Embarrassed with lack of geographical knowledge =(

[FrogDog]

Originally posted by: WinkOsmosis
I'm not even American and I don't know where Ottawa is. Why does it matter? If I need to know I can use a map. Skoorb, can you locate Angola on a blank map?

This logic is very weak. I wouldn't expect people half way across the world to know the capital of Canada and I'm sure people from half way across the world don't expect me to know where their relatively small country is.

Edit: "I'm not even American and I don't know where Ottawa is" - Unless you're Canadian then this makes zero sense. It's Americans who _should_ know.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Well, at least you know where it is now. Don't worry about it. Chalk it up to experience.

 

[CanOWorms]

You shouldn't feel bad... Canada is a mostly insignificant country. You're not expected to know its statistics. It is like a Yugo - nobody cares to know its stats. The US is like a Ferrari - a lot know of its stats and numbers

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: Anubis
my sister who is very smart. she?s in law school writes for Law review. one day we were talking and she thought North and South Dakota were near north and south Carolina

I thought you said your sister was smart? Apparently book smart doesn't equal knowledge, does it?

Before I even moved to the US I know that N and S Dakota were nowhere near N and S Carolina. Does she know where Canada is in relation to the US?

You shouldn't feel bad... Canada is a mostly insignificant country. You're not expected to know its statistics. It is like a Yugo - nobody cares to know its stats. The US is like a Ferrari - a lot know of its stats and numbers

Interesting statement, considering that a greater number of canadian highschool students can point out the US on a map than can US highschool students. So apparently your ferrari is running on low octane.'

"Hey I'm here in Nashville, Georgia"

Damn, dude, it's in tennessee. Seriously pick up an atlas

 

[waylman]

Originally posted by: Redhotjrm
Uhg... I'm a dispatcher (phone guy) for a company and basically I take all the information for huge trucking companies when a driver breaks down and needs help on the road. 99% of the work is in the United States, and the other 1% is Canadian. Let me tell ya, I was embarrassed today.

So this lady calls in and says she is called from Mississauga and her driver is broke down in Ottowa. Well, since I don't do a lot of work in Canada, I really didn't know where she was talking about so I asked her where Ottowa is... what province, etc.

The lady was like "You don't know where Ottowa is? It's the nations capitol. It is in Ontario." Then she was very short with me for the rest of call. Crazy Canuck!

Dont feel bad...most americans are ignorant towards non-US geography. I work in NJ and most of them don't even know where Vancouver is. I have to explain that it's near Seattle and then they finally start to get the picture...When I tell them our winters are more mild than the NJ winters they really get blown away. Another funny thing about Americans I have found is that half the people I talk to on the phone during the day dont even know their own timezone! As part of my job I have to ask them what timezone they are in and they say something like...."ahhhhh....I live in New York.....what timezone is that?" I kid you not.

 

[Red]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: Anubis
my sister who is very smart. she?s in law school writes for Law review. one day we were talking and she thought North and South Dakota were near north and south Carolina

I thought you said your sister was smart? Apparently book smart doesn't equal knowledge, does it?

Before I even moved to the US I know that N and S Dakota were nowhere near N and S Carolina. Does she know where Canada is in relation to the US?

You shouldn't feel bad... Canada is a mostly insignificant country. You're not expected to know its statistics. It is like a Yugo - nobody cares to know its stats. The US is like a Ferrari - a lot know of its stats and numbers

Interesting statement, considering that a greater number of canadian highschool students can point out the US on a map than can US highschool students. So apparently your ferrari is running on low octane.'

"Hey I'm here in Nashville, Georgia"

Damn, dude, it's in tennessee. Seriously pick up an atlas

=) Trust me, there is a Nashville, GA and a guy was broke down there a couple hours ago in his truck.

 

[Gyrene]

There's a Nashville in every state, Nashville just happens to be the capital in Tennessee. (See, I'm smart, I know my state capitals )

 

[StageLeft]

Trust me, there is a Nashville, GA and a guy was broke down there a couple hours ago in his truck.

OK could be. I find that the US has about 5 cities that they just each give to different states. You've got martin luther king st. which every city has, huntsville, which a bunch of states have as a city, etc.

 

[FrogDog]

Originally posted by: waylman

Originally posted by: Redhotjrm
Uhg... I'm a dispatcher (phone guy) for a company and basically I take all the information for huge trucking companies when a driver breaks down and needs help on the road. 99% of the work is in the United States, and the other 1% is Canadian. Let me tell ya, I was embarrassed today.

So this lady calls in and says she is called from Mississauga and her driver is broke down in Ottowa. Well, since I don't do a lot of work in Canada, I really didn't know where she was talking about so I asked her where Ottowa is... what province, etc.

The lady was like "You don't know where Ottowa is? It's the nations capitol. It is in Ontario." Then she was very short with me for the rest of call. Crazy Canuck!

Dont feel bad...most americans are ignorant towards non-US geography. I work in NJ and most of them don't even know where Vancouver is. I have to explain that it's near Seattle and then they finally start to get the picture...When I tell them our winters are more mild than the NJ winters they really get blown away. Another funny thing about Americans I have found is that half the people I talk to on the phone during the day dont even know their own timezone! As part of my job I have to ask them what timezone they are in and they say something like...."ahhhhh....I live in New York.....what timezone is that?" I kid you not.

Wow that's sad. I hope people everywhere in the world aren't this stupid.

 

[lowtech1]

Originally posted by: Redhotjrm
Uhg... I'm a dispatcher (phone guy) for a company and basically I take all the information for huge trucking companies when a driver breaks down and needs help on the road. 99% of the work is in the United States, and the other 1% is Canadian. Let me tell ya, I was embarrassed today.

So this lady calls in and says she is called from Mississauga and her driver is broke down in Ottowa. Well, since I don't do a lot of work in Canada, I really didn't know where she was talking about so I asked her where Ottowa is... what province, etc.

The lady was like "You don't know where Ottowa is? It's the nations capitol. It is in Ontario." Then she was very short with me for the rest of call. Crazy Canuck!

I'm sorry. Some of us think that Canada is such a great & important country that everyone should know every detail about this country. However, most Canadian are extremely ignorant regarding Central/South America, Africa & South/East Asia just like American lack of knowledge regarding Canadian geography. IMHO, it is not that important to know everything about every country, but it is important to know where/how to get the information if needed.

I'm from the Wet Coast or Left Coast as the snobbish Easterner call it...we & most people on this planet do not care about the mosquitoes infested hole that call Mississauga

And, don't worry too much, because many Canadian don't know where Victoria is. They don't even know that it is locate on Vancouver Island, and well below the 49 parallel...and to make matter worst some don't even know what the 49 parallel mean for Canadian/American. 2 weeks ago subscribed to London Telecom long distant phone plan & the sales person asked me where I?m from so she could check her database to see if they cover my area. She laughs & said to me that she doesn?t know where Victoria is when I told her that they must cover my area (the capital of BC province), because they advertise that the coverage is over 100 major cities. And, I told her that it is below the 49 parallel on Vancouver Island. I asked her where she is from & she told me that she is from Saint John, which is in PEI (most eastern part of Canada).

 

[CanOWorms]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: Anubis
my sister who is very smart. she?s in law school writes for Law review. one day we were talking and she thought North and South Dakota were near north and south Carolina

I thought you said your sister was smart? Apparently book smart doesn't equal knowledge, does it?

Before I even moved to the US I know that N and S Dakota were nowhere near N and S Carolina. Does she know where Canada is in relation to the US?

You shouldn't feel bad... Canada is a mostly insignificant country. You're not expected to know its statistics. It is like a Yugo - nobody cares to know its stats. The US is like a Ferrari - a lot know of its stats and numbers

Interesting statement, considering that a greater number of canadian highschool students can point out the US on a map than can US highschool students. So apparently your ferrari is running on low octane.'

"Hey I'm here in Nashville, Georgia"

Damn, dude, it's in tennessee. Seriously pick up an atlas

Seriously, what's the big deal about Americans not knowing about Canada? Most of the Canadian and most other people's knowledge of the US comes from either obsession (when the CA recall makes big news in other countries something is wrong them...) or entertainment - movies, music, etc. I'm sorry, but not much comes out of Canada. I don't hate Canada.

 

[FrogDog]

Originally posted by: lowtech

Originally posted by: Redhotjrm
Uhg... I'm a dispatcher (phone guy) for a company and basically I take all the information for huge trucking companies when a driver breaks down and needs help on the road. 99% of the work is in the United States, and the other 1% is Canadian. Let me tell ya, I was embarrassed today.

So this lady calls in and says she is called from Mississauga and her driver is broke down in Ottowa. Well, since I don't do a lot of work in Canada, I really didn't know where she was talking about so I asked her where Ottowa is... what province, etc.

The lady was like "You don't know where Ottowa is? It's the nations capitol. It is in Ontario." Then she was very short with me for the rest of call. Crazy Canuck!

I'm sorry. Some of us think that Canada is such a great & important country that everyone should know every detail about this country. However, most Canadian are extremely ignorant regarding Central/South America, Africa & South/East Asia just like American lack of knowledge regarding Canadian geography. IMHO, it is not that important to know everything about every country, but it is important to know where/how to get the information if needed.

I'm from the Wet Coast or Left Coast as the snobbish Easterner call it...we & most people on this planet do not care about the mosquitoes infested hole that call Mississauga

And, don't worry too much, because many Canadian don't know where Victoria is. They don't even know that it is locate on Vancouver Island, and well below the 49 parallel...and to make matter worst some don't even know what the 49 parallel mean for Canadian/American. 2 weeks ago subscribed to London Telecom long distant phone plan & the sales person asked me where I?m from so she could check her database to see if they cover my area. She laughs & said to me that she doesn?t know where Victoria is when I told her that they must cover my area (the capital of BC province), because they advertise that the coverage is over 100 major cities. And, I told her that it is below the 49 parallel on Vancouver Island. I asked her where she is from & she told me that she is from Saint John, which is in PEI (most eastern part of Canada).

Ummm...Was that last sentese a joke? I hope so.

 

[lowtech1]

Originally posted by: WinkOsmosis
I'm not even American and I don't know where Ottawa is. Why does it matter? If I need to know I can use a map. Skoorb, can you locate Angola on a blank map?

Yes, I think it is in Western Africa somewhere near the Ivory Coast & next to Congo.

 

[StageLeft]

I asked her where she is from & she told me that she is from Saint John, which is in PEI (most eastern part of Canada).

Uh oh batman, What?

 

[StageLeft]

Seriously, what's the big deal about Americans not knowing about Canada? Most of the Canadian and most other people's knowledge of the US comes from either obsession (when the CA recall makes big news in other countries something is wrong them...) or entertainment - movies, music, etc.

Standard and expected response. Instead of admitting that Americans can't find crap on a map you condemn other's knowledge by insulting them for it.

 

[gistech1978]

its sad how little americans know about geography
i knew the capitol of canada was ottawa in the 3rd grade and corrected my teacher on it.

 

[lowtech1]

Originally posted by: FrogDog

Originally posted by: lowtech

Originally posted by: Redhotjrm
Uhg... I'm a dispatcher (phone guy) for a company and basically I take all the information for huge trucking companies when a driver breaks down and needs help on the road. 99% of the work is in the United States, and the other 1% is Canadian. Let me tell ya, I was embarrassed today.

So this lady calls in and says she is called from Mississauga and her driver is broke down in Ottowa. Well, since I don't do a lot of work in Canada, I really didn't know where she was talking about so I asked her where Ottowa is... what province, etc.

The lady was like "You don't know where Ottowa is? It's the nations capitol. It is in Ontario." Then she was very short with me for the rest of call. Crazy Canuck!

I'm sorry. Some of us think that Canada is such a great & important country that everyone should know every detail about this country. However, most Canadian are extremely ignorant regarding Central/South America, Africa & South/East Asia just like American lack of knowledge regarding Canadian geography. IMHO, it is not that important to know everything about every country, but it is important to know where/how to get the information if needed.

I'm from the Wet Coast or Left Coast as the snobbish Easterner call it...we & most people on this planet do not care about the mosquitoes infested hole that call Mississauga

And, don't worry too much, because many Canadian don't know where Victoria is. They don't even know that it is locate on Vancouver Island, and well below the 49 parallel...and to make matter worst some don't even know what the 49 parallel mean for Canadian/American. 2 weeks ago subscribed to London Telecom long distant phone plan & the sales person asked me where I?m from so she could check her database to see if they cover my area. She laughs & said to me that she doesn?t know where Victoria is when I told her that they must cover my area (the capital of BC province), because they advertise that the coverage is over 100 major cities. And, I told her that it is below the 49 parallel on Vancouver Island. I asked her where she is from & she told me that she is from Saint John, which is in PEI (most eastern part of Canada).

Ummm...Was that last sentese a joke? I hope so.

She told me that she is in most eastern part of Canada St John's....she also said many people don't know where that is. And, I told her that it is on Newfoundland, East of & is North of Halifax/Charlottetown.

PS. I'm an imigrant from South East Asia.

 

[lowtech1]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

I asked her where she is from & she told me that she is from Saint John, which is in PEI (most eastern part of Canada).

Uh oh batman, What?

I think that was a joke on her part.

 

[sygyzy]

You should be, as should most Americans. There was a report MANY years ago that Japanese school kids could name all the US states and capitals. I bet half the people on this forum, including myself, couldn't on the first try.

 

[lowtech1]

Originally posted by: sygyzy
You should be, as should most Americans. There was a report MANY years ago that Japanese school kids could name all the US states and capitals. I bet half the people on this forum, including myself, couldn't on the first try.

I couldn't even name 1/4 of your states let alone 1/2 of the capital names.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: sygyzy
You should be, as should most Americans. There was a report MANY years ago that Japanese school kids could name all the US states and capitals. I bet half the people on this forum, including myself, couldn't on the first try.

Probably some sill news story - I doubt that most japanese kids can do that. I know FOR A FACT that most american kids can't

 

[alkemyst]

Originally posted by: FrogDog
It's the snobs in the US that think they're the center of the world that bother me...

It is not being snobby...it's pretty much the truth...if you can unbiasedly bring up facts that any other nation is more significant I'd be all ears to that.

Don't hate the playah, hate the game.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: alkemyst

Originally posted by: FrogDog
It's the snobs in the US that think they're the center of the world that bother me...

It is not being snobby...it's pretty much the truth...if you can unbiasedly bring up facts that any other nation is more significant I'd be all ears to that.

Don't hate the playah, hate the game.

I doubt he'll argue the US's significance, but that's not the problem. It's the "US is all. everything else is imaterial" attitude that is bothersome. And it is snobby. Just because I'm one of the absolutely coolest people in the world I don't go around promoting the fact, even if it is unabashadly true.

 

[sygyzy]

Link

Sweden was the most geographically literate country; the US was second from bottom, above only Mexico, says The Guardian.

 

[Antisocial Virge]

Originally posted by: Hammer
ask her to name the capital of ohio. if she doesn't know, tell her to fsck off.

Not the same thing. Ottawa is the nations capitol. If she didn't know what or where Washington DC was then that would be close.