DAOTD: Geography Edition

[niomosy]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/steven-shehori/poll-37-of-americans-unab_b_150933.html

 

37% of Americans can't find USA on a map. Good job

 

Interesting quotes:

 

"On the whole, these figures should be construed as somewhat disappointing," Gallup spokesman Keith Ventner said. "Especially the two percent that believed the United States was located on the map's color-coded inset legend. I think we as a nation likely could have done without seeing that."

 

Well, at least the British art of understatement is still being practiced by some in the 'states, I see

 

When asked to reveal the identity of the giant America-shaped landmass found on the map, several of those polled were decidedly varied in their answers.

 

"That thing definitely looked familiar," said autoworker and father of three Ed McConnell. "And my gut told me there were probably a whole bunch of Americans there. So I had to go with 'Iraq.'

 

Other guesses as to the nature of the mystery country included "Hollywood," "Palestine," "The Shire," and "Club Med Punta Cana.""

 

 

Shirley Matheson, a part-time Arby's employee residing in Dayton, Ohio, agreed with Weiss's assessment. "I live in the U.S.A., so why would I need to know where America is? Or the United States for that matter?"

 

And, bonus Department of Homeland Security quote: Meanwhile, the Department of Homeland Security sees the Gallup/Harris poll results as a blessing in disguise. According to Secretary Michael Chertoff, the nation would be better off if these numbers skewed even higher.

 

"Personally, I believe if fewer people in this world could spot America on a map, we'd have a much better chance of avoiding national tragedies like 9/11," said Chertoff. "You can't attack a country you can't find."

[Hearafter]

That was confusing. They can't find America on a map of the United States...?

 

 

And who would actually believe that terr0rists wouldn't attack us if they couldn't find us? "Time to attack America!!! Okay, show me where it is on this map. I can't find it. Oh well, let's just go get some cave decorations."

 

That article is as much of a fail as the "poll" they apparently took.

[lug]

That was confusing. They can't find America on a map of the United States...? And who would actually believe that terr0rists wouldn't attack us if they couldn't find us? "Time to attack America!!! Okay, show me where it is on this map. I can't find it. Oh well, let's just go get some cave decorations." That article is as much of a fail as the "poll" they apparently took.

 

That pic is classified information. Homeland Security will be showing up at your door any minute now with a water board.

[Goofball Jones]

I can find it...all I have to do is point down to the ground and say, "there's America!"

[chunky-b]

That was confusing. They can't find America on a map of the United States...? And who would actually believe that terr0rists wouldn't attack us if they couldn't find us? "Time to attack America!!! Okay, show me where it is on this map. I can't find it. Oh well, let's just go get some cave decorations." That article is as much of a fail as the "poll" they apparently took.

 

It's a conspiracy to claim that all of 'Merica is made up of blue states now...

[Banta]

I am an American, and I am a world geography wiz.

 

(But my wife can't find her way around town.)

[fingeringam]

Thats funny because 38% of "Americans" are illegal immigrants

[misterhinkydink]

 

Thats funny because 38% of "Americans" are illegal immigrants

 

 

But they found "America".

[db.]

 

Thats funny because 38% of "Americans" are illegal immigrants

 

 

They know exactly where to wire their American earnings, though. :poke:

[niomosy]

 

But they found "America".

 

 

Ouch.

[Hearafter]

 

That pic is classified information. Homeland Security will be showing up at your door any minute now with a water board.

 

 

Is that anything like a wake board? Cuz I don't much care for water sports.

[King Kashue]

Regarding the follow up question of "what country is that big blue one in the middle"

 

"Other guesses as to the nature of the mystery country included..."The Shire," and "Club Med Punta Cana."

 

 

Yeah, respondents clearly took the poll seriously...as seriously as some readers of the blog post...

 

 

Maybe if it was The Onion, people would notice lines like:

 

"Asked for the name of the U.S. capital, those polled placed Washington, D.C., fifth behind "Minneapolis-St. Paul," "Mount Rushmore," "America City," and "Whitewater."

 

and

 

"Despite Americans' seemingly underdeveloped sense of their own geography, history and domestic policy, they did score high points on the issue of patriotism, calling America "the greatest country in the world" (47 percent), "the best state of all the Unites States" (31 percent), and "a place to definitely explore when I finally get my passport" (22 percent)."

[Thumper]

What do you expect? The map is blue....

 

 

They're all Blue States! No wonder Republicans can't find the USA on a map!

 

(runs like hell...)

[Kindness]

Regarding the follow up question of "what country is that big blue one in the middle" "Other guesses as to the nature of the mystery country included..."The Shire," and "Club Med Punta Cana." Yeah, respondents clearly took the poll seriously...as seriously as some readers of the blog post... Maybe if it was The Onion, people would notice lines like: "Asked for the name of the U.S. capital, those polled placed Washington, D.C., fifth behind "Minneapolis-St. Paul," "Mount Rushmore," "America City," and "Whitewater." and "Despite Americans' seemingly underdeveloped sense of their own geography, history and domestic policy, they did score high points on the issue of patriotism, calling America "the greatest country in the world" (47 percent), "the best state of all the Unites States" (31 percent), and "a place to definitely explore when I finally get my passport" (22 percent)."

 

I think people thought the fake transcript (Emanuel and Blaggo) in the other thread was real too.

[Rowka]

I personally believe that U.S. Americans are unable to do so because, uh, some ... people out there in our nation don't have maps and uh, I believe that our, ah, education like such as in South Africa, and, uh, the Iraq, everywhere like such as, and I believe that they should, uh, our education over here in the U.S. should help the U.S., or should help South Africa, it should help the Iraq and the Asian countries so we will be able to build up our future, for.

[King Kashue]

I think people thought the fake transcript (Emanuel and Blaggo) in the other thread was real too.

 

I'd far more readily believe that. I could honestly see Emanuel saying those things

[lug]

 

I personally believe that U.S. Americans are unable to do so because, uh, some ... people out there in our nation don't have maps and uh, I believe that our, ah, education like such as in South Africa, and, uh, the Iraq, everywhere like such as, and I believe that they should, uh, our education over here in the U.S. should help the U.S., or should help South Africa, it should help the Iraq and the Asian countries so we will be able to build up our future, for.

 

 

Winner

[Zebra]

 

I personally believe that U.S. Americans are unable to do so because, uh, some ... people out there in our nation don't have maps and uh, I believe that our, ah, education like such as in South Africa, and, uh, the Iraq, everywhere like such as, and I believe that they should, uh, our education over here in the U.S. should help the U.S., or should help South Africa, it should help the Iraq and the Asian countries so we will be able to build up our future, for.

 

 

That was so insightful and, ah, um, South Africa.

[ezstep]

Is that anything like a wake board? Cuz I don't much care for water sports.

 

 

I skiied for twenty years before I found out that people up north can ski on snow!

[Deep Bass]

 

Winner

 

 

When's the bikini contest?

[mikgag]