Oh those dumb Americans.

The other day my husband asked if there's anything about the UK I was looking forward to upon moving back (once I get my spousal visa).  I said there were lots of good things but also some very annoying things.  One of the most annoying things is this belief/attitude/prejudice I've found held by some Brits that Americans as a society are generally more dumb than Brits (or other nationalities) -- that we're susceptible to believing the most ridiculous things (because we voted for GW Bush or supported Palin.)  

Case in point - a couple months ago, one of my in-laws posted a story on FB about an American woman who believed she was impregnated by a 3D porno.  According to the story, her husband believed her.  Several other of my in-laws were quick to comment.  Their comments ran variations of "Only in America could someone believe they were impregnated by a porno!" or "Those dumb Americans!"    

Well, it took about 2 seconds of Googling to find out that the story WAS FAKE.  (Snopes people!)  My reaction: "Dumb Americans?!  YOU are the ones that believed that this story was true - that someone actually thought they were impregnated by a porno when it took about 2 seconds to dispel this story."  

Ok, rant over.  

Oh, ugh...

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Yeah, that can be really annoying. My favorite one is when I'm told that Americans know nothing about geography and then the same person asks me if Boston is anywhere near Las Vegas. 

Americans do not have the monopoly on stupidity. I've met just as many stupid people in the UK as I have in America. I really wouldn’t let it bother you. Yeah, it’s annoying, but it says more about them than it does about you.

My favorite one is when I'm told that Americans know nothing about geography and then the same person asks me if Boston is anywhere near Las Vegas. 

  I loved quizzing people and friends on US geography. They would ask me, "hey, I'm visiting LA, think I could catch a short bus to NYC?"  Or "your city, Dallas, is that near Georgia or Miami?"  Or if when I returned to Dallas if I could 'pop in' and visit their friend in Detroit. And then I have the joy of explaining that the distance between Detroit and Dallas is almost the same as London and Rome   

My husband and I were watching a documentary on flea markets.

There was a section in the 127 Sale, which I had never heard of before.  This year, the sale is 690 miles.  That is longer John O' Groats to Land's End by road, which is 874. Heh.

  I loved quizzing people and friends on US geography. They would ask me, "hey, I'm visiting LA, think I could catch a short bus to NYC?"  Or "your city, Dallas, is that near Georgia or Miami?"  Or if when I returned to Dallas if I could 'pop in' and visit their friend in Detroit. And then I have the joy of explaining that the distance between Detroit and Dallas is almost the same as London and Rome   

Liz Lemon!

I don't really care if someone's US geography isn't up to scratch. As you pointed out, it's massive, so it's understandable to not know much about the layout. It's only when people criticise Americans for not knowing European geography, but their North American geography is lacking, that I get annoyed. I dislike double standards. Yeah, I'm sure it's annoying when Americans think England is only London, countryside and sheep, but it's equally annoying when people think the US is California, Las Vegas, New York and Florida and they're all right next to each other.  Bah!

The geography questions are ALWAYS the best! hahaha I love getting asked "So....you're from Boston....what's that near?"

In fairness, I can't expect anyone to know where Tallahassee is....much less Sopchoppy or Wewahitchica....or why Cairo is pronounced the way it is....

An Australian friend of mine had an unexpected detour to Texas (I forget which city.) I was living in Montgomery, Alabama at the time. She called me up soooo excited, "Hurry up! Get in your car! I'll be here for 3-4 hours!"  It was a 600+ mile drive.

An Australian friend of mine had an unexpected detour to Texas (I forget which city.) I was living in Montgomery, Alabama at the time. She called me up soooo excited, "Hurry up! Get in your car! I'll be here for 3-4 hours!"  It was a 600+ mile drive.

Maybe she was expecting you to drive really fast 

Well, we all know that Boston is the Hub of the Universe, right. 

Well, we all know that Boston is the Hub of the Universe, right. 

Has nothing to do with the Hub of the universe lol Has EVERYTHING to do with having the piss taken out of me for not knowing the geography of England yet being asked which coast Boston is on   

Initially I was shocked when DF's friends didn't know because I was like "uhh...Boston....revolutionary war......boston tea party....HISTORY!" And I use to playfully tease DF about "winning" the revolutionary war (my family wasn't even in America yet haha) but he'd playfully remind me that they didn't learn that stuff like we did as they had more important things going on.

Initially I was shocked when DF's friends didn't know because I was like "uhh...Boston....revolutionary war......boston tea party....HISTORY!" And I use to playfully tease DF about "winning" the revolutionary war (my family wasn't even in America yet haha) but he'd playfully remind me that they didn't learn that stuff like we did as they had more important things going on.

Conversely, when my son was in high school (in US) the other kids were always taking the mick because "his" side had lost the Revolution. (And he does have an ancestor who fought on the "winning" side  )
But it's true -- school kids in the UK will know a lot more about history of the Vikings and Romans than they will about that little colonial war -- if they know anything at all. And I don't think anybody is taught anything about geography anymore -- anywhere.

Has nothing to do with the Hub of the universe lol Has EVERYTHING to do with having the piss taken out of me for not knowing the geography of England yet being asked which coast Boston is on   

Initially I was shocked when DF's friends didn't know because I was like "uhh...Boston....revolutionary war......boston tea party....HISTORY!" And I use to playfully tease DF about "winning" the revolutionary war (my family wasn't even in America yet haha) but he'd playfully remind me that they didn't learn that stuff like we did as they had more important things going on.

Same thing here with Philadelphia which has just as much if not more history Colonial times.

But I don't think anyone has known where it is except for those who have flown to Florida or Chicago and had a stop in Phila first.  My current manager asked me if it was in the South.  But then I didn't know where Leeds was when I first met my husband.

My current manager asked me if it was in the South.

Being from Boston, I would categorize Pennsylvania as a Southern state. 


I agree with you BostonDiner, I don't think people are taught much about geography anymore. I know I learned American Geography when I was young, but we weren't taught much else. However, I do generally know where most countries are on a map.