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Do you think Americans are stupid?
Personally I would not call them stupid but this question is asked more and more and I find it offensive. I don't think a whole nation should be criticized using stereotypes. However they do seem to be misinformed when it comes to knowledge of the world.
Are americans failed by their education system, or is it due to politics.
What Americans think
(This thread is not meant to be offensive)
Are americans failed by their education system, or is it due to politics.
What Americans think
(This thread is not meant to be offensive)
Scroll to see replies
That video doesn't do them any favours, they're leaders wordcraft is appaling and they have a reputation for easy to understand, big pictures and big letters media. But I don't think Americans on the whole are stupid, they just tend to focus more on whats going on in America and Iraq than anywhere else
I wouldn't count a YouTube video as conclusive evidence for determining the intelligence of nation with a population in the hundreds of millions. There are plenty of intelligent Americans, it's just less fun to publicise them.
America simply provides a nice, big and soft target - you'll find equally moronic citizens in any other country, but who cares if there's a few Serbians with a limited world understanding?
America simply provides a nice, big and soft target - you'll find equally moronic citizens in any other country, but who cares if there's a few Serbians with a limited world understanding?
beatnik~87
Personally I would not call them stupid but this question is asked more and more and I find it offensive. I don't think a whole nation should be criticized using stereotypes. However they do seem to be misinformed when it comes to knowledge of the world.
Are americans failed by their education system, or is it due to politics.
What Americans think
(This thread is not meant to be offensive)
Are americans failed by their education system, or is it due to politics.
What Americans think
(This thread is not meant to be offensive)
That being said, the education system in the US provides what I feel to be a very well rounded education. I actually met a doctor in Germany one time who did not know the Sun was a star. (seriously). Students must take all sorts of classes enlightening them about many subjects that they will never pursue.
What you saw in that video were dropouts, troublemakers, and people who do not care. Within those very same schools were students taking advanced and AP (college credit) classes with near perfect SAT scores who will go off to elite US universities (which are currently at the forefront of the world).
My younger brother just graduate High School and has earned a full ride to Duke University. His calculus teacher actually had the kids show up to school 30 minutes early for the ENTIRE YEAR. As a result, in the last 15 years all but 3 of his students have scored a 5/5 on the AP exam (earning them a full year of credit- 8 hours in any University in America). These results are unheard of, as a 5 is very difficult to achieve, yet all of his students earn this mark year after year after year.
Give me a video camera and 5 minutes of your time and I can lead you to believe that all of England has a sheep fetish. Hopefully those abroad are smart enough to realize this.
Its an ABC video, one of the most respected broadcasting agencies worldwide.
The video does show how brash and stupid americans can be. But I'm sure theres another side to the coin.
The video does show how brash and stupid americans can be. But I'm sure theres another side to the coin.
Kondar
It is a pretty naive question that you ask. Of course there are some stupid Americans, bad teachers, and bad schools. The same can be said about any nation. Universities in the US are amongst the best in the world and the US remains at the forefront of intellectual property and technological innovations.
That being said, the education system in the US provides what I feel to be a very well rounded education. I actually met a doctor in Germany one time who did not know the Sun was a star. (seriously). Students must take all sorts of classes enlightening them about many subjects that they will never pursue.
What you saw in that video were dropouts, troublemakers, and people who do not care. Within those very same schools were students taking advanced and AP (college credit) classes with near perfect SAT scores who will go off to elite US universities (which are currently at the forefront of the world).
My younger brother just graduate High School and has earned a full ride to Duke University. His calculus teacher actually had the kids show up to school 30 minutes early for the ENTIRE YEAR. As a result, in the last 15 years all but 3 of his students have scored a 5/5 on the AP exam (earning them a full year of credit- 8 hours in any University in America). These results are unheard of, as a 5 is very difficult to achieve, yet all of his students earn this mark year after year after year.
Give me a video camera and 5 minutes of your time and I can lead you to believe that all of England has a sheep fetish. Hopefully those abroad are smart enough to realize this.
That being said, the education system in the US provides what I feel to be a very well rounded education. I actually met a doctor in Germany one time who did not know the Sun was a star. (seriously). Students must take all sorts of classes enlightening them about many subjects that they will never pursue.
What you saw in that video were dropouts, troublemakers, and people who do not care. Within those very same schools were students taking advanced and AP (college credit) classes with near perfect SAT scores who will go off to elite US universities (which are currently at the forefront of the world).
My younger brother just graduate High School and has earned a full ride to Duke University. His calculus teacher actually had the kids show up to school 30 minutes early for the ENTIRE YEAR. As a result, in the last 15 years all but 3 of his students have scored a 5/5 on the AP exam (earning them a full year of credit- 8 hours in any University in America). These results are unheard of, as a 5 is very difficult to achieve, yet all of his students earn this mark year after year after year.
Give me a video camera and 5 minutes of your time and I can lead you to believe that all of England has a sheep fetish. Hopefully those abroad are smart enough to realize this.
My comments highlight your points, I am not saying americans are stupid I am asking why people think americans are stupid i.e is it their education system. I'll clarify it in my title.
no but i've seen all i need to see to make that assumption. It'll change if anything else pops up.
beatnik~87
My comments highlight your points, I am not saying americans are stupid I am asking why people think americans are stupid i.e is it their education system. I'll clarify it in my title.
If people overseas honestly feel that Americans are stupid despite their large role in the world, then they are either in angry denial or perhaps they need a better education themselves.
Kondar
Well, 20/20 has to say something shocking if they expect viewers to watch their shows. Broadcasting realistic information and saying that everything is ok isn’t going to score them any points.
If people overseas honestly feel that Americans are stupid despite their large role in the world, then they are either in angry denial or perhaps they need a better education themselves.
If people overseas honestly feel that Americans are stupid despite their large role in the world, then they are either in angry denial or perhaps they need a better education themselves.
That is true but you are talking about the best of the best, what about the average?
beatnik~87
That is true but you are talking about the best of the best, what about the average?
not in general, but most of the americans i know are conceited, dumb and think way too much of their looks. and i know about 10, so i don't know the entire population of AMerica, but the ones i know are like that!
unfinished sympathy
not in general, but most of the americans i know are conceited, dumb and think way too much of their looks. and i know about 10, so i don't know the entire population of AMerica, but the ones i know are like that!
The people saying things like this are obviously not the sharpest tool in the shed.
beatnik~87
That is true but you are talking about the best of the best, what about the average?
As far as test numbers go, Bismarck will be here shortly to counter. :P I don't have the time and am confident enough that I don't feel the need to spend 30 minutes digging them up.
Kondar
I think this highly intelligent quote makes my point for me.
The people saying things like this are obviously not the sharpest tool in the shed.
The people saying things like this are obviously not the sharpest tool in the shed.
why does this quote make me dumb? The group of americans i know are conceited, and obsessed with their looks etc, i'm not saying the whole of America is! Merely those whom i know!
beatnik~87
Personally I would not call them stupid but this question is asked more and more and I find it offensive. I don't think a whole nation should be criticized using stereotypes. However they do seem to be misinformed when it comes to knowledge of the world.
Are americans failed by their education system, or is it due to politics.
What Americans think
(This thread is not meant to be offensive)
Are americans failed by their education system, or is it due to politics.
What Americans think
(This thread is not meant to be offensive)
Now for a moment consider what would have happened to you if you replaced the word "American" in the title of your thread with "Pakistanis", "Indians", or "blacks".
I've seen lots of video clips where an English (or otherwise) reporter takes to the NY streets and asks basic geographical or political questions and is met with dumb answers, but im sure we have our share of idiots too.
I keep in good contact with a wide range of Americans of all ages, and generally I have noticed something that the 'smart' ones have in common. Those who I would not consider to be idiots have actually visited somewhere outside of America (not including Canada and Mexico). They tend to be the better educated ones, and tend to have some clue about the world we live in. I would have to say that the average Joe Public Americans I have encountered are generally clueless, and perhaps to a degree that you simply wouldn't find in England. It would be interesting to see some questions put to some English common-folk.
In fact there's something for me to do one weekend over the summer! If I do film some questions being answered, Ill stick it up on YouTube and revive this thread and we can sigh wearily at the incompetence of our own country!
I keep in good contact with a wide range of Americans of all ages, and generally I have noticed something that the 'smart' ones have in common. Those who I would not consider to be idiots have actually visited somewhere outside of America (not including Canada and Mexico). They tend to be the better educated ones, and tend to have some clue about the world we live in. I would have to say that the average Joe Public Americans I have encountered are generally clueless, and perhaps to a degree that you simply wouldn't find in England. It would be interesting to see some questions put to some English common-folk.
In fact there's something for me to do one weekend over the summer! If I do film some questions being answered, Ill stick it up on YouTube and revive this thread and we can sigh wearily at the incompetence of our own country!
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