What a dissaster

andy_311 · 11-21-11, 06:09 PM

I n my local pub tonight playing the quiz machine Q What year did the Japs attack Pearl Harbour multiple choice question and got it wrong

time to give this game,a few beers and the brain goes into overdrive.

Sailor Steve · 11-21-11, 08:23 PM

Well, you're not American, so it's forgivable. You have no idea how many Americans don't know the answer to that question. As long as you know what year the Germans invaded Poland you should be good.

Armistead · 11-22-11, 08:24 AM

Steve is right, I always laugh when talkheads go out and ask the public general questions in America. Do they teach history in school anymore.
Still, I was terrible in school, but I loved reading since the 4th grade, often read a book a day....in school.

Daniel Prates · 11-22-11, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Armistead

Steve is right, I always laugh when talkheads go out and ask the public general questions in America. Do they teach history in school anymore.
Still, I was terrible in school, but I loved reading since the 4th grade, often read a book a day....in school.

I once saw this video, where random people in the streets (americans) are questioned about some basic geography questions. I still remember the funniest answers. Such as "yugoslavia" being a country that starst with the letter U.

Herr-Berbunch · 11-22-11, 03:33 PM

I know the year because I always think of the game 1942 - and it occurred the month before 1942.

In a couple of weeks it's Pearl Harbo(u)r Day

Sailor Steve · 11-22-11, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daniel Prates

I once saw this video, where random people in the streets (americans) are questioned about some basic geography questions. I still remember the funniest answers. Such as "yugoslavia" being a country that starst with the letter U.

Is the random Brazilian better informed? Does anybody even ask the average Brazilian these kinds of questions? Does anybody even care?

It's easy to pick a target and make fun of them, and in this case it's true - the average American is woefully undereducated about the rest of the world. But videos show that so is the average Briton. I've never seen a video asking the average Frenchman these questions. Perhaps their afraid of what they'll find. Or perhaps they exist, but don't get shown where I live.

So I agree, you're right about our education, but you're wrong to make fun of it or single us out unless you have videos showing the average Brazilian is that much better.

col_Kurtz · 11-22-11, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

Well, you're not American, so it's forgivable. You have no idea how many Americans don't know the answer to that question. As long as you know what year the Germans invaded Poland you should be good.

And the commies too

(same year, two weeks later).

USS Drum · 11-22-11, 09:45 PM

December 7th 1941.

jcope · 11-22-11, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

Is the random Brazilian better informed? Does anybody even ask the average Brazilian these kinds of questions? Does anybody even care?

That doesn't seem like a fair comparison. I think I remember hearing that Brazil was one of the better educated European cities.

Sailor Steve · 11-22-11, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jcope

That doesn't seem like a fair comparison. I think I remember hearing that Brazil was one of the better educated European cities.

That made my day!

Daniel Prates · 11-23-11, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

Is the random Brazilian better informed? Does anybody even ask the average Brazilian these kinds of questions? Does anybody even care?

It's easy to pick a target and make fun of them, and in this case it's true - the average American is woefully undereducated about the rest of the world. But videos show that so is the average Briton. I've never seen a video asking the average Frenchman these questions. Perhaps their afraid of what they'll find. Or perhaps they exist, but don't get shown where I live.

So I agree, you're right about our education, but you're wrong to make fun of it or single us out unless you have videos showing the average Brazilian is that much better.

Ooops. I seem to have acidentaly steped on a landmine.

No Steve, the average brazilian sure isn't any better, possibly otherwise. But then again, that never was my point. Neither was making fun of anyone.

Dread Knot · 11-23-11, 08:38 AM

What I found more distrubing than ignorance of the date, was the belief among some of our denser US citizens that the Sendai tsunami and Fukushima earlier this year was some sort of divine payback for Pearl Harbor. I think Midway, Guadalcanal, The Marianas, Leyte Gulf and Japan's economic collapse, firebombing and A-bombing, etc. were payback for Pearl Harbor with plenty of interest. It's like these idiots think Japan somehow got off a sucker punch clean.

And what's the point of divine payback 70 years later?

Sailor Steve · 11-23-11, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daniel Prates

No Steve, the average brazilian sure isn't any better, possibly otherwise. But then again, that never was my point. Neither was making fun of anyone.

Sorry I misunderstood. Sometimes it's just the translation.

Herr-Berbunch · 11-23-11, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

It's easy to pick a target and make fun of them, and in this case it's true - the average American is woefully undereducated about the rest of the world.

What about international journalists? Surely they should know.

Daniel Prates · 11-23-11, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

Sorry I misunderstood. Sometimes it's just the translation.

Cool SS! Yep, and just to be sure I am not being misunderstood, I quoted that quiz only to point out a stupid remark and perhaps find some cheap laughs on it, and not to say that americans have exclusive ownership on stupidity, or that I quoted a tipical american response.

Actually, I am going to quote some of the most famous idiotic sentences of our former president, much apraised in the international press but regarded as an idiot by his own countrymen:

"I am the son of a woman who was born an analphabet"

"When Napoleon went to china..." (starting a well-propagated speech)

"I'm surprised to arrive in Windhoeck (namibian capital) to find out that it doesn't even feel like an african country"

"Poor is the country that nees martyrs to defend freedom and dead people to defend life"

"For many years, Brazil couldn't even speak to Lybia on account of the americans hating the Lebanese"

"I just went to Gabon (a military dictatorship) to find out how a president can stay in power for 37 years and still apply for reelections"

"All brazilians have reasons to feel optimistic. Perspectives are only bad for the unemployed"

"We are here in this event with some fellows that have phisical disabilities. I can see here M. Arnaldo Godoy, trying to look at me, but he cant because he is blind. Hey Arnaldo I'm here to your left! There, now you're looking at me" (during a conference).

11-21-11, 06:09 PM	#1
andy_311 The Old Man Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Oldham, Lancs,England Posts: 1,312 Downloads: 82 Uploads: 0	What a dissaster I n my local pub tonight playing the quiz machine Q What year did the Japs attack Pearl Harbour multiple choice question and got it wrong time to give this game,a few beers and the brain goes into overdrive. __________________

11-21-11, 08:23 PM	#2
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	Well, you're not American, so it's forgivable. You have no idea how many Americans don't know the answer to that question. As long as you know what year the Germans invaded Poland you should be good. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

11-22-11, 03:33 PM	#5
Herr-Berbunch Kaiser Bill's batman Join Date: May 2010 Location: AN72 Posts: 13,203 Downloads: 76 Uploads: 0	I know the year because I always think of the game 1942 - and it occurred the month before 1942. In a couple of weeks it's Pearl Harbo(u)r Day __________________

11-22-11, 09:45 PM	#8
USS Drum Grey Wolf Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Washington State Posts: 977 Downloads: 126 Uploads: 0	Date December 7th 1941.

11-22-11, 08:24 AM	#3
Armistead Rear Admiral Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: on the Dan Posts: 10,880 Downloads: 364 Uploads: 0	Steve is right, I always laugh when talkheads go out and ask the public general questions in America. Do they teach history in school anymore. Still, I was terrible in school, but I loved reading since the 4th grade, often read a book a day....in school.

11-23-11, 08:38 AM	#12
Dread Knot Ace of the Deep Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 1,288 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	What I found more distrubing than ignorance of the date, was the belief among some of our denser US citizens that the Sendai tsunami and Fukushima earlier this year was some sort of divine payback for Pearl Harbor. I think Midway, Guadalcanal, The Marianas, Leyte Gulf and Japan's economic collapse, firebombing and A-bombing, etc. were payback for Pearl Harbor with plenty of interest. It's like these idiots think Japan somehow got off a sucker punch clean. And what's the point of divine payback 70 years later?