# Do You Know Where Iraq Is On a Map? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 11, 2009, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-where-iraq-is-on-a-map/520888 "2009-12-11T18:18:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2009, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-where-iraq-is-on-a-map/520888/41 "2009-12-12T21:54:38Z")
> [@Kyla](#): > > Asia: 88 out of 96. Apparently I DON’T know where Thailand is. I DO know where all the 'stans are, though. I think that’s actually awesomer, to be honest. It totally is awesomer–the 'stans are horribly difficult, esp. the ones you never hear about, like Tajikistan. I just did the Africa one, and I did better than I expected, but not incredible. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2009, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-where-iraq-is-on-a-map/520888/42 "2009-12-12T21:58:27Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > How could you be an American and have watched TV for the past few decades and not be able to find Iraq on a map? [Ambrose Bierce] War is God’s way of teaching Americans geography. [/Ambrose Bierce] ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2009, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-where-iraq-is-on-a-map/520888/43 "2009-12-12T21:58:36Z")
> [@dangermom](#): > > It totally is awesomer–the 'stans are horribly difficult, esp. the ones you never hear about, like Tajikistan. I just did a big research paper on improving Tajikistan’s security, so I can tell you a LOT about it, if you feel a need for more Tajikistan knowledge. And really, who _doesn’t_? Nothing says exciting like Tajik security policy. ---
**Author:** ![Stealth\_Potato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Stealth\_Potato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stealth_Potato)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2009, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-where-iraq-is-on-a-map/520888/44 "2009-12-12T22:38:09Z")
Iraq is easy. Nigeria, I know the general location. Thailand… well, if those geography games are any indication, I’d get it confused with Taiwan. Come on! They both start with the same syllable! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2009, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-where-iraq-is-on-a-map/520888/45 "2009-12-12T23:48:01Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > but if you asked me right now where Nauru was, I couldn’t be absolutely sure. Don’t worry. Just wait a few years, and it will be entirely gone (having mined all the phosphate the island is made of). ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2009, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-where-iraq-is-on-a-map/520888/46 "2009-12-13T00:01:30Z")
> [@GregH](#): > > I’m fascinated by what people know and what people don’t know, which leads to this question… > > I don’t expect honest answers from everyone, but if someone were to lay an unmarked map of the world on the table in front of you, would you be able to point out where Iraq is? How about Nigeria? How about Thailand? Well, since I was in Iraq (briefly, in 1991), yes, I can point to it on an unmarked map. My experience there made a lasting impression. Nigeria and Thailand? Not so much. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2009, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-where-iraq-is-on-a-map/520888/47 "2009-12-13T00:10:33Z")
I have know since the Iran/Iraq war. There are very few countries I can not find on a map. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2009, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-where-iraq-is-on-a-map/520888/48 "2009-12-13T00:15:45Z")
> [@MsWhatsit](#): > > There was a little Facebook geography app that I played obsessively for a while. Some of the smaller countries in Africa and a lot of South America are fuzzy to me now, but I’m still solid on North America, Europe, most of Asia, and the Middle East. OK, I just took that little test linked up-thread, and I’m, uh, not as solid as I thought. I did correctly place Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Israel, but most of the other Middle Eastern countries took me a try or two to correctly place. Some I biffed completely. (United Arab Emirates! Argh!) Whoops. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2009, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-where-iraq-is-on-a-map/520888/49 "2009-12-13T01:34:34Z")
> [@GregH](#): > > If anyone wants to try… here you go: [Test your geography knowledge - Middle East countries (includes Central and parts of Southern Asia) | Lizard Point Quizzes](http://www.lizardpoint.com/fun/geoquiz/mideastquiz.html) 1. Not as good as I had hoped. However, I only ran out of chances on 3 of them. :o ---
**Author:** ![Maiira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Maiira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maiira)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2009, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-where-iraq-is-on-a-map/520888/50 "2009-12-13T02:48:14Z")
Yes to all three…but I have to find some of their neighboring countries first. Iraq: I have to find Iran first, because it’s big, and I’m always surprised at how big it is. Once I find Iran, Iraq is easy. Thailand: …Actually, I can find this one on its own. I always remember that Southeast Asia looks a bit like an elephant, and Thailand is the “ear” and part of the “trunk.” Nigeria: I have to find Ghana first, because I know it’s coastal and rectangular. Nigeria is the big country a couple doors down, so to speak. That said, I’m terrible at Geography. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2009, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-where-iraq-is-on-a-map/520888/51 "2009-12-13T03:33:00Z")
> [@GregH](#): > > I don’t expect honest answers from everyone, but if someone were to lay an unmarked map of the world on the table in front of you, would you be able to point out where Iraq is? How about Nigeria? How about Thailand? Are the country outlines missing, or just the names? With outlines I could hit Iraq, and Thailand. Nigeria, no way. I’d point to Africa and say ‘somewhere in this general area’. Without outlines I could get the general location of Iraq and Thailand, but can’t guarantee I wouldn’t point to Saudi Arabia or (more likely) Iran, in Iraq’s case, or Myanmar or (more likely) Malasia for Thailand (since I’d point to the peninsula, no chance of any other surrounding countries). Geography’s not really my strong point. ---
**Author:** ![Plan\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Plan\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plan_B)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2009, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-where-iraq-is-on-a-map/520888/52 "2009-12-13T04:59:49Z")
The problem I have with these kind of claims is that there never seems to be a control group. How well do Cubans or Germans do on these quizzes? The other problem is: Who cares? I doubt that most creative scientists and artists ever spent a lot of time memorizing geography facts. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2009, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-where-iraq-is-on-a-map/520888/53 "2009-12-13T05:03:41Z")
> [@Plan\_B](#): > > The other problem is: Who cares? I doubt that most creative scientists and artists ever spent a lot of time memorizing geography facts. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2009, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-where-iraq-is-on-a-map/520888/54 "2009-12-13T06:17:36Z")
I agree that knowing precisely where all of these countries is on a map is probably not super important. However, it is fairly useful to not be totally ignorant about the world outside your own front door. This is, I think what Americans are so atrocious about, at least in comparison to people in other wealthy countries. Being able to make a reasonable attempt at figuring out where countries are in the world is just a part of that. ---
**Author:** ![Cullain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d26b3c/32.png) [@Cullain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cullain)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2009, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-where-iraq-is-on-a-map/520888/55 "2009-12-13T12:59:19Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > 1. Not as good as I had hoped. > > However, I only ran out of chances on 3 of them. :o Only 52 out of 75 -\> got every middle east country right on the first try, but apparently know nothing about the 'stans, even though I have an (adopted) cousin from there ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2009, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-where-iraq-is-on-a-map/520888/56 "2009-12-13T14:32:21Z")
> [@Kyla](#): > > I agree that knowing precisely where all of these countries is on a map is probably not super important. However, it is fairly useful to not be totally ignorant about the world outside your own front door. This is, I think what Americans are so atrocious about, at least in comparison to people in other wealthy countries. > > Being able to make a reasonable attempt at figuring out where countries are in the world is just a part of that. I agree with that, but I’m also going to say that a reasonable mental picture of the world is a good idea for both a sense of proportion (not being the only country in the world) and awareness of the many, many people and ways of living there are to be found (there are entire countries you’ve never heard of, Moldova and Tajikistan for example, and yet the people living there are every bit as human and whatnot as you). ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2009, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-where-iraq-is-on-a-map/520888/57 "2009-12-13T14:46:05Z")
Yup. It’s even easier to find Iraq if they draw in the two rivers. I took a few of the tests linked. Thailand was easy. Surprisingly, I got Nigeria on the first try; since it was big in the slave trade, I knew at least that it was on the Atlantic coast. I did pretty well in the Middle East & Asia; less well in Africa. Aced South America & did OK with Central America. Apparently my mind hasn’t processed the breakup of the USSR (the 'stans!) & changes in formerly-Red Europe; need to study up. But the rest of Europe was easy; a recent Rick Steves show on the tiny countries helped. The Canadian provinces were mostly OK–but the prairie ones are easy to confuse. (Kind of like all those rectangular states in the middle of the USA.) Did OK on the Mexican border & coastal states–not so well in Central Mexico. I’ve always liked maps–now I can see where remedial work is needed. I know some people have _no_ idea about geography, alas. But it’s not just US citizens; a Pakistani at work didn’t know where Indonesia was until I showed him on my globe. (Of course I have a little globe in my office, although it has nothing to do with my job.) ---
**Author:** ![Plan\_B](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Plan\_B](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Plan_B)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2009, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-where-iraq-is-on-a-map/520888/58 "2009-12-13T14:57:46Z")
> [@Kyla](#): > > This is, I think what Americans are so atrocious about, at least in comparison to people in other wealthy countries. I don’t want to turn this into GD, so might I politely ask if you can cite any evidence to back this up? ---
**Author:** ![manila](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@manila](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manila)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2009, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-where-iraq-is-on-a-map/520888/59 "2009-12-13T15:16:45Z")
I have no problem with most of the world nations. Maybe small island states in Oceania would give me a problem. But I couldn’t point out too many of the states that make up the USA. On another note, we have this on our office wall. > **[America's world map re-visited](https://mahnmut.livejournal.com/55060.html)** > > A minute for looking a bit less seriously on politics. Remember the "The World according to America" map? /div Now, there's a more detailed version, with some specific additions. /div ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2009, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-where-iraq-is-on-a-map/520888/60 "2009-12-13T15:35:37Z")
> [@GregH](#): > > I’m fascinated by what people know and what people don’t know, which leads to this question… > > I don’t expect honest answers from everyone, but if someone were to lay an unmarked map of the world on the table in front of you, would you be able to point out where Iraq is? How about Nigeria? How about Thailand? > > Polls often cite Americans’ ignorance of geography as disturbing, but do you think it is important to know these things? Seeing as the US is spending millions of dollars per day in Iraq and thousands have either died or been wounded, is expecting people to know where Iraq is important or frivolous? I know where Iraq is, I know that Nigeria is in the north-easternish part of Africa, and I know Thailand is in Southeast Asia nearish Cambodia/Vietnam. I’m pretty sure, if the countries were outlined, I could nail Iraq and Thailand, but I always confuse Nigeria with Niger so I’m not confident I would succeed on that one. I’m not totally convinced that one need to have a perfect knowledge of geography in order to make informed political decisions, but I can see how it would enhance understanding of the situation. Here’s a fun online time-waster that helped me learn the world’s geography: > **[World Maps - geography online games](https://www.sheppardsoftware.com/Geography.htm)** > > World geography games - over 250 free fun online map games that teach country locations, capitals, continents, oceans, and more. Continents & Oceans, the 50 US States and Capitals, Europe, Africa, Asia and more. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-where-iraq-is-on-a-map/520888.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-know-where-iraq-is-on-a-map/520888.md?page=4)