After I found out what “Randy” means elsewhere, I often wonder whether the people who work in the “Randy River” clothing stores are aware of this…
There is always the 2002 National Geographic- Roper Global Geographic Literacy Survey , on which Americans ranked dead last. That said, Britain, which I’d always thought of as a relative fount of geographic competency, did pretty badly too.
Mehitabel: In case you thought my last post was too blunt I’ll apologise for that, but it’s not good enough to blow a few smoke rings in a GQ thread. Can you give any factually-based explanations of how things are different between the USA and Europe in the ways you suggested?
That survey has been quoted a lot on the SDMB, but arguably it backs up what I said rather than contradicting me. There’s an awful lot of ignorance about geography in many countries, not just America.
Okay… let’s use a different example then.
How many UK programmes are based in places other than the UK?
At least a few, usually.
Can’t think of a single one in the US, other than MXC , a Japanese gameshow with (hilariously inappropriate) English dubbing. Even that is on cable rather than basic terrestrial networks.
That may be true, but I don’t see how it demonstrates that Americans are abnormally ignorant about geography.
It’s really quite simple. The TV is a reflection of… wait, that isn’t it. MXC is a good sho… no, not that either.
Oh yeah, here we go. everton watches Random Show set in Germany , or whatever. dutchboy208 doesn’t get that show, so he watches My Big Fat Obnoxious Fiance, Season 2: My Big Fat Obnoxious Lesbian Fiancee .
everton learns something about Germany. Probably something about beer halls or anschluss, or whatever. dutchboy208 doesn’t learn anything at all, except that America needs an awful lot of laxatives, judging by prime-time advertising.
Thus, everton becomes more globally aware, while dutchboy rushes out to buy laxative.
GCSEs and A levels also have a U grade.
A levels used to have an O grade, meaning that it counted as an O level. I don’t know if that died out when GCSEs came in, though.
Let’s remember to remain civil outside the BBQ Pit. That means don’t call anybody an SOB, for instance.
I think the facutal questions have long since been answred here, so I’ll close this thread. Anything further along these lines shold probably go in IMHO or MPSIMS.
bibliophage
moderator GQ