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5/21/2013 8:39:16 PM
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Why Americans appear to be so ignorant compared to other peoples
We're lied to as kids. In elementary school, in middle school, even in high school. We're told the thing which find an uncomfortable balance between what we're willing to accept as the answer to our questions and what is (almost) the truth.
We ask "Who discovered America?", and we're given "Christopher Columbus". Of course it was. There's a holiday named after him and all. It has to be him. But it isn't. We're not told that he didn't discover the America that we know, nor even the mainland of either North or South America. We're not told that he didn't even discover anything. We're not told that Leif Ericsson and the Vikings reached America centuries before Columbus, and the Native Peoples who walked across the land bridge from Russia before him.
We're told not to use "Because" or "And" at the beginning of a sentence. Ever. Don't ever do it. And that's just not a true statement. Because of this fallacy, kids even in my grade (11th) are convinced that you cannot, under any circumstances, begin a sentence with the word "because".
This mentality of "tell them the easiest thing now and explain why it's wrong later" is hurting our education system and putting us leagues behind other countries.
TL;DR: Americans are dumb bcuz we lie to little kids so they grow up thinkin' wrong stuff is right stuff.
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Edited by MrHappyFunshine: 5/30/2013 11:52:19 PMIn my opinion anyone from another country would seem ignorant especially when it concerns affairs of your own country like i'm from the UK and it can be a bit headache inducing when the Americans claim to know something about our country that they don't but when the reverse happens they fly off the handle saying "you don't live here, you don't know shit" which is usually true in both respects, to put it bluntly what i am saying is i know jack shit about America and im pretty sure most Americans on this forum know jack shit about the UK.
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The majority of Americans that ARE ignorant, are perfectly fine with it. They wouldn't have it any other way. I think a big reason is because they don't want to know more. Any one of the "poorly educated masses" could easily over come the side effects of being raised in America. Not only could they do that, but with determination they could even aid the reparation of our countries system in a bunch of ways. The REAL problem to me is, the majority of people on Earth are inherently stupid. The average person is just that; average. So a better education will make people a little smarter yeah, but I don't think education alone can dictate the future of a persons mental capabilities. All of that aside I'm not one to judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, so even though most people are stupid, they can still, and have in the past contributed to our collective intelligence just as brilliantly as geniuses have.
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Hiumans are humans no matter where the are from
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Actually, there are multiple cases where using because at the beginning of a sentence is grammatically correct. So you're wrong.
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Yeah Americans have the most vile history, bunch of blood thirsty burger munchers!
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Edited by Fruit: 5/30/2013 11:07:16 PMWe were taught not to use 'And' at the beginning of a sentence >.> I still do it now though, because I'm so rebel! New Zealand's education is pretty cool!
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We got taught the same here in britain, regarding the gramma
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I believe the truly ignorant are the millennial generation. Pure and simple.
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3 RepliesYep were ignorant yet we're the best country in the world. LOL
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You have been watching too much Chris Matthews.
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I blame that goddamn devilbox.
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I think Americans appear ignorant just because most of the world's media comes from us. The world watches our movies, many of our TV shows, listen to our music, use our websites etc. There's just more exposure for American stupidity. It's as simple as that.
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Edited by Expunge: 5/23/2013 10:37:53 PMThat is part of it. Another part of it is shitty teachers. Another part of it is the fact that more than half the time we are just doing work and not learning. And they keep lowering the standards so they can pass dumb people.
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2 RepliesAmericans are so ignorant, that they cannot even take responsibility for their own ignorance. OP is an example.
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1 Replyyou know, i was taught that it was improper english to put 'and' or 'because' at the start of a sentence too, because they're connectives, used to bridge two phrases or sentences; but that doesn't stop me ignoring the rule because i write / type how i speak. same thing with commas before 'and's. it's not proper english to put a comma before an 'and' but sometimes a pause is needed before the 'and' so i put a comma there.
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They want to make us dumd so we do as they say. leleleconspiracylelelelbrainwashing.
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I wasn't taught so much outright falsehood, as they completely avoided certain "unAmerican" topics. They skipped right over the founding fathers and original colonists being slave owners. They forgot to mention smallpox blankets and our extermination of natives. I don't remember being taught much of evolution beyond it's definition in grade school.
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Agreed OP, it seems that as we hit high school, i was told by multiple english and history teachers to forget everything i learned before because it was all bullshit.
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Yeah, I learned plenty of false information in grade school. That just should not be happening.
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5 RepliesIts all about that "political correctness" bull. Dont wanna hurt anyones feelings. I doubt more than 3 people in this forum can even tell me how America got its name!
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4 RepliesNo, Americans are ignorant because they stay glued to the TV with shit reality shows and worship celebrities, cutting themselves off in a bubble away from the world and preferring the "stupid but cool" way of life than a smart way.
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blame the education system
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14 Replies[quote]We're not told that he didn't even discover anything. We're not told that Leif Ericsson and the Vikings reached America centuries before Columbus, and the Native Peoples who walked across the land bridge from Russia before him.[/quote]Pretty sure I learned all this in grade school. And I live in TX. Apparently, non-TX America is ignorant. Sucks to be y'all.
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Edited by Section Ratio General: 5/23/2013 9:01:12 PMIt's even worse for people in Private Schools in America. While it's "higher" quality than public schools, whatever that school wants to teach, they can teach. Hell, I went to a Christian Elementary private school for three years and I was taught that God was the one that started evolution, the Earth is only 2000 something years old and that God is in everything, or some bullshit like that. Then I went to Public school while studying with my cousin that was in UCLA at the time. While she wasn't getting a degree in science, at least I got to gloss over her books temporarily. Edit: When I mean studying, I mean going to her and asking her if I could read her books because curiosity.
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I learned all this in Grade school and middle school. looking down, apparently so did most of this thread.
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lol lots of peeps from Texas
