# American Ignorance **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 16, 2001, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-ignorance/87793 "2001-10-16T19:40:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mary\_Hart\_s\_Legs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e19b73/32.png) [@Mary\_Hart\_s\_Legs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mary_Hart_s_Legs)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2001, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-ignorance/87793/1 "2001-10-16T19:40:40Z")
Tell me I didn’t tell you so. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2001, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-ignorance/87793/2 "2001-10-16T19:51:10Z")
You didn’t tell me so. You did, however pick an appropriate thread title, because I’m an American, and I’m completely ignorant as to what this thread is supposed to be about. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2001, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-ignorance/87793/3 "2001-10-16T20:08:13Z")
It’s supposed to be about American Ignorance. So it would be stuff like Ted Turner. ---
**Author:** ![Mary\_Hart\_s\_Legs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e19b73/32.png) [@Mary\_Hart\_s\_Legs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mary_Hart_s_Legs)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2001, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-ignorance/87793/4 "2001-10-16T20:10:00Z")
See This: [http://atimes.com/media/CJ12Ce01.html](http://atimes.com/media/CJ12Ce01.html) ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2001, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-ignorance/87793/5 "2001-10-16T20:54:18Z")
See? I told you so. ---
**Author:** ![TexasSpur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a6a055/32.png) [@TexasSpur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TexasSpur)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2001, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-ignorance/87793/6 "2001-10-16T20:58:44Z")
This has got to be the most lackluster debate in this message board’s history. ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2001, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-ignorance/87793/7 "2001-10-16T21:08:14Z")
Well, there’s the debate: Is it spelt ‘lackluster’ or ‘lacklustre’ ? ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2001, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-ignorance/87793/8 "2001-10-16T21:13:40Z")
> [@](#): > > Almost any English-language newspaper anywhere in the developing world carries more foreign news than America’s top two or three dailies combined. This is simple. American news is foreign to these papers. American papers have the same news, it’s just that here the news is domestic, not foreign. And is it, two or three? Kinda vague there. I’m afraid I can’t see the point of the little screed you linked to, Mary. Some guy decrying the lack of attention paid by democracies, not simply America, to the amount of disorder in the world. Frankly, this makes no sense when you consider the number of countries that want us _out_ of their affairs. Apparently we manage to simultaneously control every aspect of their existence and totally ignore them, too. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2001, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-ignorance/87793/9 "2001-10-16T21:22:34Z")
It’s a zen thing, but with fries. ---
**Author:** ![curious\_george](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b487fb/32.png) [@curious\_george](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curious_george)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2001, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-ignorance/87793/10 "2001-10-16T21:24:18Z")
There is a difference between paying attention to other countries and meddling in their affairs. The author is not saying the US should control the rest of the world, just pay more attention to it. ---
**Author:** ![Demise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/34f0e0/32.png) [@Demise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Demise)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2001, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-ignorance/87793/11 "2001-10-16T21:52:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TexasSpur \* > \*\*This has got to be the most lackluster debate in this message board’s history. \*\* No it’s not. ---
**Author:** ![TexasSpur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a6a055/32.png) [@TexasSpur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TexasSpur)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2001, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-ignorance/87793/12 "2001-10-16T22:00:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Demise \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by TexasSpur \* > > \*\*This has got to be the most lackluster debate in this message board’s history. \*\* > > No it’s not. \*\* oh ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2001, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-ignorance/87793/13 "2001-10-16T22:11:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by London\_Calling \* > \*\*Well, there’s the debate: Is it spelt ‘lackluster’ or ‘lacklustre’ ? \*\* Well, there’s more of us than there is of you, so it’s spelled lackluster. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![curious\_george](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b487fb/32.png) [@curious\_george](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curious_george)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2001, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-ignorance/87793/14 "2001-10-16T22:15:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by UncleBeer \* > > > [@](#): > > > > Almost any English-language newspaper anywhere in the developing world carries more foreign news than America’s top two or three dailies combined. > > This is simple. American news is foreign to these papers. American papers have the same news, it’s just that here the news is domestic, not foreign. I would think local news is just as important in other countries as it is in the US. I doubt American papers have the same news. I think the author is saying in terms of news coverage of people like bin Laden, the US press did not do a good job until this point. ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2001, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-ignorance/87793/15 "2001-10-17T00:29:58Z")
Are you still here MHL? I thought you’d gone years ago. ---
**Author:** ![NiceGuyJack](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/niceguyjack/32/3069_2.png) [@NiceGuyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NiceGuyJack)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2001, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-ignorance/87793/16 "2001-10-17T09:13:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Neurotik \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by London\_Calling \* > > \*\*Well, there’s the debate: Is it spelt ‘lackluster’ or ‘lacklustre’ ? \*\* > > Well, there’s more of us than there is of you, so it’s spelled lackluster. 😃 \*\* In India English is an official language. They’re spelling is based on the Queens English. So in terms of majority use, “lacklustre” must be the correct spelling. One billion Asian Indians makes it so. Jack ---
**Author:** ![pennylane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@pennylane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pennylane)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2001, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-ignorance/87793/17 "2001-10-17T15:04:37Z")
Yeah but is it “they’re” or “their”? ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2001, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-ignorance/87793/18 "2001-10-17T16:04:02Z")
I dunno but is it ‘yeah’ or ‘yes’ ? ---
**Author:** ![SuaSponte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/67e7ee/32.png) [@SuaSponte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuaSponte)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2001, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-ignorance/87793/19 "2001-10-17T18:08:34Z")
Awright, **MHL** , let us find out if you share American’s ignorance concerning international events: 1. Describe the dispute between Indonesia, Australia, and East Timor concerning oil exploration. Explain Portugal’s role in same. Provide details concerning the recent compromise resolution of this dispute. Bonus points will be provided if you can name the oil companies involved; 2. Describe the compromise concerning war crimes trials in Cambodia. Provide details on the informed speculation concerning why Cambodia rejected the UN’s original plan. Describe the UN’s reaction the the compromise set forth by Cambodia; 3. Locate the Seychelles on a map; 4. Explain the differences, both cultural and historical, between Somalia and Somaliland. Describe recent efforts to reunite Somalia; 5. Discuss Mandela’s recent efforts in Burundi. Now this is a closed-book examination; no searching on the Net!! I believe that is fair - I know the answers to all these questions, and I’m a slovenly “ignorant American.” (Points will not be taken off for spelling.) Sua ---
**Author:** ![SuaSponte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/67e7ee/32.png) [@SuaSponte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuaSponte)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2001, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-ignorance/87793/20 "2001-10-17T18:12:00Z")
On second thought, Question #3 requires by its terms reference to outside materials, and is therefore inappropriate for a closed-book examination. Accordingly, the following new question will be substituted: 1. Describe Vanuatu’s primary role in international commerce. In general terms, provide the global region in which Vanuatu resides. Sua [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/american-ignorance/87793.md?page=2)