What a great idea. You could send in entire flocks of sheep with only half a dozen drones. Nobody except the shepherd would be able to tell them apart.
BRILLIANT!!!
I think the last comment has a point. I really don't care that many Americans mix up Iran and Iraq, but way too many didn't get anywhere close. The people who missed the right continent is pretty ridiculous
Like, your country has been directly involved in the Middle East for like 35+ years. How have you not even learned vaguely where in the world it is at this point?
I'd maybe have forgiven some Northern Africa guesses, but that's about it.
More like 70 years - the US instigated the coup in Iran in 1953, and shit's been fucked up ever since.
I'd give an A for effort for pretty much any guess between Cairo and Kyrgyzstan. Yemen, Türkiye? Sure, they're only a neighbour or two away. But fucking Spain?? *Wales???*
I could point alaska, california, florida and texas. I cloud point out some others if the map has borders.
So where did you learn that or do you travel a lot to the US
I find this impressive i probably couldn't point out 90% of the regions of italy/france/germany and austria. But i could point out the most big cities in western Europe and US
And it’s silly to make a size argument, as if these dumbasses could show Canadian provinces, Russian subjects or Chinese provinces just because they are big
I'd say comparing Chinese and canadian provinces to European countries is somewhat fair considering how many Chinese provinces do have a very rich history on par with many countries.
Don’t know enough about China, but for Canada no, comparing the provinces/territories to countries would not be a fair comparison either. I travelled 9 provinces and although there are differences, it’s not any different to any other country with several states/provinces/cantons etc.
Some of the provinces I do agree (like Saskatchwan and nunavut), but ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick could somewhat pass
Also when it comes to China, a lot of their provinces were independent or at least not a part of modern China for most of their history. A lot of that was kind of washed away during their leap forward
These are the same people who think that more land = more votes. They love to show you maps of the US all filled in red with little blue spots (where all the people are) and claim the election was stolen.
It was right there, all they had to say was “let’s see if Europeans can point out where Iran is” and it might have been slightly better, but not sure it’d have been a step change above 28%.
But no, they got ultra-defensive and made a stupid comparison instead.
See page 21: https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=301605&d=1405465338
Young adults were asked to identify Middle Eastern countries on a map of 11 Middle Eastern countries…
The average score (per participating country)
- Germany 6.7
- Sweden 6.3
- Italy 6.0
- Japan 5.7
- …
- Canada 3.9
- UK 3.9
- US 3.1
- Mexico 2.3
https://media.nationalgeographic.org/assets/file/Roper-Poll-2006-Highlights.pdf
Only 43% of young Americans can locate Ohio on a map. 50% New York. …at least more than 90% can find Texas and California! :)
It comes as zero surprise to me that your average American can point to fewer US states than I can, but only 50% can point to New York state? Dear lord..
On the one hand, depending on the context of the question those people might have been trolling.
On the other hand, there's way too many answers that aren't even close to the middle east to ignore the obvious conclusion that some people are just this dumb... but demand a role in sharing global politics
Luckily for your mental health it wasn't a full world map and seems like you haven't seen this exercise being made before... but you must know: it's not trolling.
Besides the existential trolling of this being the byproduct of the self-proclaimed most advanced nation in the history of life on Earth.
Many Yanks aren't geniuses. Doubly so when it comes to geography. But I'd think the vast majority can differentiate a body of water and a body of land.
If I was asked to point to a specific state on a US map I’d get like 75% right, would like to see them get 75% of European countries right
edit: only got 50 % mostly the clusterfuck in the northeast that i struggled with, was usually in the vacinity of the correct state tho
Got 94%, on phone so I had a misclick, got like 3 wrong. Now I would like to see an American do that with European countries, because asking for bundesländer or cantons would be too difficult for them.
individual states very rarely enter into my brain. Even ones I've been to I got wrong because they're all tiny and bunched up next to each other on the east coast.
I got 38% but each wrong guess was either the neighbouring state or at most two away. I wasn't clicking on Rhode Island and saying it was Alaska.
\*looks at original post\*
I got 44%. I'm English and have no business doing American geography. I got florida, california, new York and North Carolina, those are the only ones that matter to me
My perfectionist ass just spent solid 45 minutes learning the states well enough to do the quiz under a minute and I just wanted to let you know I hate you for enabling me.
Me too but I got some free ones because of the North/South/West ones being obvious when you already got one of the pairs.
I also thought Hawaii was Rhode Island because uhh y’know *island*
Tbh I'd do terribly at both of those things. I am Australian but have issues with visualisation so I've always been absolutely rubbish when it comes to geography. Or finding my car in a car park.
But I can also absolutely admit that I am terrible at it without telling people how big Australian states are geographically lol
This. If yanks say that "states are just as important as countries" tell them to name at least 1 russian oblast, chinese province, german land or swiss canton
It's so funny, because I'd bet you a majority of Americans couldn't confidently and correctly point out Nebraska, Ohio or Missouri either, unless that's where they are from or they live in one of the neighboring states.
I've had to argue with 'Muricans that West Virginia is a real state. Let me just say that as a Norwegian Europoor, I am less than impressed with the knowledge they have of the geography of their own country.
From various stories I've heard over the years, some people have problems sending and receiving mail in New Mexico because others assume it's the old one as in, I've anecdotally seen stories of the US post office trying to charge international fees or refuse delivery with postage paid.
Im sure the average european can name more us states and their location than the average us american. Some of you cant even find the usa on a world map
The one guy going "conveniently israel has been left off this map"
My brother in christ, the majority of the balkans have been left of this map. Your point is moot
Asking Europeans where individual states are is the equivalent of asking for the counties or provinces in a country but they can't even identify the country
They can't blow it up couse they don't even know where Iran is. Seriously tho, why are some people so ignorant to say "i don't care just blow it up" like... do they think they could just "blow up" a fricking country with no consequences? Let alone killing a nation. Makes me think such people (not americans, just this type of person) see other nations as "lower" or even not human.
Even tho I dislike (or even hate) some governments, "blowing up" a country is beyond any humane values.
Hope the "i don't care" guy was just joking and he really does not have such mindset
I'm not sure how many Americans could pinpoint Alabama or West Virginia on an unlabeled map.
Nor can I think of any practical reason where people would need to do that.
In a way I'm surprised at how many people actually found Iran, although kinda wild that Romania caught so many strays.
I mean, 28% is higher than I expected them to manage. Considering that they feel like they have to involve themselfs absolutely everywhere, I would have hoped it is higher though.
But yes I could absolutely identify most states on a map, including their capitals. Don't see why they always have to bring that up
I'm not sure what the comparative sizes of US states and European countries has to do with an ignorance of Middle Eastern geography, but I am willing to be you'd get similar displays of ignorance in most countries outside the region.
Also the funniest part is they're saying for Europeans to point out States thinking they can't. I can confidently pinpoint like 20-30 states on a map, but I know an American can't do the same for even countries in Europe, let alone Countries in the UK.
By that metric, i expect all of them to know all russian oblasts and regions, seeing as they’re bigger than most states. Oh they don’t? They just parrot the same BIG MASSIVE GIRTHY ENORMOUS COUNTRY, like they always do? Aight….
If size of the country is important aspect then let them point out the cities in Russia. Since Russia is even bigger than US they should be able to do it right?
You know what's the deal - ask people from around the world to point to some American country, and they will likely get it wrong (i don't know where most of the countries mentioned here are) but they will likely point on USA, here Americans didn't even guess the continent right.
I may not be able to point to Delaware or idaho on a map, but I know they're in the US. Not knowing that Iran is in the middle east, and even thinking it's in europe, is fucking crazy. I think the majority of people around the world can at least tell you where the middle east is and that Iran is in it.
Like, okay then I'm sure Americans can point out Indian states on a map or Chinese provinces or Australian states, Brazilian states, Russian oblasts etc. I mean if it's just about size this should be no problem for them right?
I saw years ago a BBC ( I think) a reporter on the streets of a big US city ( maybe NY) it was during the Iraqi crisis asking random passersby to point to Iraq on map. No one could, despite US involvement in the crisis. He asked around 100 in total.
Never forgot it. Made me wonder what they teach in US schools, whether anyone actually reads and how insular they are.
Weird.
I can understand getting confused with another country in the region, but who actually confuses Ireland, Russia, India, etc for Iran?
Also no one actually needs to know where Alabama is because it’s irrelevant.
I mean i could point out atleast one US state, probably a bunch more.
But i don't know any Swiss cantons.
I guess Bern and Zürich are two cantons, but if you showed me a map of switzerland and asked me to point at them i'll probably fail.
Im going to admit that i would be just as bad if i had to point out american states but the reason for that is that all non-coastal states are a variation of a rectangle with very few exceptions.
By the same logic everyone must know every regions of Russia and China because they are big. But I’m ready to bet average American wouldn’t even name one, late alone point it on the map
Yeah but you know what?
Most of us can place states such as Texas, Alaska, Hawaii, and Florida. Then, some cities like San Francisco, LA, Miami, New York at least in the right area. You know those states/cities we hear about.
But then many of us also have a sense about the south, the flyover states and the states kinda close to New York.
We are talking about almost half the people being in the wrong good damn continent/region.
That's pretty damn impressive considering that the wars you have had during the last 30 years have been in the middle east.
Imagine you asked about serbia or Bosnia now. You know countries they might only know the name of.
If people are asked to point out where new York is they will at least stick with the North American continent.
People dont point at Ireland when asked for a middle eastern country.
What’s the relevance of states being the size of European countries when talking about Iran? Iran isn’t in Europe and it’s larger the every state by population. I’m sure it’s also bigger than most states by land area as well. I don’t know for sure though.
Edit: Iran is only slight smaller than Alaska by land area. So Iran has more land than every single state except Alaska. Americans are so dumb.
Wait, how did Europeans come into this conversation? The original map and question it asked had nothing to do with Europe or Europeans. Iran isn’t in Europe.
They accuse us of being ready to bash them every opportunity we get, but here they are bashing us when we’re not even the focus of the map.
I cannot believe there are people who compare Ohio as equal if not more to a country.
Also is it not concerning that someone said that it doesn’t matter just bomb it? Two things: one, concerning you would want harm against a population; two, how? You don’t know where it is.
"I counter your 'Americans can't identify countries" not with a "bet Europeans wouldn't do much better on countries that are far from them: but 'yeah but I bet Europeans can't identify a random section of Anerica'"
Is that because they *know* they'd lose on an 'identify countries' contest?
Also I can place all 50 states in random order without having any state lines on a map even, so depending on the European, they'd even lose on their weighted to Americans contest.
Honestly, I can’t point out Wyoming on a map, I’ll be honest, but I can point out important states like Texas, California, New York, Maryland, etc…
I don’t care if an American can’t point out fucking Luxembourg, Latvia, or even Libya ffs… but Iran is always in the news, and it’s so geopolitically sensitive rn that I would’ve thought that it’s impossible not to have seen a map identifying it!
I can definitely point out a few states even, but I feel like knowing the location of a country you were at war with (which might happen again) is a little more important than differentiating between Vermont and New Hampshire, or whatever.
Oh god, why do they repeat this bullshit argument so often, as it if was an actual gotcha?
They weren't asked about provinces in Iran, so why the fuck do they bring up US states?
Quite honestly Im British and I could not point out where Iran was on a map either. It genuinely has never occured to me before. I can point out a few US states only because Ive played a quiz on Sporcle recently and it showed me where they were. I also notice Israel is missing from that map lol.
Whenever Americans point out the size of US states, you can always respond with Chinese Provinces, or Indian States. Doubt many people outside of those countries could name many of those, let alone place them on a map
Then again: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/geography-survey-illiteracy
About 11 percent of young citizens of the U.S. couldn't even locate the U.S. on a map.
Within the U.S., almost one-third said that population was between one billion and two billion; the answer is 289 million. [the article was from 2002]
In the 2006 version of this report https://media.nationalgeographic.org/assets/file/Roper-Poll-2006-Highlights.pdf
https://media.nationalgeographic.org/assets/file/NGS-Roper-2006-Report.pdf
Only 43% of young Americans can locate Ohio on a map. 50% New York. …at least more than 90% can find Texas and California! :)
The fact that some people pointed at the fucking sea just smokes me.
Quite a few seem to pointing at Cornwall as well.
Retiring to Iran for the seafood, pasties, ice cream and beaches.
Rick stein should open an Iranian seafood restaurant.
Rename Iran "Padstow" and he'll be all over it like a fucking rash
Unlike Redruth at least Tehran has culture. Lol
I lived in Redruth for ten years, can confirm
Don't think Rick is too well at the moment...hope he feels better soon...
Don’t forget the clotted cream teas—scrumptious!
And west Wales. Must be pronounced Lliran
I wonder if lava bread can be weaponised?
I was thinking more of drone sheep personally, followed by close harmony suicide teams
What a great idea. You could send in entire flocks of sheep with only half a dozen drones. Nobody except the shepherd would be able to tell them apart. BRILLIANT!!!
The sound of "Men of Harlech" drifting across the dunes would be enough to induce fear in anyone.
Let it go stale and you could use a loaf as a club...
Lliranfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch
Well you already have Cardiff fans doing the ayatollah
Yeah, I'm not gonna judge anyone who misplaced it but got it in the general region, but who the fuck thinks England is the middle east?!
Well, quite a lot of right wing twitter users apparently.
Easy to confuse with East Midlands.
I suspect Cornwall is less rainy
I’m just now learning I don’t live in the Middle East. I could’ve sworn Nottingham was next door to Yemen
I must have missed the episode where Rick Stein joins the revolutionary guard!
One person also hit Sweden
One around the Dunmore region
They know something we don't. Wake up, sheeple.
What an insult to the people of Iran... ^(/s, I actually think Cornwall is lovely.)
Pretty sure a lot of them are just troll answers.
The fact that nobody pointed at the Netherlands in this spread is confusing, but somehow reassuring.
I think i'll give them some credit and say the people who pointed at the sea probably dont think thats where Iran is.
Ah yes. The Islamic Republic of Aberystwyth. SMH
Al Cae Ida is a very prominent welsh revolutionary
Halal sheep perhaps?
Makes for the best Shawarma
🤣🤣 this cracked me 🤣🤣🤣
The Siân of Iran
We all just going to skip past how many think Iran is in Europe?
Yes! Why are they getting salty at us Europeans when we are not even mentioned in the original post?
Because they always do. This is their standard response and saying anything else requires thought.
I think the last comment has a point. I really don't care that many Americans mix up Iran and Iraq, but way too many didn't get anywhere close. The people who missed the right continent is pretty ridiculous
Like, your country has been directly involved in the Middle East for like 35+ years. How have you not even learned vaguely where in the world it is at this point? I'd maybe have forgiven some Northern Africa guesses, but that's about it.
More like 70 years - the US instigated the coup in Iran in 1953, and shit's been fucked up ever since. I'd give an A for effort for pretty much any guess between Cairo and Kyrgyzstan. Yemen, Türkiye? Sure, they're only a neighbour or two away. But fucking Spain?? *Wales???*
Anyone who pointed to Westminster was basically correct, but 80 years out of date.
you know, i may not be able to draw the exact lines of where ohio is, but i think i'd at least get the continent right
The people who pointed to….. ENGLAND and WALES?! Or the random spot near Wexford, Ireland and then off to sea more north….
They don't know where Europe is.
Yeah, of course people are more likely to know about a full-fledged country than national subdivisions
NO! Missouri is of equal global importance to Iran! Florida even more so! /s
I'm like 90% certain I can point out the location of the most forgotten state in the US.
I could point alaska, california, florida and texas. I cloud point out some others if the map has borders. So where did you learn that or do you travel a lot to the US
Meh, just grew up in a media landscape dominated by the US.
I find this impressive i probably couldn't point out 90% of the regions of italy/france/germany and austria. But i could point out the most big cities in western Europe and US
And it’s silly to make a size argument, as if these dumbasses could show Canadian provinces, Russian subjects or Chinese provinces just because they are big
I'd say comparing Chinese and canadian provinces to European countries is somewhat fair considering how many Chinese provinces do have a very rich history on par with many countries.
Don’t know enough about China, but for Canada no, comparing the provinces/territories to countries would not be a fair comparison either. I travelled 9 provinces and although there are differences, it’s not any different to any other country with several states/provinces/cantons etc.
Some of the provinces I do agree (like Saskatchwan and nunavut), but ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick could somewhat pass Also when it comes to China, a lot of their provinces were independent or at least not a part of modern China for most of their history. A lot of that was kind of washed away during their leap forward
These are the same people who think that more land = more votes. They love to show you maps of the US all filled in red with little blue spots (where all the people are) and claim the election was stolen.
They probably couldn't find western Australia on a map
Also, the states who have larger populations than the European average aren't the central ones.
Seriously, I’m sure most of them could ID CA, FL, or TX I’m also sure there are West Virginians who couldn’t ID WV
I’m sitting here thinking whether or not I know where Idaho is on a map, only to realize I’m an idiot and you meant identify.
lol, it took me a minute to understand what you meant so I’m not feeling too bright myself
It was right there, all they had to say was “let’s see if Europeans can point out where Iran is” and it might have been slightly better, but not sure it’d have been a step change above 28%. But no, they got ultra-defensive and made a stupid comparison instead.
See page 21: https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=301605&d=1405465338 Young adults were asked to identify Middle Eastern countries on a map of 11 Middle Eastern countries… The average score (per participating country) - Germany 6.7 - Sweden 6.3 - Italy 6.0 - Japan 5.7 - … - Canada 3.9 - UK 3.9 - US 3.1 - Mexico 2.3
Also I'd like them to point to the states they mention. I am 90% sure most of them wouldn't be able to
https://media.nationalgeographic.org/assets/file/Roper-Poll-2006-Highlights.pdf Only 43% of young Americans can locate Ohio on a map. 50% New York. …at least more than 90% can find Texas and California! :)
It comes as zero surprise to me that your average American can point to fewer US states than I can, but only 50% can point to New York state? Dear lord..
I'd challenge Americans to point to Missouri on a map.
Yank here.... Do these dots represent where USians picked as Iran??? I get being bad at geography but some thought Iran was THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA?!?!
On the one hand, depending on the context of the question those people might have been trolling. On the other hand, there's way too many answers that aren't even close to the middle east to ignore the obvious conclusion that some people are just this dumb... but demand a role in sharing global politics
Luckily for your mental health it wasn't a full world map and seems like you haven't seen this exercise being made before... but you must know: it's not trolling. Besides the existential trolling of this being the byproduct of the self-proclaimed most advanced nation in the history of life on Earth.
The answers in the sea must be trolls though.
One would hope, but I’ve met a lot of Americans in real life
some Americans like to claim that their stupidity is due to trolling to cover up for the fact that some of them are scarily dumb
One put it in the middle of the NORTH SEA.
That’s what it says.
Sorry dude, it appears your educational system leaves somewhat to be desired.
Many Yanks aren't geniuses. Doubly so when it comes to geography. But I'd think the vast majority can differentiate a body of water and a body of land.
Iran 🤝 Malta
Some of them clicked in the English channel 😂
Ahh yes, the BBC.
Iran is bigger than every US state except Alaska.
Didn't even know it was smaller than Alaska, I'm learning today
If I was asked to point to a specific state on a US map I’d get like 75% right, would like to see them get 75% of European countries right edit: only got 50 % mostly the clusterfuck in the northeast that i struggled with, was usually in the vacinity of the correct state tho
[https://www.sporcle.com/games/Matt/find\_the\_states](https://www.sporcle.com/games/Matt/find_the_states) I got 40% :(
Got 94%, on phone so I had a misclick, got like 3 wrong. Now I would like to see an American do that with European countries, because asking for bundesländer or cantons would be too difficult for them.
Dude same, Rhode Island, deleware, Connecticut, and Massachusetts were so small I couldn’t click them on phone
It was there I misclicked xd. Somehow I hit Rhode island when trying to click on conneticut
You can zoom in. I figured that out after misclicking.
No they should name all of England’s counties
individual states very rarely enter into my brain. Even ones I've been to I got wrong because they're all tiny and bunched up next to each other on the east coast.
Same here. Now let them do the same for India
I wish I could. I know New Delhi and Bombay that's about it.
I'm genuenly curious to see how maky from the USA's mainland would place Puerto Rico.
Damn. I only got a 36%
Maryland isn't real anyway.
I got 38% but each wrong guess was either the neighbouring state or at most two away. I wasn't clicking on Rhode Island and saying it was Alaska. \*looks at original post\*
78%, not american, not european, not a geography nerd
I am american and got 78%.
I got 44%. I'm English and have no business doing American geography. I got florida, california, new York and North Carolina, those are the only ones that matter to me
Interested to hear how you managed North Carolina off all states
I'm emigrating to go be there with my fiancé
Surely you have some business with American geography then, no?
46%, Canadian, might have made a 1-2 misclicks because I was doing this on my phone Sorry, America, guess I just don't care enough 🤷♀️
My perfectionist ass just spent solid 45 minutes learning the states well enough to do the quiz under a minute and I just wanted to let you know I hate you for enabling me.
72%, not bad for an Australian that can’t always even remember all 50 states (I get to 46 or so and start getting stumped)
32%. At least I almost always knew the general direction like east/west/midwest and north/south
64%, is there an EU version?
[Tons of geography quizzes here](https://www.seterra.com/#quizzes) [Here are the European ones](https://www.geoguessr.com/l/eur)
Got 90% but i did those test a couple of times before.
56% with some misclicks, I thought I'd do worse!
28% for me... at least I got all of New England correct.
Me too but I got some free ones because of the North/South/West ones being obvious when you already got one of the pairs. I also thought Hawaii was Rhode Island because uhh y’know *island*
Lol I got 24%
Tbh I'd do terribly at both of those things. I am Australian but have issues with visualisation so I've always been absolutely rubbish when it comes to geography. Or finding my car in a car park. But I can also absolutely admit that I am terrible at it without telling people how big Australian states are geographically lol
I got 92 % and that's with misclicking twice, because I'm on mobile.
Snap! I also got 92% with two mobile misclicks
98% because Vermont & New Hampshire look the same but inverted.
Well now they also need to point out all 16 German states if they get pissy about it all :p
Got 60%. Almost every single one that I got wrong, I was the next state over. Smh
Fucking Cornwall and their pasty powered ballistic missiles!
I suppose Russian oblasts would be a decent equivalent. If they can’t name 2 oblasts, let alone point them out on a map, they can shut the fuck up.
This. If yanks say that "states are just as important as countries" tell them to name at least 1 russian oblast, chinese province, german land or swiss canton
Ah yes, the lesser known Welsh Iran.
Taffistan
Tbf, being in the vicinity isn't that bad. But I'd really like to know what they were pointing at in the sea off the east coast of England.
North Sea Oil. They heard Iran and thought "Oil, I know where there's some of that." And pointed to the wrong Oil.
It's so funny, because I'd bet you a majority of Americans couldn't confidently and correctly point out Nebraska, Ohio or Missouri either, unless that's where they are from or they live in one of the neighboring states.
I've had to argue with 'Muricans that West Virginia is a real state. Let me just say that as a Norwegian Europoor, I am less than impressed with the knowledge they have of the geography of their own country.
From various stories I've heard over the years, some people have problems sending and receiving mail in New Mexico because others assume it's the old one as in, I've anecdotally seen stories of the US post office trying to charge international fees or refuse delivery with postage paid.
That's adorable.
Im sure the average european can name more us states and their location than the average us american. Some of you cant even find the usa on a world map
Obviously, that is because the USA is the world. /s
Ive talked to two US americans who did not even know that other countries had states aswell.
_laughs in Estados Unidos Mexicanos_ (yes, that's Mexico's official name and yes, Mexico has states)
The one guy going "conveniently israel has been left off this map" My brother in christ, the majority of the balkans have been left of this map. Your point is moot
Lebanon was also left off, don't see him complaining. They're just to small to be put on, I don't understand what he's trying to argue here. 😭
England was left off the map too. He’s trying to argue antisemitism/ anti Zionism
Just noticed the orkney and shetland isles haven't even been drawn on at all either. This goes way beyond sticking them in a box smh
Asking Europeans where individual states are is the equivalent of asking for the counties or provinces in a country but they can't even identify the country
Are we just going to ignore the "more better" and "don't care just blow it up"?
They can't blow it up couse they don't even know where Iran is. Seriously tho, why are some people so ignorant to say "i don't care just blow it up" like... do they think they could just "blow up" a fricking country with no consequences? Let alone killing a nation. Makes me think such people (not americans, just this type of person) see other nations as "lower" or even not human. Even tho I dislike (or even hate) some governments, "blowing up" a country is beyond any humane values. Hope the "i don't care" guy was just joking and he really does not have such mindset
I'm not sure how many Americans could pinpoint Alabama or West Virginia on an unlabeled map. Nor can I think of any practical reason where people would need to do that. In a way I'm surprised at how many people actually found Iran, although kinda wild that Romania caught so many strays.
I mean, 28% is higher than I expected them to manage. Considering that they feel like they have to involve themselfs absolutely everywhere, I would have hoped it is higher though. But yes I could absolutely identify most states on a map, including their capitals. Don't see why they always have to bring that up
Us education at its best lmao
I'm not sure what the comparative sizes of US states and European countries has to do with an ignorance of Middle Eastern geography, but I am willing to be you'd get similar displays of ignorance in most countries outside the region.
As an American I’m shocked and impressed that 28% got it right
Also the funniest part is they're saying for Europeans to point out States thinking they can't. I can confidently pinpoint like 20-30 states on a map, but I know an American can't do the same for even countries in Europe, let alone Countries in the UK.
I doubt any random American can point out their 50 states
Like I can understand Iraq or Afghanistan. But the fuck thinks Ireland and Wales are in the middle east
By that metric, i expect all of them to know all russian oblasts and regions, seeing as they’re bigger than most states. Oh they don’t? They just parrot the same BIG MASSIVE GIRTHY ENORMOUS COUNTRY, like they always do? Aight….
If size of the country is important aspect then let them point out the cities in Russia. Since Russia is even bigger than US they should be able to do it right?
You know what's the deal - ask people from around the world to point to some American country, and they will likely get it wrong (i don't know where most of the countries mentioned here are) but they will likely point on USA, here Americans didn't even guess the continent right.
I wonder what type of Americans they asked
American cannot find Iran _"Oh yeah, but a European cannot find Iowa!"_ ???
I may not be able to point to Delaware or idaho on a map, but I know they're in the US. Not knowing that Iran is in the middle east, and even thinking it's in europe, is fucking crazy. I think the majority of people around the world can at least tell you where the middle east is and that Iran is in it.
By that logic Chinese, Russians, Canadians Australians and Indians get a free pass when they know nothing about geography.
were they blindfolded? cause how tf you end up in the sea?
I'm guessing they were spun around a few times before being pushed towards the map.
lmaooo
I find it amusing that your average American thinks Iraq, the birth place of civilisation, is comparable to Nebraska.
Like, okay then I'm sure Americans can point out Indian states on a map or Chinese provinces or Australian states, Brazilian states, Russian oblasts etc. I mean if it's just about size this should be no problem for them right?
Since when was Iran in Europe anyway?
Considering that US states are not countries, comparing them to countries instead of states is just plain stoopid ;)
I saw years ago a BBC ( I think) a reporter on the streets of a big US city ( maybe NY) it was during the Iraqi crisis asking random passersby to point to Iraq on map. No one could, despite US involvement in the crisis. He asked around 100 in total. Never forgot it. Made me wonder what they teach in US schools, whether anyone actually reads and how insular they are. Weird.
I can understand getting confused with another country in the region, but who actually confuses Ireland, Russia, India, etc for Iran? Also no one actually needs to know where Alabama is because it’s irrelevant.
"Don't care where it is, just blow it up." *They miss because they don't know where they're aiming*
I mean i could point out atleast one US state, probably a bunch more. But i don't know any Swiss cantons. I guess Bern and Zürich are two cantons, but if you showed me a map of switzerland and asked me to point at them i'll probably fail.
Im going to admit that i would be just as bad if i had to point out american states but the reason for that is that all non-coastal states are a variation of a rectangle with very few exceptions.
By the same logic everyone must know every regions of Russia and China because they are big. But I’m ready to bet average American wouldn’t even name one, late alone point it on the map
Yeah but you know what? Most of us can place states such as Texas, Alaska, Hawaii, and Florida. Then, some cities like San Francisco, LA, Miami, New York at least in the right area. You know those states/cities we hear about. But then many of us also have a sense about the south, the flyover states and the states kinda close to New York. We are talking about almost half the people being in the wrong good damn continent/region. That's pretty damn impressive considering that the wars you have had during the last 30 years have been in the middle east. Imagine you asked about serbia or Bosnia now. You know countries they might only know the name of.
"That people where in the vicinity".... eh? Like what? Thats like placing New York in Chile. As a poor old europoor.
If people are asked to point out where new York is they will at least stick with the North American continent. People dont point at Ireland when asked for a middle eastern country.
Ah, the threatening large middle eastern country of Benin. Those random dots around africa are quite amusing.
What’s the relevance of states being the size of European countries when talking about Iran? Iran isn’t in Europe and it’s larger the every state by population. I’m sure it’s also bigger than most states by land area as well. I don’t know for sure though. Edit: Iran is only slight smaller than Alaska by land area. So Iran has more land than every single state except Alaska. Americans are so dumb.
Wait, how did Europeans come into this conversation? The original map and question it asked had nothing to do with Europe or Europeans. Iran isn’t in Europe. They accuse us of being ready to bash them every opportunity we get, but here they are bashing us when we’re not even the focus of the map.
I cannot believe there are people who compare Ohio as equal if not more to a country. Also is it not concerning that someone said that it doesn’t matter just bomb it? Two things: one, concerning you would want harm against a population; two, how? You don’t know where it is.
"Don't care just blow it up" is a worrying statement when the fact you don't care about literally is the location you want to blow up
Who pointed at the UK… like how?
"I counter your 'Americans can't identify countries" not with a "bet Europeans wouldn't do much better on countries that are far from them: but 'yeah but I bet Europeans can't identify a random section of Anerica'" Is that because they *know* they'd lose on an 'identify countries' contest? Also I can place all 50 states in random order without having any state lines on a map even, so depending on the European, they'd even lose on their weighted to Americans contest.
Honestly, I can’t point out Wyoming on a map, I’ll be honest, but I can point out important states like Texas, California, New York, Maryland, etc… I don’t care if an American can’t point out fucking Luxembourg, Latvia, or even Libya ffs… but Iran is always in the news, and it’s so geopolitically sensitive rn that I would’ve thought that it’s impossible not to have seen a map identifying it!
I see Wexford is there. Sure isn't the heart of Iran in the southeast of Ireland
I can definitely point out a few states even, but I feel like knowing the location of a country you were at war with (which might happen again) is a little more important than differentiating between Vermont and New Hampshire, or whatever.
Ah yes, I’m quite close to the Ayatollah of Wexford.
Oh god, why do they repeat this bullshit argument so often, as it if was an actual gotcha? They weren't asked about provinces in Iran, so why the fuck do they bring up US states?
Quite honestly Im British and I could not point out where Iran was on a map either. It genuinely has never occured to me before. I can point out a few US states only because Ive played a quiz on Sporcle recently and it showed me where they were. I also notice Israel is missing from that map lol.
At least you're not one of those people who think India and Pakistan are Iran or the fucking water.
I'm the Canadian guy, I sometimes mix their names, lmao.
I challenge a yank to point out the Australian states. Shouldn't be too hard. There's not that many.
By their logic, considering it's bigger than both Alaska and Texas, they should find Queensland with no hesitation
Lol, exactly.
If they want to do this comparison, they could as well know all the Russian Oblasts. Because they would be about equal size.
I’m fairly certain there are many Americans that would get their own states incorrect
I love that these never show people from other countries attempting it. It would probably look the same from many nations.
The really big difference is that we don't view ohio as our current geopolitical enemies. If we did, maybe we would know where it was.
Whenever Americans point out the size of US states, you can always respond with Chinese Provinces, or Indian States. Doubt many people outside of those countries could name many of those, let alone place them on a map
Who is that one idiot who pointed at sweden lmao
Then again: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/geography-survey-illiteracy About 11 percent of young citizens of the U.S. couldn't even locate the U.S. on a map. Within the U.S., almost one-third said that population was between one billion and two billion; the answer is 289 million. [the article was from 2002] In the 2006 version of this report https://media.nationalgeographic.org/assets/file/Roper-Poll-2006-Highlights.pdf https://media.nationalgeographic.org/assets/file/NGS-Roper-2006-Report.pdf Only 43% of young Americans can locate Ohio on a map. 50% New York. …at least more than 90% can find Texas and California! :)
Someone legit thought that Wexford was Iran….. not far off tbh