There are plenty of American cities that I wouldn’t know the State where they’re located. I’m not offended. I AM embarrassed that Karen is a prof at a top Canadian university.
You make assumptions about our knowledge of geography if we don't have the maps app open. :) (And I was _never_ good at geography, even in school. I always claimed that is why we had atlases and maps. :D )
I learned geography and reading a map on family camping trips- one of those trips being to Calgary [Calgary Stampede Rodeo] and Lake Louise. Highly recommend. Of course a long time ago with an atlas.
I will admit I didn't catch it at first, even with the good fortune of having been to BC, AB, SK, ON , MB and NB. I blame it on my lack of caffeine. I was in Cranberry Portage MB fishing in the clear lakes for those good eating walleye and muskie. Jumped in Lake of the Woods, Sioux Narrows ON and that water so cold I could barely dog paddle out to get in a hot shower. 50 years ago. And twenty years ago the drive from Whistler back to Vancouver revealed stunning beauty. Thank God for a farmer Dad who loved to fish or this hick from Alabama wouldn't know geography.
Because Americans who don’t live near the border know nothing about Canadian geography and those who live near the border are probably only familiar with the area near where they live.
Now that's just not true. We know it as that great white mass of land north of America. It's always cold and there are moose drinking maple syrup while playing hockey. :D
As I said, it's the overconfidence that grates, as much as the ignorance. 'Oh Dublin, you say? Is that in the northern part of England or the southern part?'
Oh, if only there was a way to quickly look things up when there is a niggling doubt about something!
Just being honest unless we are at war with a country their geography simply doesn’t matter to us and when we are at war it only vaguely matters. Personally I’m familiar with Canada only because I live close to Canada. I know Jack all about Mexican geography and don’t care enough to learn about it. So be glad that most Americans are unfamiliar because the moment Americans start to care you can assume you are about to be liberated.
I agree that many people are geographically illiterate but that includes people outside of the US too. I’ve known lots of non Americans who had trouble locating other countries or foreign cities on a map. I’m kind of an anomaly, I have always been a map lover and interested in geography (my kids are too). I was also fortunate to have had a third grade teacher who taught us the names of the Canadian provinces and so I’ve known their names and locations since I was a child. But lots of people don’t seem to know or care about other parts of the world. If it doesn’t affect them, why bother to learn about it? This seems to be the prevailing attitude.
Things like grammar, geography, and so on ... can be argued to be 'nonessential' like certain businesses were during the height of the C19 terrorism campaign. Although not clearly defined these days, there once was in America a standard education deemed to be the bare essential for getting along in life, being able to communicate and understand things on a basic level. 'They' threw this all out and now look where we are.
The Empire of Lies may as well be called The Stupid Empire. And that is how I think the rest of the non-Western World Monstrosity views us ... at least the thinking portion.
It's the overconfidence that grates. 'Calgary, British Columbia' - how can that sound 100% correct to anyone in North America?
There are plenty of American cities that I wouldn’t know the State where they’re located. I’m not offended. I AM embarrassed that Karen is a prof at a top Canadian university.
You make assumptions about our knowledge of geography if we don't have the maps app open. :) (And I was _never_ good at geography, even in school. I always claimed that is why we had atlases and maps. :D )
I learned geography and reading a map on family camping trips- one of those trips being to Calgary [Calgary Stampede Rodeo] and Lake Louise. Highly recommend. Of course a long time ago with an atlas.
Peter? Are you the transgendered version of that Miss South Carolina beauty contestant from years ago?
I will admit I didn't catch it at first, even with the good fortune of having been to BC, AB, SK, ON , MB and NB. I blame it on my lack of caffeine. I was in Cranberry Portage MB fishing in the clear lakes for those good eating walleye and muskie. Jumped in Lake of the Woods, Sioux Narrows ON and that water so cold I could barely dog paddle out to get in a hot shower. 50 years ago. And twenty years ago the drive from Whistler back to Vancouver revealed stunning beauty. Thank God for a farmer Dad who loved to fish or this hick from Alabama wouldn't know geography.
Because Americans who don’t live near the border know nothing about Canadian geography and those who live near the border are probably only familiar with the area near where they live.
Now that's just not true. We know it as that great white mass of land north of America. It's always cold and there are moose drinking maple syrup while playing hockey. :D
Moose play lacrosse; beavers play hockey.
And the housing is very bland.
Which make them no different than the 90% who live in America and can’t give directions to their own home.
... And the roughly 30% who neither register nor vote in any elections.
I gave someone directions once using the compass point, N,S, E, W. They had zero ability to comprehend the NW corner of the Plaza. Unbelievable.
Many Americans don’t know their own geography. I know New Yorkers who think Texas is on the West Coast. Seriously. Adults with good jobs.
I think that is the bizarre self-centrism unique to New Yorkers.
As I said, it's the overconfidence that grates, as much as the ignorance. 'Oh Dublin, you say? Is that in the northern part of England or the southern part?'
Oh, if only there was a way to quickly look things up when there is a niggling doubt about something!
Just being honest unless we are at war with a country their geography simply doesn’t matter to us and when we are at war it only vaguely matters. Personally I’m familiar with Canada only because I live close to Canada. I know Jack all about Mexican geography and don’t care enough to learn about it. So be glad that most Americans are unfamiliar because the moment Americans start to care you can assume you are about to be liberated.
BOOM. It's Color Revolution time - here come Victoria Nudelman and Katherine Maher.
"Pay no attention to Barry's arm going up the back of Joe's suit as he walks him off stage."
He was TOLD that one day he would be a "real boy."
I agree that many people are geographically illiterate but that includes people outside of the US too. I’ve known lots of non Americans who had trouble locating other countries or foreign cities on a map. I’m kind of an anomaly, I have always been a map lover and interested in geography (my kids are too). I was also fortunate to have had a third grade teacher who taught us the names of the Canadian provinces and so I’ve known their names and locations since I was a child. But lots of people don’t seem to know or care about other parts of the world. If it doesn’t affect them, why bother to learn about it? This seems to be the prevailing attitude.
Things like grammar, geography, and so on ... can be argued to be 'nonessential' like certain businesses were during the height of the C19 terrorism campaign. Although not clearly defined these days, there once was in America a standard education deemed to be the bare essential for getting along in life, being able to communicate and understand things on a basic level. 'They' threw this all out and now look where we are.
The Empire of Lies may as well be called The Stupid Empire. And that is how I think the rest of the non-Western World Monstrosity views us ... at least the thinking portion.
Yes things have certainly gone downhill as far as expectations and general knowledge 😕
There is no "niggling," Mac, so no need to look it up.
Here's the problem.
Did you just say niggling?
"RACIST!!1!"
Sad, but true.
Sorry, but no. It's like meeting someone who needs to look up the years of World War II.
If you meet many < 20 y/o kids, you first have to tell them what WW2 was.
Lol, you’re kidding. I’d bet over 50% of people under 30 would not even know the decade, they’d have zero clue.
Is that a clever joke?
Something that most Americans would also have to look up.
And you know every state in Mexico?