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I found this on a transient Times Online page a few days ago, it's the work of an Australian TV news crew sampling US opinion on the streets, sort of. I was amazed.

There are two factors that seem relevant:

how many got the answers right? (because they don't show any of them)

how broad was their sample base? (did they go to an amusement park?)

If they changed their location to a business district would the number of right answers increase? We wouldn't know because they only showed us the dumbest of all the answers.

koan;587718 wrote: There are two factors that seem relevant:

how many got the answers right? (because they don't show any of them)

how broad was their sample base? (did they go to an amusement park?)

If they changed their location to a business district would the number of right answers increase? We wouldn't know because they only showed us the dumbest of all the answers.


Thanks for your defense Koan, but it really doesn't matter where the sample base was taken. These were questions that everyone should have known, and didn't. Pretty pathetic!!!

I have had some of my peer group ask me if I have ever taken the bridge over to Australia from New Zealand. Generally speaking, the average American's knowledge of the world SUCKS.

The general level of knowledge might be poor but I still say the video was unfair. Having seen bystanders put in front of cameras, they tend to make the mind go blank for people who aren't used to it.

posted by Koan

There are two factors that seem relevant:

how many got the answers right? (because they don't show any of them)

how broad was their sample base? (did they go to an amusement park?)


Hopefully you do actually know if the answers were wrong or not.

In fairness though I bet if you did the same thing in London or any other big city you would find similar levels of ignorance on some of the things (most of them think Scotland and Wales are small villages north of Watford) although hopefully not to that extent. Biggest difference would be most of the Londoners will have been abroad at some time or other. It's very rare to meet someone who hasn't.

gmc;587760 wrote:

Hopefully you do actually know if the answers were wrong or not.




OK the dude who said lots believe that no one landed on the moon was correct.

I know they'd find a similar result in Canada too. The best way to keep it funny is to leave all the well informed interviewees on the cutting room floor.

What I found shocking was the older Gentleman not knowing answers about our History. I would like to think that the older Generation would know.

almostfamous;589919 wrote: I wouldn't consider this "modern-day education" .. at all really. I feel I received a fairly decent education and knew all the answers. I think it was a redneck display of ignorance that does not apply to all Americans. Don't get me wrong, I was appalled at how many were dumbfounded.

As in any country, there is cultural diversity, with which comes cultural favoritism, which in turn, causes some sectors within a culture to be isolated and written off as ignorant. If Americans are guilty of anything it's laziness.

did that make sense?:-3


had to put the cheetos down and get out of my lazy boy recliner to respond to ya young whipper snapper...yes it made sense:p

Sounds similar to the street thing on Leno, and that is for humor, but all too sad when people don't know things they should about our country.

Some of the same people if asked about the relationship status of this one and that would know in a minute. Goes to show how sensationalistic we've become.