My man, I have met a guy who thought we were talking about partying when I mentioned political parties. He has never heard about the democrats and republican parties, I guess. Or if he had, he just assumed they were events with people partying. I’m not kidding.
this post was submitted on 18 Aug 2026
-15 points (28.6% liked)
No Stupid Questions
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in high school a massive stoner burn out guy excidely came to us saying he found the sickest song on the jute box. it was hey jude. he apparently saw hey dude in his head.
Because that information has no application in their day to day lives.
Stranger things have happened. Did you know there are people who actually believe Ohio is real?
I thought that was real, but will be eliminated?
Or Wyoming. Morons.
There are a lot of people in the world who have never looked at a map of the United States.
Americans being terrible at geography is a meme for a reason ...
I took a college class once about early childhood development. We were looking at a map of countries colored based on how much paid maternal leave is required to be provided. There were only two countries on the map with 0 required.
Person sitting on my right: I should really know the name of that other country [looking at Papua New Guinea]
Me: Yeah I don't remember right now but I knew it was just the US and one other country. I really should know the name I just forgot it right now...
Person sitting on my left: Yeah I've never seen it before... Is it part of Canada or something?
Me: ... That one?
Left: Yeah
Me: That's Alaska
Left: Haha. Wait really? Are you sure?
Me: 🤨
True story that took place at a USA university
It really isn't lol
It's almost always making fun of Americans' ignorance to European geography. But I'll bet the average European wouldn't fare much better trying to map out the US - which is roughly the size of the entirety of Europe.
Turns out locations on the other side of the world just isn't that important for most people to memorize...
Sorry to burst your bubble, but the "murica big" argument isn't an excuse outside of identifying states vs european countries, and even then it's dubious at best.
Ask an average subsection of Europeans and Americans, and Europeans will simply be better at picking countries on a map of remote regions.. This has been tested multiple times.
Sorry to burst your bubble, but those studies don't disprove my point and the biggest reported difference (15%) isn't all that significant considering proximity. Your neighbors accounts for like 1/4 the test.
You're familiar with European, Asian, and even African countries through casual exposure if nothing else. On maps and in the news, your neighboring countries are very relevant to your life. The US has two. Only the big news gets here from over the ocean because it's irrelevant to daily life.
But now imagine that all 50 states are separate countries. Would the US really be so far behind? Would the average European be 15% better at pointing out Nebraska than Joe Schmoe in Alabama? I really doubt it but I'd be a fool to hold it against them.
So yeah, I'd be equally shocked if you briefly showed me a picture of your cupboard then beat me in a contest at naming the contents. That does indeed make you better at naming your cupboard contents.
I do appreciate you not pointing out a mistake in my last comment - I meant the US is about the size of the EU, not Europe as a continent.
Everyone, everywhere is terrible at geography.
Speak for yourself mate.
But the level of terribleness varies.
Is this a USA community?
I'm not American. Sorry, I thought it was common for everyone to have seen a map of the Untied States? Is it just in Canada that non-americans are likely to know a little basic American geography?
I can't name any provinces in other countries outside Canada but I've seen world maps and know the basic shape of Brazil. I would have thought by looking at a map, people, American or not, would notice Alaska and Hawaii being specifically singled out
It's because, unfortunately for you, we are neighbors :(
Is this a non-USA community? 🥴
Edit: Honestly for a time I would’ve upvoted a comment like this but it’s frankly tiring. If someone posted about another country’s province/state you wouldn’t see this behavior. So yes, I get it, we’re all evil and bad but also please get over yourself.
Ok, I'll bite ...
If someone asked a similar question about another country without ever mentioning the country, you would not react like that to that same question.
I read it as an actual question. Because the answer is very different depending on if it's asked of USians or of people around the globe.
It might be a rhetorical question though, meant to make OP think.
we
In any case, you have once again proven that us american exceptionalism is a big thing in americans' minds.
Do you know how annoying it is to constantly deal with this, just because we all speak English? Oh and that's not enough, sometimes y'all even complain that there are communities that do not demand English content.
I'll grant you one thing though: this is not endemic to us americans, I've seen similar behavior in other contexts. Doesn't make it better though.
I have a feeling it’s the same people who don’t know New Mexico is a US state.
Haha, true. Most know NY or NJ. I bet New Mexico and New Hampshire are forgotten about a lot.
New Memphis and New Pasadena are even more forgotten about.
One of the biggest problems in the world is the failure of the American education system. It produces a vast amount of ignorance and carelessness.
Combined with that unique delusion of American Exceptionalism ... well, we all see the result
Maybe they're just one of today's lucky ten thousand.
Are there?
There are ~~people~~ Americans who don't know New Mexico is a state.
I think I remember a story about a Hertz employee refusing to honor a reservation for someone from New Mexico because they claimed they needed an international driver's license to rent the car since "they didn't live in the US."
There are people who don't care about america.
Let me rephrase.
There are Americans who don't know New Mexico is a state.
Most I expect, don't know that Real Mexico has 31 states.
How are there people who don't know Alaska and Hawaii are states?
Because most of the people you would expect to know about them are uneducated and never care about such topics.