Americans are STUPID! -

Bullet Magnet · #61 02-11-2007, 07:59 AM

:

hrm.. it must be a southern thing then.. sometime last year, i mentioned wanting to move to another country, to a few of my teachers, and they all gave me speaches on why america is the best country to live in. they act like americas the only country that isnt communist.

You could just say that you are communist...

Majic · #62 02-11-2007, 10:11 AM

:

From what I've heard, it's actually the opposite. Namely a politically correct, dhimmi, self hating, multi culti view of history is the one taught in America's schools, or at least, in most of it's universities.

This actually sounds pretty akin to what I've experienced. In the south, at that. So Satch, that makes me suspect one of two things: a) you live in a school district that can somehow teach the exact opposite of what's in our textbooks, or b) you're a standard, run of the mill, pessimistic counter-culture rebel who feels enlightened and unique for jumping on the anti-Bush/anti-America bandwagon.

Arxryl · #63 02-11-2007, 10:14 AM

^ Always a solution ^ (to Bullet Magnet's post)

As long as we are arguing about schools teaching us about America and such...
They don't really teach us superiority, but their own bias can come across in their teachings, thus every time you go to their class you are learning facts that are biased with opinions from teachers, and many students start to take on that bias as their own.
Ta-da. my opinion on the subject.

Patrick Vykkers · #64 02-11-2007, 12:19 PM

:

B) you're a standard, run of the mill, pessimistic counter-culture rebel who feels enlightened and unique for jumping on the anti-Bush/anti-America bandwagon.

Majic, you should change your avatar. The combined awesomeness of that post and Mr T. might cause this forum to explode.

Nemo · #65 02-11-2007, 07:49 PM

:

^ Always a solution ^ (to Bullet Magnet's post)

As long as we are arguing about schools teaching us about America and such...
They don't really teach us superiority, but their own bias can come across in their teachings, thus every time you go to their class you are learning facts that are biased with opinions from teachers, and many students start to take on that bias as their own.
Ta-da. my opinion on the subject.

I HATE when teachers do that, even if I have the same views.

snuzi · #66 02-11-2007, 08:07 PM

Well it can't exactly be avoided. Despite how hard we may try to prevent teachers or other people from putting certain ideas into the minds of younger individuals, it'll still continue to happen. After all, every true story is backed up by a certain individual's personal opinion. That includes certain events in history.

Satch · #67 02-13-2007, 12:26 AM

:

^ Always a solution ^ (to Bullet Magnet's post)

As long as we are arguing about schools teaching us about America and such...
They don't really teach us superiority, but their own bias can come across in their teachings, thus every time you go to their class you are learning facts that are biased with opinions from teachers, and many students start to take on that bias as their own.
Ta-da. my opinion on the subject.

that sounds more like it, though when i was young, i never gave much thought into it and just figured what my teachers have told me was always fact. dont accuse me of being communistic, racist, rebellious, or anything like that, please. im actually a bit offended by such an accusation, since im the exact opposite.

apparently, i worded my posts to seem more controversial than they should, though i really dont know how else to put what im trying to say. i think ive just heard the phrase "your lucky your an american" one too many times. teachers, family members, etc who know little to nothing about any country besides america act like any other country is third-world compared to america.

i know for a fact my dad thinks that way. hes never been out of the country, and he thinks the entire world looks like etheopia, then theres this pretty little america sitting there with all its equal rights and freedom -- completely unlike anywhere else in the world.

hes not the only influence that's given me such an impression.. i know its definitly from school as well. mostly elementary school, really.. i cant really remember many specifics now, though.. im not talking about something ive recently dealt with, i was just bringing up the point that i was never educated much in public school about other countries untill i started using the internet, then mid-highschool, and i assumed thats just the way it was throughout the states. guess i was wrong <,<

OANST · #68 02-13-2007, 06:37 PM

:

Well it can't exactly be avoided. Despite how hard we may try to prevent teachers or other people from putting certain ideas into the minds of younger individuals, it'll still continue to happen. After all, every true story is backed up by a certain individual's personal opinion. That includes certain events in history.

Like the holocaust. I mean, come on. emaciated and dead jews everywhere? Give me a break. That was all filmed in a hollywood soundstage. You can even hear the air conditioners.

I feel that this joke may need a post script. Snuzi is right. Events in history are based upon the victors and so share their views of what happened. However, I am not disputing the holocaust. That really happened. I thought that it would be funny to say and then realized that ten or eleven people here were sure to take it the wrong way. Goddamn, I hate feeling like I have to explain my sense of humor.

***Nate*** · #69 02-13-2007, 07:51 PM

Damn. I was hoping you wouldn't clarify that, just so I could enjoy the backlash.

snuzi · #70 02-14-2007, 02:19 AM

:

Like the holocaust. I mean, come on. emaciated and dead jews everywhere? Give me a break. That was all filmed in a hollywood soundstage. You can even hear the air conditioners.

I feel that this joke may need a post script. Snuzi is right. Events in history are based upon the victors and so share their views of what happened. However, I am not disputing the holocaust. That really happened. I thought that it would be funny to say and then realized that ten or eleven people here were sure to take it the wrong way. Goddamn, I hate feeling like I have to explain my sense of humor.

He, you didn't have to explain it, OANST. Whomever thought you were serious must not have a sense of humor.

Arxryl · #71 02-14-2007, 06:21 AM

Or any sense at all...

Al the Vykker · #72 02-14-2007, 09:49 AM

Wow. I feel dumb just from watching that. You know why that is? It's as Nate says that was just a bunch of clever editing. I'll be the first to admit there are terribly stupid and ignorant people in our country, but for you to make a correlation between that and the overall intelligence of the people of the United States of America makes me quite frustrated to be honest.

One, I didn't see anyone shown that answered any of those questions correctly. Why does that matter? Well, for one I'm American and not a super "brain" and I answered almost every one of those questions right. I just saw no attempt to make the argument solid by including random samples of those who could actually show some intelligence and answer these simple minded questions. They are no brainer questions, come on. He most likely stayed in one area full of the same type of people and yes I will say that most of those people are the hicks and rednecks of America who will eat up anything that is told to them. "Bomb the ****ers in the Middle East into a crater" that was just embarassing and yes I won't defend those people.

Do I agree that there are a lot of stupid people in America? Oh yes, I do I have seen plenty of them in my years, but I also know that over half the population of my hometown could have answered any one of those questions right.

I normally don't get fired up at this stuff and since this was a mockery for fun etc showing dumb people in America I laughed. However, the argument that this proves that America is stupid as a whole!? Sure that's not the original argument it is more of an implication (majority rule of course). You've forgotten the number one rule, correlation does not equal causation. A random sampling is good in terms of study and proving your point, but without actual quality data representing all sides (results), anargument has no logical basis.

It's no personal attack on you Havoc by the way. I won't pretend to know your reason other than maybe proving that the U.S. is dumb. Point taken I also reread your first post and say the disclaimer of not all which is appreciated. I'm just saying the argument has no real logical basis besides showing that there are stupid people in America (which was already known). I share the sentiment instead that there are dumb people all throughout the world oblivious to anything beyond their own little bubble. Idiocy is not one trait exclusive to the United States we are not something special it's a trait that seems to show up in the human race for all people.

Cheers.

Bullet Magnet · #73 02-14-2007, 10:42 AM

A better thread title would be "These Americans are stupid"

Laser · #74 02-15-2007, 11:50 AM

Americans arn't all stupid
...But people think of them as stupid because they voted in the worst president twice!
And people think of them as stupid due to there prsident being stupid and in the pockert of the oil barons

snuzi · #75 02-15-2007, 11:59 AM

Not all of us voted for him. Besides, I doubt that Kerry would've been any better had he won the election.

It really is shocking to think that of all the possible presidential candidates America has to offer, those two gooses were the only ones who made it. Ugh, America really sucks sometimes.

Patrick Vykkers · #76 02-15-2007, 12:04 PM

Bush isn't the worst president. That honour would have to go to Andrew Jackson or Lyndon B. Johnson. The man may have made a few errors, and a couple of big ones on Islam (to be fair, his whole administration made mistakes there) Iraq, and calling a war a "War on Terror" when really it's not a war on a method, but on a particular pseudoreligion/political ideology.

Munch's Master · #77 02-15-2007, 12:41 PM

Al, Patrick, you both make some very good points. I agree, not every American is stupid- they edited out the right answers and left the comically stupid ones because it's for an Australian comedy show, so is meant to be comical. Comedy relies heavily on stereotypes, in both subtle and not-so-subtle ways. An America's stereotype, regrettabbly, is that they are all slack jawed fools, which is not the case. That video should only be taken on face value- a simple laugh, nothing more.

Al the Vykker · #78 02-22-2007, 10:47 AM

:

Al, Patrick, you both make some very good points. I agree, not every American is stupid- they edited out the right answers and left the comically stupid ones because it's for an Australian comedy show, so is meant to be comical. Comedy relies heavily on stereotypes, in both subtle and not-so-subtle ways. An America's stereotype, regrettabbly, is that they are all slack jawed fools, which is not the case. That video should only be taken on face value- a simple laugh, nothing more.

Agreed.

Also, to the earlier post of the American people elected an idiot twice. I would count it as once really seeing how no one can deny the facts that Vice President Al Gore won the popular vote. However, due to some shady dealings with recounts and voting mishaps lost Florida which cost him the electoral college votes, alas George Bush was put into office. Kerry was too much of a flip flopper for many people I personally, would have taken anyone better than Bush, but unfortunately I was too young to vote.

I am so thankful though that the first election I will be able to vote in will have a politician with some real integrity, competency, and a clear, vibrant future for this country. I'm talking about Barack Obama, who I was hoping was going to run and have supported ever since he ran and was elected as junior Senator for Illinois.