Not All Americans are Stupid ... This is a quiz [Archive]

IJ Reilly

Dec 11, 2003, 12:25 AM

Is it really? According to the test, my knowledge is "pretty good for an American," but average for a "school age child" from another country. But checking the statistics, I answered more questions correctly then the average from other countries and the correct answer score for "America" is only a fraction lower then the rest of the world... why do I think they were hoping for worse?

Ugg

Dec 11, 2003, 12:33 AM

Yeah, I scored 16 and the comments were like, "you must feel isolated and haven't yet gotten the guts to emigrate"

Reading the comments section on the main page is interesting to say the least. A bunch of Americans spouting off about what the world owes the US, etc, etc.

Maybe it's not so lighthearted but funny nonetheless.

IJ Reilly

Dec 11, 2003, 12:40 AM

Also, according to the comments, the results are different depending on whether you represent yourself as being from the US or elsewhere. It isn't clear to me what kind of point is being made here.

LethalWolfe

Dec 11, 2003, 12:55 AM

Originally posted by IJ Reilly
Also, according to the comments, the results are different depending on whether you represent yourself as being from the US or elsewhere. It isn't clear to me what kind of point is being made here.

I took the test twice, once as an american once as not, and I made sure to score the same both times. As an american I got a left handed compliment, as a non-american I got praised.

Lethal

pdham

Dec 11, 2003, 01:22 AM

I have an impressive knowledge for an American :)

Yea... clearly want to make Americans look stupid... the funny thing is that these days you dont need a quiz... just look at our president. :)

zimv20

Dec 11, 2003, 01:39 AM

14

i really did think sydney was the capital of australia...

ColoJohnBoy

Dec 11, 2003, 03:56 AM

Hahaha! I scored 20 out 20 and this is the message that came up:

If you are American, the only way you got this score is by doing the quiz 50 times, and memorizing the correct answers. You need to approach the world in a less aggressively competitive way and learn to live with your inadequacies, rather than seeking to feel through bigotry and false national pride.

I got it on my first try, so I don't mind so much... ;)

IJ Reilly

Dec 11, 2003, 10:14 AM

Originally posted by ColoJohnBoy
Hahaha! I scored 20 out 20 and this is the message that came up:

If you are American, the only way you got this score is by doing the quiz 50 times, and memorizing the correct answers. You need to approach the world in a less aggressively competitive way and learn to live with your inadequacies, rather than seeking to feel through bigotry and false national pride.

I got it on my first try, so I don't mind so much... ;)

Yeah, that's nice work -- for an idiot.

Nationalism sucks, no matter where it comes from.

Mr. Anderson

Dec 11, 2003, 10:41 AM

There were a couple questions in there that were not that easy. I'd never heard of Parkinson's Law. And the inventor or television was a Scotsman - got that, but its a tricky one.

Took me a couple tries to get 20 out of 20.

D

Ugg

Dec 11, 2003, 10:54 AM

Nationalism is not pretty and stereotypes are even less so. However, "Stupid White Men" has sold more copies in Germany than in the US and Michael Moore has quite a following throughout Europe. Then there's Andreas von Bülow a former government minister who wrote the bestselling "Die CIA und der 11. September. Some 30% of Germans under the age of 31 believe it to be true. The book basically states that the CIA was behind 9/11.

Now we could all gang up on the Germans for being stupid, gullible, conspiracists or we could ask why they believe what they do. Personally, I think it is the lack of believable information from the US government and the incredible secrecy that continues to surround the events of 9/11. Not only that but there are so few Americans truly questioning the current US government that people like Moore and Bülow rise to the top by virtue of the vaccum that exists in the media. Until Americans are willing to stand up and demand that their government be responsive and open, the world will continue to view the US through things like this quiz.

mactastic

Dec 11, 2003, 10:58 AM

At least it's only 30% of those under 30. A huge percentage of Americans of all ages still think Saddam was directly involved in 9/11. And of course the WH does not go out of its way to correct that impression until they get called on it.

zimv20

Dec 11, 2003, 01:11 PM

Originally posted by ColoJohnBoy
Hahaha! I scored 20 out 20

nice one

IJ Reilly

Dec 11, 2003, 01:17 PM

Originally posted by Mr. Anderson
There were a couple questions in there that were not that easy. I'd never heard of Parkinson's Law. And the inventor or television was a Scotsman - got that, but its a tricky one.

Took me a couple tries to get 20 out of 20.

D

I guess the questions must rotate -- I didn't get the Parkinson's Law question. ("Work expands to fill the time available for its completion" --J. Northcoate Parkinson). I may have Parkinson's book on my shelf, but it is over 40 years old now, and not exactly a cornerstone of literature.

As for who "invented" television, that isn't exactly settled. The person who probably deserves the most credit (and rarely gets it) is Philo Farnsworth, an American. His patents were essentially stolen by David Sarnoff at RCA, and he saw almost nothing for his work.

SPG

Dec 11, 2003, 08:10 PM

Originally posted by IJ Reilly
As for who "invented" television, that isn't exactly settled. The person who probably deserves the most credit (and rarely gets it) is Philo Farnsworth, an American.
D'oh! You beat me to it! Just don't repeat that in front of any Scots unless you're ready for a fist fight.

Sun Baked

Dec 11, 2003, 08:33 PM

Maybe.

... but for some reason they delight in polls, quizes, gossip, and afternoon talkshows.

Durandal7

Dec 11, 2003, 08:53 PM

I'm confused as to what the point is. The message I'm getting is that Americans are expected to be smarter then everyone else.

pseudobrit

Dec 11, 2003, 09:01 PM

Hmm. The page doesn't show up on my iBook -- Safari nor Explorer.

bousozoku

Dec 11, 2003, 10:00 PM

Originally posted by pseudobrit
Hmm. The page doesn't show up on my iBook -- Safari nor Explorer.

Flash player not installed?

It's always interesting to see how much people know.

I got 15 and 16 in two tries.

zimv20

Dec 11, 2003, 10:25 PM

ah, i didn't know there were more questions. with the help of a couple of repeats (NOT "sydney" :-), i got a 19 my second try.

they got me on this conclusion:

Deep down, you realise that your country is the single biggest threat to world peace in modern times, but you have not yet summoned up the courage to emigrate.

edit:

found an error in the test. they ask in what country is the world's tallest building. one of the answers is 'kuala lumpur,' a city.

i picked it, i was told i was wrong. anyone know the 'right' answer?

edit 2:

and look what i just found on this foxnews.com story (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,105357,00.html)

Countries that contributed troops and supported the effort -- such as Italy, Africa, Micronesia, Spain, Japan, Rwanda and Afghanistan -- will be able to bid on prime contracts.

now africa is a country?

Frohickey

Dec 11, 2003, 10:25 PM

Geez... what a bunch of bullfeces!!!

You answered 17 questions correctly out of 20.

You have an impressive understanding of the world for an american. It is likely that you feel intelletually isolated in your home country, and often have to hide your opinions from others. Deep down, you realise that your country is the single biggest threat to world peace in modern times, but you have not yet summoned up the courage to emigrate

Lets see...
www.netcartoon.net resolves to 81.3.64.11. DNS for that says its phobos.simply.net
whois for 81.3.64.11 says belongs to a UK based company called Simply Internet LTD. So, this company is prolly just a ISP for netcartoon.

Netcartoon comes with a contact phone number of 01865 761464.

I'm not as well versed in country codes and phone numbers so this will take me some time, but if I had to guess, netcartoon is prolly UK based.

Is that information good enough to figure out where this malarky is coming from? Is that smart enough for ya, you ungrateful Brit? After we saved your heinies in WW2? Maybe us Yankees ought to have protested when you went ahead and fought a war in the Falklands?!!! ;)

Daveman Deluxe

Dec 11, 2003, 11:55 PM

Originally posted by zimv20
found an error in the test. they ask in what country is the world's tallest building. one of the answers is 'kuala lumpur,' a city.

i picked it, i was told i was wrong. anyone know the 'right' answer?

Taiwan is the correct answer.

zimv20

Dec 12, 2003, 12:09 AM

Originally posted by Daveman Deluxe
Taiwan is the correct answer.

ahhhh... i thought those twin towers in malaysia still officially had it. didn't know about the one in taiwan. thanks.

Mr. Anderson

Dec 12, 2003, 08:35 AM

This is interesting - specifically did 0 out of 20 as a non-American and got this response.

You couldn't answer any of the questions correctly. Perhaps you are an American who ticked the wrong box? If you are not American you have no excuse. Maybe you should think about emigrating to America where at least you will find yourself in good company.

As an American getting 0 right

you were unable to answer even one question relating to the world outside America. Your understanding of the other people and other times is appalling It is small wonder you are a target of ridicule. you slavishly swallow all the lies and propoganda which your government pumps out as fast as you can digist it. In fact, it is unlikely you have even managed to read this far, since words of more than one syllable cause you physical discomfort. The only hope for you is compulsory lobotomy.

:rolleyes:

D

mactastic

Dec 12, 2003, 09:32 AM

The Taipei 101 office block attained its full height of 1,667 feet on Friday, unseating Malaysia’s Petronas Towers as the world’s tallest building.
Taipei 101 (http://www.msnbc.com/news/981604.asp)

Stelliform

Dec 12, 2003, 09:33 AM

...

Frohickey

Dec 12, 2003, 01:28 PM

Biggest threat to world peace... :rolleyes:

If peace is what you get when you appease dictators and tyrants, give me war every time.

Ugg

Dec 12, 2003, 01:34 PM

Originally posted by Frohickey
Biggest threat to world peace... :rolleyes:

If peace is what you get when you appease dictators and tyrants, give me war every time.

Well, we already tried the appeasement didn't we?!?! Unless I'm mistaken not only did we appease bin Laden, Saddam, Suharto, and any other number of tin pot dictators throughout the world we actually put them into power. See what happens when a country tries to become an empire?

It's easy for you to talk about giving you war when you're not on the front lines without sufficient body armor or well-armored vehicles in a country where the pentagon wilfully chose not to have a post war plan in place......

wwworry

Dec 12, 2003, 04:43 PM

Originally posted by Frohickey
Biggest threat to world peace... :rolleyes:

If peace is what you get when you appease dictators and tyrants, give me war every time.

sign up then...

pseudobrit

Dec 12, 2003, 05:08 PM

Originally posted by Frohickey
If peace is what you get when you appease dictators and tyrants, give me war every time.

Be careful what you wish for. You just might get it.

Frohickey

Dec 12, 2003, 08:26 PM

Originally posted by wwworry
sign up then...

I did. Did my time. First time, it was over in 100 hours. Volunteered, but they didn't need me. Bush I, didn't finish the job, is the way I see it.

Bush II is trying to finish the job.

There was Clinton, who just postponed everything. North Korea is coming back, after being postponed by Clinton.

amnesiac1984

Dec 12, 2003, 11:14 PM

Originally posted by Frohickey
Geez... what a bunch of bullfeces!!!

Lets see...
www.netcartoon.net resolves to 81.3.64.11. DNS for that says its phobos.simply.net
whois for 81.3.64.11 says belongs to a UK based company called Simply Internet LTD. So, this company is prolly just a ISP for netcartoon.

Netcartoon comes with a contact phone number of 01865 761464.

I'm not as well versed in country codes and phone numbers so this will take me some time, but if I had to guess, netcartoon is prolly UK based.

Is that information good enough to figure out where this malarky is coming from? Is that smart enough for ya, you ungrateful Brit? After we saved your heinies in WW2? Maybe us Yankees ought to have protested when you went ahead and fought a war in the Falklands?!!! ;)

we owe you nothing from world war II. Yes you helped us and we ar grateful but it bares no relevence to any event that has happened since or will happen in the future.