www.shoutfile.com/v/gSfSsCpR/Why_People_Believe_Americans_Are_Stupid
This video is funny as hell!
I think I recognize some people from this forum here.
0o0
-Gendou
Gee. Wish I had a defense, but we all know it is impossible to selectively edit video footage, and that “news/comedy” never distorts the truth.
Pardon me while I go back to drooling on the carpet.
[quote]nephorm wrote:
Gee. Wish I had a defense, but we all know it is impossible to selectively edit video footage, and that “news/comedy” never distorts the truth. [/quote]
Nephorm,
I don’t think the OP meant it as an offense. It was a funny video though.
You have to admit that the people confusing Iran with Australia was hilarious. I mean, around here - and despite the fact that the Swedish king isn’t issuing threats to bomb Iran - you couldn’t find a group of people that’ll fall for that. You can stand anywhere for weeks and it still ain’t gonna happen. Of course, if went to Swaziland, you could probably sneak that by a lot of people.
The old guy saying that he doesn’t give a damn about blasting a “crater” in the ME was tragic, but perfectly captured everything that’s wrong with the US.
I don’t think the average American is any less informed/educated than the average European – but the average American is considerably more widely exposed in his ignorance, usually by American media and/or social-science surveys.
But here is some good French TV:
[quote]BostonBarrister wrote:
I don’t think the average American is any less informed/educated than the average European – but the average American is considerably more widely exposed in his ignorance, usually by American media and/or social-science surveys.
But here is some good French TV:
http://view.break.com/335023[/quote]
Know what they call Who wants to be a Millionaire in France?
Who’d like to be taxed more than 100%
That’s why the audience and participants are all dumb.
[quote]Wreckless wrote:
I think I recognize some people from this forum here. [/quote]
Welcome back Wreckless! Speaking for the Redneck contingent, we missed you!
Were you off corraling caterpillars or whatever those bugs were?
[quote]BostonBarrister wrote:
I don’t think the average American is any less informed/educated than the average European – but the average American is considerably more widely exposed in his ignorance, usually by American media and/or social-science surveys.
But here is some good French TV:
http://view.break.com/335023 [/quote]
Okay, I’m no english major but isn’t it ‘revolves’ around the earth? In that case, their all fucking stupid and the people who wrote the question are stupid too.
[quote]Headhunter wrote:
Okay, I’m no english major but isn’t it ‘revolves’ around the earth? In that case, their all fucking stupid and the people who wrote the question are stupid too.[/quote]
The French question uses “gravitates” which is a lot more accurate than the “rotate” used in the subtitles. In fact, if the original question had used “rotate”, then the correct answer would be “all of the above”, since they all spin (ie, rotate) on their axis.
Americans don’t have a monopoly on stupidity. Europeans can have thier moments when they can get really stupid also. The fact that Europeans constantly feel the need to say look how stupid the Americans are, shows just how oblivious they are to their own problems.
[quote]Sifu wrote:
Americans don’t have a monopoly on stupidity. Europeans can have thier moments when they can get really stupid also. The fact that Europeans constantly feel the need to say look how stupid the Americans are, shows just how oblivious they are to their own problems.[/quote]
True.
I remember a radio show where they asked people how long it would take them to get from Vienna to the capital of Austria.
The answers were astounding to say the least.
[quote]pookie wrote:
nch question uses “gravitates” which is a lot more accurate than the “rotate” used in the subtitles. In fact, if the original question had used “rotate”, then the correct answer would be “all of the above”, since they all spin (ie, rotate) on their axis.
[/quote]
Actually, it was a little unfair, in that there were a few letters missing in the question on the monitor. The actual question was “qu’est-ce que c’est aggravite autour de la terre,” and the correct answer was “l’americain.”
[quote]BostonBarrister wrote:
I don’t think the average American is any less informed/educated than the average European – but the average American is considerably more widely exposed in his ignorance, usually by American media and/or social-science surveys.
But here is some good French TV:
http://view.break.com/335023[/quote]
Yep, there sure are some dumb people around. But to be fair, the question was quite technical. Physics 101 would have been essential to answer that one. Not excusing the ignorant audience. Just pointing out that the average guy probably doesn’t know what gravitate is in the first place.
Now, why is the American perceived as stupid? Two reasons IMHO.
-
The majority couldn’t care less about what’s going on outside their borders (despite having the military that stirs up the most shit outside of said borders).
-
The Bush-effect. When you elect a dumbass twice, people tend to make associations. Reagan, Arnold and the gang add to the sentiment.
[quote]Varqanir wrote:
Actually, it was a little unfair, in that there were a few letters missing in the question on the monitor. The actual question was “qu’est-ce que c’est aggravite autour de la terre,” and the correct answer was “l’americain.”[/quote]
Ha! Good one.
It’s also the correct answer for “what is at the center of the universe?”
[quote]lixy wrote:
Yep, there sure are some dumb people around. But to be fair, the question was quite technical. Physics 101 would have been essential to answer that one.[/quote]
Whaaat?
My 6 year old daughter knows the answer to that one (I just checked, she didn’t even need the multiple choice, but I had to explain that “gravite” meant “tourne autour”) and I’m pretty sure she hasn’t taken Physics 101 yet.
Eh, this video has made it’s rounds already. Ha ha
[quote]lixy wrote:
Yep, there sure are some dumb people around. But to be fair, the question was quite technical. Physics 101 would have been essential to answer that one. Not excusing the ignorant audience. Just pointing out that the average guy probably doesn’t know what gravitate is in the first place.
[/quote]
I really thought you were joking until I got to the fourth sentence.
We, at least, were taught that the earth revolves around the sun and the moon around the earth in the first or second grade. I’m sure my father taught me that fact before I even went to school.
[quote]Varqanir wrote:
Actually, it was a little unfair, in that there were a few letters missing in the question on the monitor. The actual question was “qu’est-ce que c’est aggravite autour de la terre,” and the correct answer was “l’americain.”[/quote]
Classic.
[quote]pookie wrote:
Whaaat?
My 6 year old daughter knows the answer to that one (I just checked, she didn’t even need the multiple choice, but I had to explain that “gravite” meant “tourne autour”) and I’m pretty sure she hasn’t taken Physics 101 yet. [/quote]
Now that I think of it, you’re totally right. “Gravite” is often used in the metaphorical sense - albeit not in the spoken language.
I made the mistake of thinking that it was some kind of “jargon technique” for physics.
EDIT: The term’s use in that sense was apparently introduced around the time of Newton which, technically, would make a technical term. But I’m splitting hairs at this point. Screw those dumbasses anyway!