lives, as opposed to Europeans who regularly deal with neighboring countries that have different cultures.
It all boils down to the fact that knowledge and intelligence are two different issues. Rote memorization of world capitals does not equate intelligence.
I do find it interesting that Europeans have such strong opinions on this, considering that there are many more pressing issues to be concerned about. Perhaps the steady European refrain of "Americans are stupid" is a reflection of their own deep-rooted insecurity. You know -- an inferiority complex.
It is also interesting to note that Europeans are as shit-stupid as Americans. (I get lots of hate letters from EuroTrash for pointing this fact out.)
For instance, many French believe that the US government flew a 757 into the Pentagon on September 11. This belief is incredibly stupid, yet a shockingly large percentage of the French find it perfectly reasonable. It is ironic that a society so opinionated about Americans believes something so absurd.
The Germans are stupid as well. For instance, the Mayor of Berlin does not know when World War II started. According to a study published by Die Welt, more than half of all Germans under 24 do not know what the Holocaust was.
Same with the British. According to a recent poll, "Nearly Half of Britons Are Unaware of Auschwitz." My theory is these are Guardian readers.
So what are the answers, Mr. Smart Guy?
I don't know. I do know that I'm raising my kid to appreciate and enjoy geography, science and history. It's not difficult to do.
OK. I have officially had IT with you, and every other fucking Muslim badmouthing the USA and the "west". If it's so bad here son, LEAVE. Don't let your thobe get snagged by Lady Liberty's crown on your way out.
Yes. The things you mentioned are BAD. We all can concur. But what you are doing is extolling islam in a very subversive way if people (like I did) track back your posts and see what the hell your mantra is here. You have a major issue with the west buddy (like all Muslims) and I suggest you either check your tude, or get gone. Some of us like it here. Some women enjoy being able to drive and have fulfilling careers and not having to be OCD about their clothing because the Hijab Gestapo could possibly beat them (or worse) if they showed some hair or and ankle. But let you tell it, thie shit doesn't ever happen in places like Saudi and Iran and Islam has nothing to do with it (yeah right mate).
Divorced? There is a whole string of surahs about divorce in the koran!!! Don't throw rocks in a glass house buddy. Not to mention the innumerable surahs about sex slave women and their maintenance, killing of jews and magians, killing of Christians and pagans, instructions on slaughter methods, and can we forget about the sunnah? The glorious life of your lecherous prophet who is a subprime example of humanity?? But, you have the nerve to sit here and try and pitch a rant about the west...likely while drawing welfare or other benefit. Muslims are classic hypocrites.
You talk about Britons denying Auschwitz, what about the leigons of UK Muslims who DENY the whole holocaust and are causing entire lesson plans to be revised due to sensitivities in their Muslim students who have "been taught other beliefs at home"?? But if it supports any weak diatribe a Muslim is spewing at the moment against the west, any article will do, eh Mohammed?
I'll let you get back to raiding Khaibar and drinking Camel piss now. Kiss the vagina stone for me next time you go to Hajj, and tell the Sacred Twat I said "What's up?".
SubarcticBeef - I just love you! You are so to the point and in your face kinda guy.... If you must burn our flag...please wrap yourself in it first....
SubarcticBeef Two Legged Wrecking Machine User ID: 221410 3/2/2008 9:34 PM
The school district i went to raised taxes at a rate higher than inflation for 6 years straight,while at the same time cutting back on the students.The money went to teachers and administration.They cut sports and made us pay for books .If i wanted to make something in wood shop i had to pay.If i wanted to join the football team i had to pay.If i wanted to learn a musical instrument i had to pay.My parents had 10 kids and we were poor.The poor get screwed right from the start.
What state do you live in?????
I've been out of school for 20+ years and the district still charges for all you mentioned. I even remember my total for my senior year...$258
Illinois here,by the way...
Quoting: Anonymous Coward 376212
New York
SubarcticBeef Two Legged Wrecking Machine User ID: 221410 3/2/2008 10:03 PM
well most of the world is stupid, but i got to say. Americans in a discussion always points out spelling errors on others like to prove they are smart or ridicule. And I said, "What is this, the burning bush? For God's sake, I'm not Moses."
And the Voice said to me: "And I'm not God. What has that got to do with it?"
Anonymous Coward User ID: 384419 3/2/2008 11:19 PM
well most of the world is stupid, but i got to say. Americans in a discussion always points out spelling errors on others like to prove they are smart or ridicule.
Quoting: Abbadon
Just go to some British sites, pretty much the same name calling. I don't like it, I like to stick to the facts. For instance, I read an article about the French actress on the 911 issue. The usual ad hominem attacks, she's stupid, kook, nut, etc.
Anonymous Coward User ID: 384435 3/2/2008 11:35 PM
Aoccdrnig to rseerach at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a total mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh?
Quoting: Anonymous Coward 349759
The saddest thing on your planet is your deference to authorities at every turn. In fact, you look for them and seek them out.
"According to research at Cambridge University..." What if the above little invention was discovered by a bored cashier at Seven-Eleven?
You adore scientists, professors, actors and politicians. "Local authorities"...You worship them and hope you too will one day reach that exalted state.
And look at the state your world is in now. This is a sickness and one reason you are currently quarantined.
Can Mohammed, (the OP) or someone else please tell me when World War II started.
Did it start with Pearl Harbour?
The German attack on Russia?
The German attack on Poland?
The Austrian anschluss?
The Italian/Albanian invasion of Serbia and Greece?
The Italian invasion of Ethiopia?
The Japanese invasion of China?
the Japanese invasion of Manchuria?
Is there a correct answer? Can OP point to a dated headline that says "Breaking! World War II begins!"
Did World War II ever end or is it still going on in Korea, Israel, and Kosovo?
Non-stupid people can answer these questions. If Indian Warfare is more terrific to the Enemy,let him retrace his steps...they are men and have equal rights with all other men to defend themselves when invaded. -Isaac Brock-
well most of the world is stupid, but i got to say. Americans in a discussion always points out spelling errors on others like to prove they are smart or ridicule.
Quoting: Abbadon
The only reason why that is done is because you have people coming on here singling out a country of people, calling them stupid.. and he can't even figure out how to write a sentence. It's a little hypocrital, don't you think?
Anonymous Coward User ID: 394071 3/17/2008 7:59 AM
Fear. Americans are basically dumbed downed sniviling snot nosed cowards.
Just look at what is going on today here at GLP. The markets along with the U.S.are crashing and these morons are bumping threads about mindless nonsense. They can't handle the truth and rather live in some sort of delusional world.
Every decent thread trying to discuss the matter has been shoved off the front page. I give up, we are fixing to get just what we deserve. If I have to go out at least I'll have the pleasure of watching these nitwits crying like little babies balled up in the fetal position sucking their thumbs and pissing in their pants.
Anonymous Coward User ID: 394118 3/17/2008 9:23 AM
If the founding fathers visited us today, would they think that we're already at the point that was portrayed in "Idiocracy"?
Mike Judge has seen the future, and it ain't pretty.
It's horribly, terribly, frighteningly funny---but it ain't pretty.
After seven years of Dubya, perhaps America has become inured to the dumbing down of all aspects of it's culture. There's certainly enough evidence to prove that's the case---i.e. hey, let's all vote for our American Idol and then tune into Dancing With The Stars!
But Judge, the brilliant mind behind Hank Hill, Beavis/Butthead and the post-modern classic Office Space, pulls no punches here and draws a future that is, sadly, not as far removed from reality as we might wish it were. The president is a 'Smackdown' champion--can you say 'Ahhnold?'--and Carls Jr. sponsors all aspects of fast food life in America.
Ummm--are we sure this shouldnt be categorized in the documentary category?
Satire is a rapidly dying artform---and the fact that this movie went straight into the void rather than topping the box office charts is further proof that, laugh as we might at their exploits, K-Fed and Britney are our canaries in the coal mine and, as the saying goes, the future 'aint what it used to be.'
Contrary to what most people think, this is not a comedy. It is instead a horror flick cleverly disguised as a comedy, done by that genius of stupidity who gave the world Beavis & Butthead.
This may confuse people but "horror" doesn't even really grasp it. Instead it is a prophetic vision of the future where the weak and stupid have propagated en masse, yielding a world helpless to extract itself from even it's most basic problems.
If ever there was a good argument for eugenics, it can be found here.
You probably think I'm being facetious, but I am not. Watch it to laugh, then cry about it's overwhelming bleakness later.
Anonymous Coward User ID: 394138 3/17/2008 10:10 AM
*FUCK* Euro-tards that arrogantly presume they know more about America than Americans do. It's like a dog shook off it's fleas, and the fleas rushed online to tell everybody how much smarter they are than the dog, and then when they couldn't get back on the dog, bitched that the dog was too "greedy" and "materialistic" to "share" it's blood with parasites.
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