# So why is geography so important for me to have memorized? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 4, 2012, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-is-geography-so-important-for-me-to-have-memorized/614759 "2012-03-04T22:37:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2012, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-is-geography-so-important-for-me-to-have-memorized/614759/61 "2012-03-05T05:07:58Z")
Not to play armchair therapist, but, how’s that working out for you? ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2012, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-is-geography-so-important-for-me-to-have-memorized/614759/62 "2012-03-05T05:15:03Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > OK, I think this thread is about way more than geography. Sorry for taking it at face value. > > I hope for you this is just a phase and even though it feels like it won’t end, that things will get better. I agree: force yourself to call your mom and be honest with her. No, the thread was definitely about geography, it was a perfectly honest question. > [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > Not to play armchair therapist, but, how’s that working out for you? My mom knows, I’ve told her. She told me to find more psychologists, even though usually when I’m going to a psychologist I get more depressed and self destructive and start biting and punching myself at home when I make mistakes more often. Other than that I function fine, I’m on three research projects and my GPA is above 3.5 (and most of my Bs were like 88%s). I just don’t really have any friends except one. My life could be a hell of a lot worse, like back in high school when I was so afraid of failing that I did my homework and didn’t turn it in, or threw away tests instead of turning them in because I was afraid of the grade I’d get. Overall, I’m the happiest and most successful I’ve ever been in my life (well, except for the flu I have now, but whatcha gonna do). ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2012, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-is-geography-so-important-for-me-to-have-memorized/614759/63 "2012-03-05T05:16:54Z")
> [@Fiendish\_Astronaut](#): > > Not knowing the locations of countries demonstrates a general ignorance about the world, not the fact you’ve never sat down trying to memorise a map. Yeah. I don’t get why this is being equated to a deliberate exercise in memorisation. It’s just stuff you naturally absorb. I’ve never sat down and tried to memorise a map. ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2012, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-is-geography-so-important-for-me-to-have-memorized/614759/64 "2012-03-05T05:18:37Z")
> [@Candyman74](#): > > Yeah. I don’t get why this is being equated to a deliberate exercise in memorisation. It’s just stuff you naturally absorb. I’ve never sat down and tried to memorise a map. Look, if you gave me a picture with a circle and a line tangent to it, told me to memorize it and then asked me which way the line was pointing in 6 hours I wouldn’t be able to reproduce the image. Maybe I have a mild learning disorder or something, I just don’t absorb or remember spatial relationships between objects very well. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2012, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-is-geography-so-important-for-me-to-have-memorized/614759/65 "2012-03-05T05:19:22Z")
Well, if you’re happy and you don’t find your depression, anxiety and social phobia to be interfering with your life then that’s all there is to it. You’re old enough to be in charge of your health. I will say, however, that happy people generally don’t describe themselves as miserable, worthless worms. I don’t know what kinds of psychologists you visited but it’s possible you just haven’t found the particular style that works for you. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2012, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-is-geography-so-important-for-me-to-have-memorized/614759/66 "2012-03-05T05:20:59Z")
> [@Jragon](#): > > I just don’t absorb or remember spatial relationships between objects very well. I hear that. I hate those stupid quizzes where you’re given 6 cubes glued together in a tetris like shape and you have to rotate it 90 degrees or whatever. ---
**Author:** ![heathen\_earthling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/13edae/32.png) [@heathen\_earthling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/heathen_earthling)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2012, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-is-geography-so-important-for-me-to-have-memorized/614759/67 "2012-03-05T05:25:54Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Not being able to recognize the country that your country **invaded and occupied for almost ten years** is quite something, though. It’d be one thing to not know which is Belgium and which is the Netherlands, but a country yours has been pounding on since 2003 and sending people to kill and die in? I’m sorry, but that’s more than just a lack of interest in the subject of geography. I’m not sure if I buy this. I have essentially no control over what countries “my” country chooses to send troops to, and these wars usually have no direct and noticeable impact on myself or anyone I know, so why would they be more important to know than any other random geographic/historical trivia? There has surely been many thousands of wars, too many for anyone but a devoted history buff to memorize, and I don’t feel any of them are “mine”. I am not American though, so I’m not sure how much the invasion/occupation of Iraq actually affected the average American. ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2012, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-is-geography-so-important-for-me-to-have-memorized/614759/68 "2012-03-05T05:36:57Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > Well, if you’re happy and you don’t find your depression, anxiety and social phobia to be interfering with your life then that’s all there is to it. You’re old enough to be in charge of your health. > > I will say, however, that happy people generally don’t describe themselves as miserable, worthless worms. I don’t know what kinds of psychologists you visited but it’s possible you just haven’t found the particular style that works for you. Okay, so there’s one big issue right now that’s making me feel way more inferior than usual, but it’s a bit of an unchangeable situation right now so I have to find a way to deal with it. Didn’t mean to take it all out on you guys. > [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > I hear that. I hate those stupid quizzes where you’re given 6 cubes glued together in a tetris like shape and you have to rotate it 90 degrees or whatever. I can do it if it’s in front of me okay, its just if I look away from the page (or screen, or whatever) I have to start all over in my head. It’s moderately crippling, but good enough to be able to do computer graphics with so whatever. > [@heathen\_earthling](#): > > I’m not sure if I buy this. I have essentially no control over what countries “my” country chooses to send troops to, and these wars usually have no direct and noticeable impact on myself or anyone I know, so why would they be more important to know than any other random geographic/historical trivia? There has surely been many thousands of wars, too many for anyone but a devoted history buff to memorize, and I don’t feel any of them are “mine”. > > I am not American though, so I’m not sure how much the invasion/occupation of Iraq actually affected the average American. Directly? Probably not too much. But I’d say it affected us fairly significantly in the sense of changing our rhetoric and culture and whatnot. ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2012, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-is-geography-so-important-for-me-to-have-memorized/614759/69 "2012-03-05T05:40:31Z")
> [@Jragon](#): > > Look, if you gave me a picture with a circle and a line tangent to it, told me to memorize it and then asked me which way the line was pointing in 6 hours I wouldn’t be able to reproduce the image. Maybe I have a mild learning disorder or something, I just don’t absorb or remember spatial relationships between objects very well. I don’t see how that relates to your topic. You argued that geography was pointless and had no relevance to you. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2012, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-is-geography-so-important-for-me-to-have-memorized/614759/70 "2012-03-05T05:42:39Z")
> [@Jragon](#): > > Plenty of people talk recreationally, you know, they call up their friends and hang out. I have three phone numbers on my phone, and one is obsolete because the person is in a foreign country now. So I essentially have exactly two people in the world I ever have anything to do with outside of formal situations… and one is my mom who I don’t even talk to as much anymore. > > I stopped voting when I was realized I’m a worthless, deplorable, mentally insufficient worm and that that means I don’t deserve to have a voice. Communicating with those around us is not recreation, it’s being human. I’m not a big talker and don’t call people and random times for pleasure. But your characterization is just bizarre. You seem to be wearing your misanthropy as a badge of honor or at least trivializing basic human interaction in others in order to justify your own behavior. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2012, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-is-geography-so-important-for-me-to-have-memorized/614759/71 "2012-03-05T05:44:45Z")
> [@Candyman74](#): > > I don’t see how that relates to your topic. You argued that geography was pointless and had no relevance to you. I think he’s trying to draw the parallel that if, instead of countries and cities, you were asked to memorize a seemingly arbitrary arrangement of shapes, you’d rightly regard it as silly and of no value. ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2012, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-is-geography-so-important-for-me-to-have-memorized/614759/72 "2012-03-05T05:46:16Z")
> [@Candyman74](#): > > I don’t see how that relates to your topic. You argued that geography was pointless and had no relevance to you. You said it’s something you naturally absorb, I countered that unless I try really really hard I simply can’t absorb it visually. I don’t see why “pointing at a country on a map” is important. It’s important, IF the neighboring country is important to the discussion at hand (which it not always is), to know, generally, what’s around that area. I don’t think it’s important to be able to say “this squiggly line is next to this squiggly line which causes the enclosed regions to intersect in the northeast are for 350km to scale” (which is essentially what labeling a map is). I agree with the sentiment that, when discussion Israeli border control you may want to know about Syria, and then about any prudent funding Syria may be getting. I’m not sure I’d go as far as to say you really need to know the MAP aspect, just the set and functions relating members of that set. ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2012, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-is-geography-so-important-for-me-to-have-memorized/614759/73 "2012-03-05T05:52:55Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > I think he’s trying to draw the parallel that if, instead of countries and cities, you were asked to memorize a seemingly arbitrary arrangement of shapes, you’d rightly regard it as silly and of no value. Yeah, that too a bit. I personally wouldn’t go as far as to say geography is AS silly as random shapes, after all if you’re actually planning on invading (meaning, you’re a general), or you’re going to travel around the area knowing the map by heart is useful. I just don’t think much more than sets and relations is necessary for the average person. > [@Loach](#): > > Communicating with those around us is not recreation, it’s being human. I’m not a big talker and don’t call people and random times for pleasure. But your characterization is just bizarre. You seem to be wearing your misanthropy as a badge of honor or at least trivializing basic human interaction in others in order to justify your own behavior. Misanthropy is a bit harsh. Other people are just fine. I enjoy talking to people – I can’t bring myself to begin conversations due to extreme phobia of messing up. Since I never initiate conversations people think I don’t like them so I really make any friends that I can go out and do stuff with or talk with (outside of occasionally snark on a Facebook status or something). I get over it if people talk to me enough for me to get comfortable, when I lived in another town at a different school I had 4-5 friends I could hang out with. It’s just very rare that somebody initiates conversations with me enough for it to happen. Since my only friend in this town moved to Japan a year ago, I haven’t really had anybody talk to me. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2012, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-is-geography-so-important-for-me-to-have-memorized/614759/74 "2012-03-05T05:59:42Z")
There’s nothing wrong with messing up. I assure you, I’ve done worse than verbal gaffes and people still want to be friends with me. The only way you can get better is to do it. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2012, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-is-geography-so-important-for-me-to-have-memorized/614759/75 "2012-03-05T06:41:37Z")
I’d wager this is the type of knowledge where people who have it learned it intentionally, and actually use that knowledge in their daily lives. However, those who don’t have it don’t \*need \*it. They have no reason to learn it, and don’t care. And that’s okay. What’s with all the geography elitists, though? I don’t have the energy, inclination, or time for politics, and I don’t give a fig about international geography. I would never use that knowledge, even if I had it. If I’m ever in a conversation where politics (particularly international politics) comes up, I quickly excuse myself due to the impending arguments/shouting matches. Political debate (even just observation of such) causes me a \*lot \*of stress. And, from a practical perspective, I’ve known precisely \*zero \*people who’ve changed their political beliefs on the basis of a conversation with an adversary. As a pragmatist, I just don’t see the point of arguing it. Several years ago, I consciously decided to opt out of those conversations altogether, and I’ve been a much happier person as a result. In my life, I have done tons of learning. I was a voracious reader from a very early age; I’ve studied music/art history; I’ve deconstructed classical works; I’ve never failed to earn an A on a research paper; I’ve engaged in philosophical conversations and paper-writing on an \*enormous \*variety of topics (excluding politics). I also have a knowledge of the insurance industry (due to my job) that’s likely in the 90-95th percentile of Americans. I don’t lord any of this over anybody who chooses to study or learn other things, though. Just because I don’t value topics like baseball stats or the goings-on of desperate housewives at the Jersey shore doesn’t mean I shit (figuratively) on people who do. This applies, not only to me and my interests, but to everyone everywhere: not everybody has the time or desire to indulge in political debate. Without that inclination, what purpose does geography have? None, other than as merely impractical trivia. Now, if I \*were \*a politician or someone who enjoyed engaging in political debates, it might be a different story. But you’ll notice a near-total absence of political posts in my history, and my lack of presence in Great Debates. However, just because I don’t care about politics or geography doesn’t mean I diss on people who \*do \*enjoy these things–more power to you, just don’t make me participate. I refuse to be petty or elitist about the interests of others, and I don’t think it’s healthy to project one’s own values onto anybody else. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2012, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-is-geography-so-important-for-me-to-have-memorized/614759/76 "2012-03-05T07:20:35Z")
> [@Balance](#): > > Might I suggest [this Flash game](http://www.kongregate.com/games/crafics/globetrotter-xl)? I find it strangely addictive as well as mildly educational. 9448 points. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2012, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-is-geography-so-important-for-me-to-have-memorized/614759/77 "2012-03-05T07:28:26Z")
Different people know different types of things and about 99% of knowledge is almost useless. There _are_ many ignorances that could beneficially be used to disenfranchise American voters, but not knowing the location of Iraq isn’t one of them. I’ve enjoyed geography for many decades and have large repositories of even more useless knowledge, but if I lost my passport and had to pass an American culture test to reenter U.S.A. I’d likely fail. I’d only vaguely heard of Whitney Houston and couldn’t have named any of her songs. Perhaps that should disenfranchise me. John McCain, who ran for President based on his geopolitical expertise, seemed to think Osama bin Laden was Shia. Given that, do you care whether he can find Iraq on a map? :smack: > [@Duckster](#): > > [ul] > [li]Which is further west, Los Angeles or San Francisco?[/li][/ul] The usual question is[ul] [li]Which is further west, Los Angeles or Reno?[/li][/ul] An easy question which will stump many is[ul] [li]What ocean is at the West end of the Panama Canal?[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2012, 9:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-is-geography-so-important-for-me-to-have-memorized/614759/78 "2012-03-05T09:00:09Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > The usual question is[ul] > [li]Which is further west, Los Angeles or Reno?[/li][/ul] > > An easy question which will stump many is[ul] > [li]What ocean is at the West end of the Panama Canal?[/li][/ul] I still like “what is the closest US state to Africa?” Maine. Most people think of Africa as “South” so they’d guess Florida. That or they’d use logic about only the southern US having slaves. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2012, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-is-geography-so-important-for-me-to-have-memorized/614759/79 "2012-03-05T09:18:50Z")
> [@Jragon](#): > > I still like “what is the closest US state to Africa?” > > Maine. Most people think of Africa as “South” so they’d guess Florida. That or they’d use logic about only the southern US having slaves. “That or they’d use logic about only the southern US having slaves.” Which is also completely false but widely believed. African slavery was legal in New England as well for over 150 years after after it was settled by Europeans. The biggest trade ports for African slaves were in New England and the Northeast in general based on several factors but closer geographical distance to Africa was among them. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2012, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-is-geography-so-important-for-me-to-have-memorized/614759/80 "2012-03-05T09:35:58Z")
> [@rachelellogram](#): > > I’d wager this is the type of knowledge where people who have it learned it intentionally, and actually use that knowledge in their daily lives. And this sort of sentence tells me we’re separated by more than an ocean. > [@](#): > > However, those who don’t have it don’t \*need \*it. They have no reason to learn it, and don’t care. And that’s okay. As I’ve said before, you vote and your country is one of the most influential in the world. I find the attitude that you don’t need to know about the world outside your borders faintly. disturbing. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-is-geography-so-important-for-me-to-have-memorized/614759.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-is-geography-so-important-for-me-to-have-memorized/614759.md?page=5)