Oh those dumb Americans.

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

Ohhhhhhhh, I'm feeling faint......

*thud*

More people vaguely knew New Jersey than I expected. They generally had the idea that it was near New York. However, it always came with a Sopranos comment. 

More people vaguely knew New Jersey than I expected. They generally had the idea that it was near New York. However, it always came with a Sopranos comment. 

One of the best things about having lived in Jersey City is I recognized lots of the scenes in the opening credits. Oh, that romantic Pulaski Skyway. I think Jimmy Hoffa is in one of the piers.

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.

Well, clearly not if you think PA is a southern state. It has a Canadian border and is above the Mason-Dixon Line.    PA, like NY and NJ is a middle state.

Before this goes any further, we don't have any members from Alaska, do we?

I didn't realise people weren't being taught geography anymore, and that's a real shame. I remember being in school in the late '60s and having to trace every country in the world from an atlas, then being tested on where cities, mountains, rivers, etc. were. And I was about 6 years old at the time. I suppose things have changed since those days. 

I know I am a complete geek for this, but I remember fondly the pull down maps that were above the blackboard in elementary school. I loved when we used them and really wanted one for my house. 

Fallgal & Bookgrl, I was 100% joking. I know that Pennsylvania is a Mid-Atlantic state. I was making a joke with these maps in mind...

I know! I used to live in NH and RI, so I know ALL about you Massachusetts people.   

I didn't realise people weren't being taught geography anymore, and that's a real shame. I remember being in school in the late '60s and having to trace every country in the world from an atlas, then being tested on where cities, mountains, rivers, etc. were. And I was about 6 years old at the time. I suppose things have changed since those days. 

Very much so! It could just be my school, but while there were maps of the world and atlases in classrooms, we were only tested on US geography (when we were very young). Saying that, when we were studying world history at high school level, some of the test questions would be a blank map and we'd have to fill in the countries or cities. While those are geography questions, I never really considered it to be studying geography as a subject. Also, you're right. It is a shame that it isn't being taught extensively anymore.


bookgrl, oh good! I was worried you thought I was serious!

One of the best things about having lived in Jersey City is I recognized lots of the scenes in the opening credits. Oh, that romantic Pulaski Skyway. I think Jimmy Hoffa is in one of the piers.

Ah yes the Pulaski Skyway! I can see it from my apartment. 

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....

I don't really know where Tallahassee is, to be fair. Also, how is Cairo pronounced? Heh.

Well, clearly not if you think PA is a southern state. It has a Canadian border and is above the Mason-Dixon Line.    PA, like NY and NJ is a middle state.

Wait...PA has a Canadian border? Seriously? I had no idea. I grew up in NJ but have only a very, very vague sense of US geography outside of the Northeast coast and the Pacific coast and not a great grasp of the geography of even those areas.

Most of the time when someone names where they grew up in NJ, I have no idea where it is unless it's in two counties that I'm fairly familiar with. I actually probably have a better general sense of European geography than US. The capital of Moldova is Chisinau but I have no idea what the capital of at least half of the US states are. And I can't necessarily locate them all on a map, either.

To be fair, neither did I until we were watching Pointless and PA was the only pointless answer and I had to hang my head in shame.

It is Lake Erie that gives them the border, which is sort of a swizz.

PlainPearl - I knew you were joking!

PlainPearl - I knew you were joking!

Hooray! 

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

LOL!

A bit like now, I classify anything beyond Watford as "the north."