# Where in the world are we? Americans don't know. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 22, 2002, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-in-the-world-are-we-americans-dont-know/138215 "2002-11-22T19:48:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![Waverly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/57b2e6/32.png) [@Waverly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waverly)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2002, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-in-the-world-are-we-americans-dont-know/138215/121 "2002-11-25T13:16:50Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Waverly \* > \*\*This is true, though. Everything west of NYC is “upstate NY” up to, and including, Hawaii. \*\* As if to underscore my point, I overheard a snippet of conversation Friday, and one heavily accented New Yorker comments to another: “There’s a Buffalo in New York? That sounds like the name of a city in Texas. I never knew there was one in New York.” New Yorkers aren’t quite as cosmopolitan as they would have us believe. And as a recent transplant, I can say with all due passion: the accents are making me insane. ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2002, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-in-the-world-are-we-americans-dont-know/138215/122 "2002-11-25T13:25:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by The Gaspode \* > Nope. We don’t. You mean you’ve never watched **På spåret**? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2002, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-in-the-world-are-we-americans-dont-know/138215/123 "2002-11-25T14:46:53Z")
I find it ironic that more people in the US could have found out where the location of the pacific ocean was by simply closing their eyes and pointing at a spot at random. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2002, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-in-the-world-are-we-americans-dont-know/138215/124 "2002-11-25T14:53:19Z")
Getting 19-20 is no big deal at all. The questions are very very easy. It’s doesn’t say anything about you if you did well but it says a hell of a lot about you if you didn’t IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2002, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-in-the-world-are-we-americans-dont-know/138215/125 "2002-11-25T15:18:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Floater \* > \*\*You mean you’ve never watched **På spåret**? 😃 \*\* Well, I did add that there is one, and I meant just that one. But it’s not a game show as is Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune or Who wants to be a millionaire. It’s more like Hollywood Squares. However - I’m convinced that most people in the Swedsih audience is as ignorant as those participating in the show are. ---
**Author:** ![Mort\_Furd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Mort\_Furd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mort_Furd)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2002, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-in-the-world-are-we-americans-dont-know/138215/126 "2002-11-25T16:00:36Z")
Jesus shit! If people were really flopping on a test that is this easy, then we should all be very afraid. Mort Furd 20/20 ---
**Author:** ![DeadlyAccurate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@DeadlyAccurate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadlyAccurate)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2002, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-in-the-world-are-we-americans-dont-know/138215/127 "2002-11-25T16:23:22Z")
I got 17 out of 20. I missed the religion question (I just know everyone’s a closet Buddhist), Sweden and Argentina (guessed Brasil also). Sorry Brits: I think I chose the UK for Sweden. All I knew for sure was that it was north. I used a bit of elimination for Israel (the whole strip reference someone earlier pointed out) and Afghanistan. I don’t watch TV, so I’m not inundated by the news flashing maps all the time. ---
**Author:** ![OxyMoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9a140/32.png) [@OxyMoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OxyMoron)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2002, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-in-the-world-are-we-americans-dont-know/138215/128 "2002-11-25T17:17:10Z")
NY Dopers have all heard this story, but it’s frightening and deserves mention here. About ten years ago I was flipping channels and happened on a post-Richard-Dawson _Family Feud_ (which I think has many analogues abroad, too). Now, usually the questions they ask are safe, none-too-factual things like, “Name something everyone keeps under the bathroom sink.” But for some ungodly reason, on this show they asked: “Name a country in South America.” And what was the survey’s top answer? Rio. Number 2? Mexico. ---
**Author:** ![everton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@everton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/everton)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2002, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-in-the-world-are-we-americans-dont-know/138215/129 "2002-11-25T17:35:21Z")
**OxyMoron** Truly appalling. The UK version of that show is _Family Fortunes_ and it’s famous for the [idiotic answers](http://www.qwertyuiop.co.uk/gs/atoz/programmes/f/family_fortunes/familycockups.htm) provided by the contestants, but I think the survey results usually produce a credible selection (at least for ones they keep for the show - who knows what they throw away). Not that I watch it anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Toaster52](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/50afbb/32.png) [@Toaster52](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toaster52)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2002, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-in-the-world-are-we-americans-dont-know/138215/130 "2002-11-25T17:52:27Z")
For being in the Pit, there isn’t much ranting going on… 19/20 here also…missed the religion one also. I thought for sure it would be a Chinese religion, what with Chine being the most populous nation, etc…shows what assumptions (biases?) I have in regards to religion. But **Azure** said, _“In my classmates’ defense, geography would not necessarily be part of a school’s curriculum, so learning about it would have to be done independently.”_ Have things changed that much, that geography isn’t even required? That’s almost like saying addition isn’t required learning. I weep for the species. ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2002, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-in-the-world-are-we-americans-dont-know/138215/131 "2002-11-25T23:55:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by everton \* > \*\ ***OxyMoron** > Truly appalling. The UK version of that show is _Family Fortunes_ and it’s famous for the [idiotic answers](http://www.qwertyuiop.co.uk/gs/atoz/programmes/f/family_fortunes/familycockups.htm) provided by the contestants, but I think the survey results usually produce a credible selection (at least for ones they keep for the show - who knows what they throw away). Not that I watch it anyway. \*\* The answers on the link are very funny, but I must be missing something on this one: An animal beginning with the letter B: Bullfrog. A bullfrog is an animal and begins with B. Granted, it is not likely to be the most popular choice, but I don’t see what makes it funny. ---
**Author:** ![everton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@everton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/everton)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2002, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-in-the-world-are-we-americans-dont-know/138215/132 "2002-11-26T01:36:39Z")
No, me neither (although we don’t have them in the UK). The joke’s on the website there isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2002, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-in-the-world-are-we-americans-dont-know/138215/133 "2002-11-26T03:17:49Z")
Bullfrog? That’s an odd name. I’d’a called 'em chizz-wuzzers. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2002, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-in-the-world-are-we-americans-dont-know/138215/134 "2002-11-26T08:14:09Z")
Another person here who got 19/20, missing on the religion question. I had just been reading some stuff on the Religious Right in the United States, and i think i was scared of the idea that these people were part of the world’s largest religion. Anyway, that’s my excuse and i’m sticking to it. [Here](http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html) is a webpage that give some figures. ---
**Author:** ![kingpengvin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9dc877/32.png) [@kingpengvin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kingpengvin)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2002, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-in-the-world-are-we-americans-dont-know/138215/135 "2002-11-26T16:26:46Z")
20/20 I thank the Sceptics Dictionary for an article on Religion to get that one. I would have confused Norway for Sweden too if it weren’t for the answers. I always mix up which is the more northern. It is sad that so many students are ignorent of the world around them. Sadder that In some places Geography is not important enough to teach. (Or is it like when Skinner locked up the Globe representing the cutting of Geography to save money?) If there is no Geography courses at least the political boundries and some social aspects of the nations should be incorporated with World History or International politics. And one of those courses should be manditory. ---
**Author:** ![Mort\_Furd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Mort\_Furd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mort_Furd)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2002, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-in-the-world-are-we-americans-dont-know/138215/136 "2002-11-26T20:12:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by kingpengvin \* > If there is no Geography courses at least the political boundries and some social aspects of the nations should be incorporated with World History or International politics. And one of those courses should be **manditory**. A spelling class should be mandatory as well. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2002, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-in-the-world-are-we-americans-dont-know/138215/137 "2002-11-26T22:41:35Z")
Mort Furd wrote: > [@](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by kingpengvin \* > > If there is no Geography courses at least the political boundries and some social aspects of the nations should be incorporated with World History or International politics. And one of those courses should be **manditory**. > > A spelling class should be mandatory as well. And not just spelling… “If there **is** no Geography courses…”??? ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2002, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-in-the-world-are-we-americans-dont-know/138215/138 "2002-11-30T01:37:05Z")
I’m surprised you guys missed “boundries”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-in-the-world-are-we-americans-dont-know/138215.md?page=6)