Searching for Most Americans.

[Hyena Dandy]

Having spoken with some people in other countries (Over the 'internet') I have discovered many surprising things about a strange breed of Americans known as "Most Americans"

According to my friends

Most Americans are unaware


1) Europe is not a country
2) Paris is in France, not England
3) Sweden is not a part of the United Kingdom
4) The Pope lives in Italy
5) France is a country, French is a language
6) Germany's flag is not the swaztika
7) Russia is in Europe
8) Communism is not a country
9) Victoria is not the name of the reigning English Queen.



I have spent the last 20 years in my life in the United States, and I have to say, I have not met a single one of the 'Most' Americans out there. However, I haven't been in all the states yet.

Can anyone tell me if they've met any of these 'Most" Americans? I seem to be unable to find any of them, as the majority of Americans I have met are aware of all of these things.

[Hobbs]

I haven't. Although most of the Americans I know are the top .1%.

[Kimmik]

Well Paris is also in Texas if I remember right. Sadly I do know some people like that and I went to school with a few sadly.

The Pope does not live in "Italy" he actually lives in a separate, very small country, called Vatican City. Which is surrounded by Italy sort of like DC.

It is funny all the misconceptions that we have of other countries and them of us. Sadly our education system is lacking which is where most of the problem is. Many can not point out other countries or tell you much about other places. Nor could they tell you the difference that there are in the English language or hell even in Spanish *Spain Spanish is very different then Mexican Spanish.* Just like English is different depending on the country that you are in and sometimes even the region.

[smileyeagle1021]

I have met people worse than "most" Americans.
I have met people who didn't realize that Nevada had schools.
And were shocked to find out that we used electricity and indoor plumbing in Utah (I actually have had people get shocked on message boards when they find out I'm in Utah, because they don't think we have internet... this isn't limited to Americans either though)
I've met people who were surprised to find out that I don't have multiple wives.
When I was in San Francisco I had a waiter very seriously ask me if it was actually legal to be gay in Salt Lake (well, actually, technically it's not legal, the laws are still on the books, the state just can't enforce them compliments of Lawrence V Texas... so I guess he did have a point ).
Hell, when it comes to Utah, I'll admit I was one of those Americans at one point in time (I actually did ask the admissions office at USU if it was true that you had to actively attend church to be a student there).

[Plaidman]

I knew all the above, with the exception of the Pope living in Italy, as I thought he lived in Vatican City, and it was a seperate area, much like DC. (kimmik mentioned that).

That doesn't mean I haven't meant people totally obvious to other places. I had more then a few jackass customers totally belive that China is Japan, and thus my manager was responsible for attacking Pearl Harbor, even though it happened like thirty years before she was born.

I knew people who don't belive that Eqypt is part of Africa, and belive that it must be part of Europe, seeing as Arabs aren't black. (Yeah... all races in Africa are black. Right. Sure. Whatever....).

Too tired to think of others I've heard.

[Mongo Skruddgemire]

The real problem here is that as far as people in other countries are concerned, most Americans are just like you posted.

And sadly the vast majority of Americans who travel abroad as tourists are this gorram stupid.

It's why when I travel abroad I claim to be Canadian.

I've traveled with my fellow Americans and frankly they disgust me. They whine, bitch, and moan that it's nothing like what they have in the US. No. Shit. Sherlock. It's a different rutting country. Different cultures, different languages, different foods.

They. Are. Different.

If you wanted the same crap that you are used to then why in the hell did you pay the big bucks to go to another country? It would have been cheaper to go to a different state.

Although that does have some problems of it's own. On a flight to New Mexico I face palmed when I heard some woman proudly proclaim that she had gotten her passport for her vacation in New Mexico and couldn't wait to "soak in another country's culture".

But I digress.

So often times they only get to see the American Tourons (tourist-morons) and not the Americans that are respectful of others and other cultures, who are able to get on a train and get themselves to wherever they are going without too much fuss and trouble.

Actually they do get to see us, but the tourons are more memorable. It's similar to what Jeff Foxworthy said about rednecks in the south.

And you know the thing is, southerners are as smart as anybody else in this country, our only problem is we just cant keep the most ignorant amongst us off the television. That's the truth. I mean, every time we have a disaster, they never film a doctor or a lawyer, they always get that woman in the moo-moo and the sponge rollers. "It was pandelerium! I thought we'd be killed or even worse. I looked out the window in time to see the chicken's house go right over our roof! All I could think was Caroline still has my casserole dish!"

[Lace Neil Singer]

I don't know about "most", but a lot of Americans still seem to think that there's such thing as a "British accent" or that Britain is all one country. Seriously, a lot of Scottish, Welsh and Irish would bite your head off for that assumption. And residents of Eire would be seriously pissed off if you told them they were part of Britain. Kind of like Canadians if people assumed they were part of America. XD

[Plaidman]

Kind of like Canadians if people assumed they were part of America. XD

Uh, helllllllllllo, it's part of North AMERICA baby! That means they are our bitch! So is Mexico! YEAH! AMERICA RULES! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! BEEEEEEEEEEEEER! EXPLOSIONS! Super self-entitlement smug look of undeserved superiority for the actions of my forefathers and the fact I was only born here and never starved for anything! WHOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

[draggar]

You wonder where we (Americans) get thge bad reputation?

My wife, her parents, and myself were on a cruise (Belize, Costa Rica, and Panama). Sadly, every excursion we were on there was this couple who not only had to bring their baggage with them everywhere but were about as ignorant as you could get. This is what they compalined about:

The ruins of Puerto Bella (sp?) in Panama didn't have hand rails or lights. I guess they didn't see the starving children trying to sell seashells for $1 just so they could eat?

They complained that the shops in Panama didn't have enough English speaking people. Um, this is a different country, not every country speaks English.

The Mayan ruins in Costa Rica didn't have hand rails and the stairs were too steep. Yes, because the ADA was in full swing a couple thousand years ago, and enforced in Costa Rica.

The food at the "shack" we had lunch at wasn't the quality they expected (Belize).

While on a pontoon boat ride in Belize, they asiked the tour guide two questions that made me embarassed to be an American:

"On the island of Belize, do you have schools?"
"On the island of Belize, do you have hospitals?"

First of all, Belize is as much of an island as California. It's not one. Second, I can understand the questions but please ask them in a respectful manner, don't talk down to them.

"What is the education system like in Belize?" "How is health care in Belize?"

I'd hate to hear what my mother in law and sister in law heard during their Adriadic cruise as well as their trip to Egypt.

[AdminAssistant]

I've known people like those "most Americans" and it's sad...most of the time it has to do with a lack of education. But, I've encountered some very smart Americans who were equally ignorant about their own country. I love that Jeff Foxworthy quote...it's so true. I tell people that I'm from Arkansas and a Ph.D. candidate, and people look at me like I'm some kind of miracle. I have had people ask me if we have more than one University in Arkansas. I have had people say, "Well, everybody there works for Wal-Mart, right?" and "Do you all know Bill Clinton?" *sigh* Yes, and I even had shoes growing up! I went to a real school with running water and electricity and everything. Freakin' Yankees. (Yay for leaving today to go to California to deal with more of this bullshit. If one person asks me to "talk Southern" for them, I will punch them in the groin.)

Anyway.

Oh, for those going to Europe....don't claim to be Canadian in France. The French aren't crazy about Americans, but they hate the Quebecois. And if you're in Eastern Europe, it's just Ukraine, not "the" Ukraine. (From a friend that studies Ukrainian.)

[Rebel]

Whenever I get involved with discussions like this, I always think of what one of my friends experienced when he worked as a summer camp counsellor in America one year. He had a very strong Aussie accent, and so obviously all the children were fascinated and asked him where he was from. When he replied 'Australia' he had about 3 kids in the group ask 'Where in America is Australia?'. He tried to explain, but had to walk off in frustration when they just didn't get that there was a world outside of America.

In that case, totally not the kids fault, but it was very funny. I guess they hadn't gotten to the stage at school where they learn about other countries?

But it's not just Americans. I'm in Canada right now, and I have a lot of people come up to me and ask if I'm a Kiwi. Grr. When I tell them I'm Australian they said 'Oh, aren't they just the same country?' That's a good way to get punched btw.

I myself only just learnt that Washington DC wasn't in Washington state. Why? It's just never come up before.

And even when I meet other Australians I get the same thing. When I tell them I'm from Perth a lot go 'Is it true that you guys are 20 years behind the rest of the country? Do you still dress like it's the 90's?'

[lordlundar]

Uh, helllllllllllo, it's part of North AMERICA baby! That means they are our bitch! So is Mexico! YEAH! AMERICA RULES! WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! BEEEEEEEEEEEEER! EXPLOSIONS! Super self-entitlement smug look of undeserved superiority for the actions of my forefathers and the fact I was only born here and never starved for anything! WHOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

<Pops Plaidman with a tranq dart>

[Greenday]

I know two types of people. People who know stuff and then a mix of people that range from not knowing a lot to complete moron.

I was telling a co-worker about how my sociology teacher had tried to say there are 10 trillion people on the Earth and how ridiculous that was. I then mentioned that there is only somewhere over 6 billion. She seemed utterly surprised by this and claimed there has to be a ton more. I mentioned that sure, countries like India, China, and the US have large populations. But a good majority of the countries don't have high populations like that. She tried to reason that since Nigeria, where all her family is from, has over 10 million, that every country must have tons of people making it a lot more than 6 billion (according to CIA world factbook, it actually has 152 million, holy crap).

[Lace Neil Singer]

But it's not just Americans. I'm in Canada right now, and I have a lot of people come up to me and ask if I'm a Kiwi. Grr. When I tell them I'm Australian they said 'Oh, aren't they just the same country?' That's a good way to get punched btw.
'

Lol. XD It's the same over here, when Americans insist on lumping us English in with the Welsh, Scottish and Irish. Guess what, Americans; they fucking well hate us, and we hate them. So recognise us as being different countries, kthxbai. And you might not get a smack around the head. XD

I've also noticed a depressingly large amount of Americans who think that Scotland is part of England, or that Eire is part of the UK. That's a very good way to end up being kicked in the crotch, if you voice that belief to a Scot/resident of Eire. XD

[draggar]

Lol. XD It's the same over here, when Americans insist on lumping us English in with the Welsh, Scottish and Irish. Guess what, Americans; they fucking well hate us, and we hate them. So recognise us as being different countries, kthxbai. And you might not get a smack around the head. XD

I've also noticed a depressingly large amount of Americans who think that Scotland is part of England, or that Eire is part of the UK. That's a very good way to end up being kicked in the crotch, if you voice that belief to a Scot/resident of Eire. XD

Perhaps our education system is to blame for this?

I don't know about other schools but until my freshman year of high school (oddly when I was looking at maps for our band trip to the UK) I thought the country was England because whenever you learned about it, it was always called "England". Never Great Britain and never the United Kingdom. Even in modern history classes the country was called "England".

I know now pointing to the UK and calling it England is like pointing to the US and calling it Texas.