Geographical Ignorance is FUN!

[SkeLeton]

The title speaks for itself... Post here any stories (that are true please) related to people's ignorance in the field of geography which ends up in a comical conversation or act.

My examples:
Once a European citizen (I think he was from the Chech Republic or something like that) asked my aunt if there where any crocodiles in the river (Valdivia River). Of course our beloved ignorant friend here, did not know that South America isn't all just like Brazil... We do not have crocodiles.. nowhere in Chile! (at least not naturally.. obviously we do have some in zoos)
Another example of Geopolitical ignorance:
A group of european geographers came here to do some reserch, and they came more prepared and stocked like they where going to be in a jungle .One had a baby and brought a huge cargo of diapers, I mean... HELLO! we do have diapers too you know! It's not like we lived in the trees and stuff like that!

BTW does anybody know how can I make a faster coconut computer? mine is so slow that I can go jump a few trees and visit some other neighbors on other trees before it finishes to load the cyburbia page

 

[nerudite]

I went down to Citywalk at Universal Studios this bizarre little faux downtown on the studio lot geared toward getting tourists liquored up. So I went into this bar about a year ago and they carded me. I showed them my Alberta drivers license. The guy at the door said to me, "oh, Alberta... that's in the province of Calgary huh?" I was just happy that he knew that Canada had provinces.

 

[Chet]

Last time I was in London I was talking to an Aussie bartender at acorner pub. When he didnt know where Milwaukee was, I told him it was "just north of Chicago". His eyes lit up, and he replied " Oooh Chicago! Do you know Michael Jordan? "

 

[Cardinal]

A couple years ago I was in LA for a week, and one day at the pool I met a very attractive blond in a very small bikini. We began to talk, and eventually came around to where we were from. "Wisconsin? Wait... Is that east of here?... Isn't it, like, next to Ohio or something?" I don't like to stereotype, but she was a true blond. Yes, Prudence, the carpet did match the drapes.

 

[Zoning Goddess]

My (now-ex)stepson was in a really stupid-ass, hick school district in FL (yes, there are GOOD ones and BAD ones). As a high school senior, he could not identify the Midwest, New England, or the Miss River. He did get Texas and California.

 

[SW MI Planner]

Yes, Prudence, the carpet did match the drapes.

I'm sure we'll all sleep better tonight knowing that Mike

 

[biscuit]

I was in high school and in Northern California on a cross-country family vacation when I met four really cute girls in the lobby of the hotel we were staying in (a God-send when you're 16 and just spent two weeks in a van with your parents). I starting speaking with them and after hearing my thick southern accent one of the girls got all excited and said "OMG! are you from Australia?!" I responded sarcastically "Yeah, South Carolina, not too far." She then said "It must be so cool being from another country!"

I left it at that and had one of my best evenings while on that trip.

 

[Downtown]

As a second year grad student in Clemson, I was working in the computer lab, sitting behind two other first year planning grad students. The South Carolinian guy turns to the Pennsylvanian girl and says, in all seriousness "You don't act at all like a Yankee is supposed to." When she asked him what a Yankee is supposed to act like, he responded "You know, bossy and loud and like a Know it All" I almost started hyperventilating and was so tempted to jump in with "Oh yeah? if we seem like know it alls, its because more than 50% of our population graduated from high school!" You know, I never really thought about the fact that I lived in "The North", until I moved down South, where lots of people cared about the distinction.

 

[PlannerGirl]

lol funny the most racist rednecks i have ever met were from upstate NY and lower NJ

My family thinks i have "traded sides" and become a yankee becouse i live in NORTHERN Va.

i dont get it but hey-the whole world cant be blessed with having GEOGRAPHY degree *bows*

hehe ok i feel better

 

[biscuit]

lol funny the most racist rednecks i have ever met were from upstate NY and lower NJ

True. And if you live in South Carolina that is where most of the resettled snowbirds are from and some have not adapted well to the slower pace of life, although that doen't excuse that Clemson grads poor manners. I just returned from being in a wedding this weekend at the Poinsett in Greenville (beautiful hotel. A really nice example of historic renovation). My fiance, a Pennsylvaia girl, went along and got a few light hearted remarks about being a yankee but she was a good sport about it.

As far as geographic ignorance goes, I was asked by more than one person over the weekend how I liked Philly (I live on the other side of the State) which could have been an honest mistake. I've meet several persons here in PA that do not recognize that North and South Carolina are two seperate states...

"Where did you move from?"

"Upstate of South Carolina."

"Really, well I've got a sister living in Raleigh" or "We just love going to the the Outer Banks."

 

[Jeff]

When I used to work for the county, it was amazing how many people did not know what township they lived in. They know the name of their post office or their development, but would have no idea what municipal govt they paid their taxes too.....

The best example is the famous Levittown. Levittown spans across 4 municipalities....

"So sir, where do you live?"

"Levittown"

"OK but what township?"

"Levittown"

"OK how about you just show me your street on a map?"

 

[Downtown]

Along the lines of Danie's thread - some of my co-workers in SC just could not fathom that there was "country" and "country folk" in NY. No one ever believed me when I would try to explain that there were bigger rednecks in my family than in some parts of rural upstate S.C.,

 

[seannelson]

city boy

I went to a small college in central Kansas and there was a guy from New Jersey that was worried about the town being attacked by indians. This lasted through the first couple weeks of school.

 

[el Guapo]

He had reasons; the Indians and the Bagladeshis are very fierce and respected at Bethany College! They don't take to being dis'ed.

 

[biscuit]

KMateja:

I understand, I know people down there who think that if someone says they're from L.A. they mean lower-Anderson county.

I think you'd get a kick out of this...
I was one of only two people in the wedding I was in over the weekend who aren't Clemson grads. During the middle of the reception the DJ stopped the music and began blaring the "Tiger Rag." 200 drunks then started screaming the words, "WhooHooHooHoo!"'s and all. To make it even better Bob Jones University was having a spring formal in the ballroom next door. Needless to say, they were not a happy bunch of fundamentalists.

 

[Mastiff]

Bob Jones University was having a spring formal in the ballroom next door. Needless to say, they were not a happy bunch of fundamentalists.

Having that place named BJU is just so ironic...

 

[Super Amputee Cat]

I once went out with this airhead, whom, when I asked her if she had ever been out of the country, replied "Yes, Kentucky"

I kid you not.

 

[pete-rock]

Duh...

I've met many people who didn't know that Los Angeles was in California, that Chicago is in Illinois, or that Detroit is in Michigan, for example. It seems they think cities are free-standing entities apart from states.

 

[SkeLeton]

AFAIK only the 20% or less of the US citizens have a passaport...
So that means that the 80% has only a local mind, they don't get out and see the world. they just belive in what the news say... And if CNN would like to put Germany and Tuvalu in a war for limit conflict, many would fall for that trick...

 

[Seabishop]

AFAIK only the 20% or less of the US citizens have a passaport...
So that means that the 80% has only a local mind, they don't get out and see the world. they just belive in what the news say... And if CNN would like to put Germany and Tuvalu in a war for limit conflict, many would fall for that trick...

I think the low percentage of Americans with passports is due to the fact that we're such a big, physically isolated country. This isn't Europe where there's a new country every 300 miles linked by rail. I think if we did travel more people would complain that Americans are everywhere as they overcharge us. (The travelling American is boorish and imposing; the travelling European is broadening his mind)

As far as news coverage, I don't think that most people do their own international investigative reporting. Other countries' news organizations have their own slants as well.

As far as geographical ignorance, I've heard stories about people being amazed that there is a state called Rhode Island, but I haven't travelled far enough in the US to hear them myself.

 

[ajacks13]

I'd just be happy if people stop pronouncing the "s" in Illinois (and I've heard that from a few Chicagoans) -it's like fingernails on the chalkboard to me.

I was also disappointed and annoyed that when I showed people pictures from a recent trip to Cape Town, SA they were "surprised" to find that they had....*gasp* REFRIGERATORS?!!!

 

[Cardinal]

So few Americans have a passport because it is simply not necessary. We can travel the entire North American continent and a handful of other locations without one.

 

[Habanero]

He did get Texas....

and that's all that matters!

 

[boiker]

any good chicawgoian....

I'd just be happy if people stop pronouncing the "s" in Illinois (and I've heard that from a few Chicagoans) -it's like fingernails on the chalkboard to me.

I was also disappointed and annoyed that when I showed people pictures from a recent trip to Cape Town, SA they were "surprised" to find that they had....*gasp* REFRIGERATORS?!!!

it doesn't bother me when i hear Illinois, i just deal with it, laff it off.

I was just in Evanstan the other day, btw. I had to do research on different type of walgreen's architecture.

 

[Chet]

Re: any good chicawgoian....

it doesn't bother me when i hear Illinois, i just deal with it, laff it off.

[ot] Boiker - I just saw Rockford advertising for a Planner II. Doesnt that just kinda piss you off? [/ot]

 

[SkeLeton]

What I hate most is that people don't understand the importance of being geographically compentent.... In a globalized world like today's being self-centered and geographically incompetent would bring you a lot of problems...
How can you trade or write a political column(refering to foreign affairs) if you don't know a damn thing about geography!
A few weeks ago there was a european journalist covering the UN Security Council dispute over Irak, and when mentioning Chile, he gladly moved us to AFRICA!!!! Great work dumbass!

 

[Downtown]

KMateja:

I understand, I know people down there who think that if someone says they're from L.A. they mean lower-Anderson county.

I think you'd get a kick out of this...
I was one of only two people in the wedding I was in over the weekend who aren't Clemson grads. During the middle of the reception the DJ stopped the music and began blaring the "Tiger Rag." 200 drunks then started screaming the words, "WhooHooHooHoo!"'s and all. To make it even better Bob Jones University was having a spring formal in the ballroom next door. Needless to say, they were not a happy bunch of fundamentalists.

hee! one of the WORST weddings I ever went to was in Greenville, with a bunch of Clemson Alum during a football game. The reception was a ghost town since everyone was in the hotel lobby watching the game. Except for when the dj played Tiger Rag. good lord.

biscuit - you're making me miss the Jockey Lot!

 

[pete-rock]

What I hate most is that people don't understand the importance of being geographically compentent....

For us Americans, I think our lack of geographical knowledge is mostly because of our isolation. As a nation we didn't become really involved in any foreign affairs outside of our own narrow interests (i.e., Mexico, the Caribbean) until World War I. America was the place people came to get away from everyone else.

Even still, I can't stand it when elitist people from the East or West Coasts refer to the 30+ states in between as "fly-over" land, holding no interest in their minds whatsoever. To them, Indiana might as well be Colorado.

 

[SkeLeton]

Ignorance is bliss? I don't think that Geographical ignorance is very cool at all... but mabye that's just because I want to be a Geographer
Proper geographical knowlegde is as important as math. If you don't know where the hell you're standing, everything else loses it's coherence( of course not to the point of 2+2=3, and such things)
Having proper knowlegde of the world allows you to escape hoaxes and such things. Ignorance is slavery.

Let's see if this thread gets a 2nd shot

 

[Tranplanner]

Today, CNN.com stated the following in an article:

Canada has reported 306 suspected or probable cases with 14 deaths, including 136 cases in Ottawa province.

Bonus points to the first non-canadian cyburbanite to spot the error!

 

[SGB]

Ottawa is the provincial and national capital, not a province. Ontario is the province.

I lived just 1.5 hours south of there in northern NY state for 8 years (including college), so perhaps I have an unfair advantage!

Today, CNN.com stated the following in an article:

Canada has reported 306 suspected or probable cases with 14 deaths, including 136 cases in Ottawa province.

Bonus points to the first non-canadian cyburbanite to spot the error!

 

[Tranplanner]

Ottawa is the provincial and national capital, not a province. Ontario is the province.

I lived just 1.5 hours south of there in northern NY state for 8 years (including college), so perhaps I have an unfair advantage!

You get part marks, SGB. Ottawa is the national capital, and Ontario is the province, but Toronto is the capital of Ontario.

I'll just keep the prize for myself. Mmmmmm....donut.

 

[SGB]

Rats! I though Toronto was only the financial capital.....

I can practically smell the TH's donut from here....... [drool]

 

[Tom R]

Canada

OK, list the Canadian provinces that border the Great Lakes.

 

[Tom R]

geo

One of my pet peeves (having been born and raised in W. Pa.) is the reference to Pittsburgh being at the confluence of the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio Rivers.

 

[SGB]

Re: Canada

OK, list the Canadian provinces that border the Great Lakes.

That would be Ontario, and......ummmm......Ontario?

 

[Tom R]

Re: Re: Canada

That would be Ontario, and......ummmm......Ontario?

Give SGB a cigar!

 

[Cardinal]

Re: Re: Re: Canada

Give SGB a cigar!

Make it a Cuban.

Speaking of Tobacco products, who hear knows the small Canadian city that bills itself as the heart of Canada's tobacco country?

 

[Tom R]

smoke

My guess is that it is on the St. Lawrence somewhere.
No bites on the Pittsburgh thing yet?

 

[BKM]

I guess I am ignorant. I though Pittsburgh WAS at this confluence . I'm too lazy to look up Mapquest, so. . .

 

[Tranplanner]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Canada

Make it a Cuban.

Speaking of Tobacco products, who hear knows the small Canadian city that bills itself as the heart of Canada's tobacco country?

Would that be Tillsonburg (how my back aches when I hear that word)?

 

[biscuit]

There is no confluence of three rivers. Where would the water go if there was?
Downtown Pittsburgh is located at the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers, which marks the formation of the Ohio River.

Signed
The Pittsburgh Minister of Information

 

[OhioPlanner]

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/geobee/

National Geographic has a kids game where you answer questions from the Geography Bee. Take a stab, I got less than 50% right.

 

[biscuit]

100% baby. Yeah, those middle schoolers have got nothing on me!

Oh God. I'm such a nerd

 

[Downtown]

huh. mesopotamia is in Asia. And bushman are in Africa. Those were my second guesses. I'm a dumbass.

 

[NHPlanner]

Suprisingly, I got them all too. Geography is not one of my favorites....

 

[Dan]

Here's one for you ...

Identify the part of North America (excluding Central America and the Caribbean) that is NOT in Mexico, Canada or the United States.

 

[Cardinal]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Canada

Would that be Tillsonburg (how my back aches when I hear that word)?

No, but awfully close.

 

[donk]

For dan - would that be greenland?

For michael would that be chatham ?

 

[Dan]

For dan - would that be greenland?

Nope.