American General Knowledge

[1938 Observer]

:tongue::confused::confused::confused::confused::t ongue::tongue::tongue::tongue:

[1938 Observer]

Re: American General Knowledge

[Diane]

Re: American General Knowledge

Hey Gordon,
I haven't had much time to do anything but read the posts lately. You did know I would have something to say, right??? This got my gander up a bit, thank you for that. I wanted to come to our defense, however, the proof is in the pudding as they say. I feel sad after watching these videos but part of me already knew. Hope you are doing well.

[FriedaKateM]

Re: American General Knowledge

Gordon....I do realize that I am a very sensitive person. However, those two postings kind of "put my nose out of joint". I thought about sending you a private message in regard to them. Now, I see that Diane kind of feels the same as I do. I would never have posted any videos in regard to how 'STUPID' Australians/Tasmanians were, as I certainly couldn't hurt my friends' feelings in that way. Of course, as a nation, America has its dumb people. However, those of us mainly on this website, are pretty sharp. I myself am intelligent, & I know my WORLD geography. Those guys on the street basically talked with people who did not know much. When I lived in Great Britain, I was struck by how many people there were satisfied with leaving school at 15 or 16 years of age. And I met a lot of not very bright people there. Lots of people here in the States are two bricks short of a load. BUT, I came from a college educated family, & I am educated myself. Sooo...no need for apologies, but it did hurt me. AND I consider you my friend down under!! Take care, Joan :unsure:

[1938 Observer]

Re: American General Knowledge

:redrose:Hi Diane and Hi Joan, :redrose:

I'm pleased you both know me by now :blush::tongue: I just enjoy placing some 'bait' on the hook now and again :cool::wink:

Naturally [without saying] ES members were not included as video participants...[we have them "downunder" as well :unsure:] Sometimes I think it stems from the way the US projects itself [quite often in the press] that everything outside the continental borders is called "Foreign", whether it be motor vehicles or most things you could think of, whereas here, for example i would nominate a product or vehicle by country of origin as this most often may add credibility or background knowledge of the product/service etc.,etc. concerned. that is being provided.
Sometimes this perceived attitude/culture tends to turn thoughts inward instead of realising that there is a very large world out there and individual countries are just just one segment of an increasingly complex entity


Gordon.

[Glesgalass]

Re: American General Knowledge

Uh Oh! I thought when I read Gordon's post that someone was going to be offended. Of course there are ignorant people in every country. But, I've wondered for a long time, watching Judge Judy, why any country would allow that kind of show to be broadcast around the world when it appears that the people participating are really stupid and therefore the people watching the show think that is representative of America. I think that is what Gordon was referring to when he talked about how America represents itself via the media. Of course, it's freedom of speech according to your 1st Amendment but a lot of countries don't have that and perhaps don't understand.

Regarding the education system in the UK, I can't speak for England, but I do know that compulsory education until the age of 16 came into force in Scotland over 40 years ago. My sister, who is 57, was in the first age group to whom this applied. The vast majority of young people today stay on at school further than that to finish the maximum number of school years and then go on to further education in some form or other.

Scotlands education system was, for many years, copied around the world. Compulsory education began in Scotland long before it was in England although it wasn't compulsory to go on to higher education in those days......I'm talking about the late 17th & early 18th century.

25 years ago here in Australia when my eldest son was in high school, a Scottish family immigrated into our local neighbourhood. Their son and daughter enrolled at my son's school. They were placed in the school year appropriate to their ages. After 1 month both of them were transferred to the next most advanced year as they were so much ahead of their peers. So, it would appear that even 25 years ago the Scottish education system was superior to the Australian one.

Elda

[sandyc]

Re: American General Knowledge

Some of you may have gathered that travel about quite bit.
I've never been in Australia or New Zealand (yet) but have met with and conversed with people from many different backgrounds and nationalities.

I have not had time to view the videos, I have been way up North in Canada and did not have the connection needed. However, from reading the posts I have a pretty good idea what they are like and are about.

Each nation has its own share of dimwits and "inward thinkers". Igorance and narrow mindedness are not unique to any one country.
All that said in Canada we like to think that we know more about our neighbours down south than they do about us. We have the "odd TV foray just over the border and they come back with "howlers".
I do not think I have ever heard about any US station doing the reverse.

Taking the comment about leaving school at 15. There was no shame in that. Young people left school to get apprenticeships or to help support society. The leaving age was increased around the time Elda mentioned. That was just to keep down the unemployment figures. Nowadays there are so many young people carrying on into further education and taking courses that will never find them jobs (the philosophy of telling people you did not fail). All that is really happening is that degree have been devalued - "everyone" has one now. So what happens if you don't, are you now a failure? There are degrees that are really just money makers for colleges and universities. Now even a PhD has been devalued - gosh I a meeting them all over the place.
New meanings for degrees...
BS - Bull Shit
MS - More Shit
PhD - Piled Higher and Deeper.
That is from a friend of mine who teaches in a very specialised (necessary) subject and has 7 degrees from around the world.
In my opinion the education system in Scotland is now devalued beyond recognition. That also applies to Ontario.
How can I say this?
I came to Canada in 1966 with no degree but with a 'brain' and a good education. I ended up working with lots of people with engineering degrees and yet I had covered more Maths than they did. I also knew more about "the world" and its people. Why is that? The "Old" Scottish education system believed in providing not just specific skills in areas such as science and maths, but also "other areas" such as geography, history and languages. At one time in the not too distant past you had to have a 2nd language pass to get an honours degree from Glasgow and/or Strathclyde universities.
There are now I think 5 unis in Glasgow ... just another way to get money from the Taxpayer - education is free in Scotland for Scottish Residents and those from other EU countries outside the UK.
All that happens now is that most of the young people come out of college and uni and cannot find a job.
Are they stupid? I doubt it. Are they knowledgeable about the world around them? I doubt it.

It's a similar story in Ontario at least.

NOT ALL ARE LIKE THAT - but I do find it very sad when I meet people from all over and all they really know about is there own 'little world' - with perhaps lots of knowledge about BLING and celebrities. The "I want it all" generations.

Am I an old grouch? Almost certainly(Part of the job description) Am I disheartened? NO there are lots of really good people out there.

Am I back to "normal" - ALMOST~~~~

Sandy

[Glesgalass]

Re: American General Knowledge

Yes Sandy, my Dad used to say that it doesn't matter what kind of jobs will be created in the future, we're still going to need the bloke with the strong back.
It's happening now in Australia, that there is a dire shortage of tradesmen because of the push for further education. To get a trade here you need to have completed school but you certainly don't need a uni degree. In some trades, eg electrician, auto mechanic it's necessary to keep up with technology but others like plumbers are never going to be out of work. My grandson just finished school in November and started an apprenticeship in air-conditioning in December. He's 18.

You are right in that some uni degrees are not worth the paper they are written on.

A friends daughter spent years at uni doing a degree in journalism and where did she work? Target! She's now 26 and has never worked in the area covered by her degree.

Elda

[Rick]

Re: American General Knowledge

Thanks Elda, I'm reminded that my grandfather had the same experience in 1906 when he was brought from Scotland to the Canadian prairies at the age of 10. Family lore has it that he was quietly told to stop showing that he knew more in some subjects than the teacher in his one-room country school.

[1938 Observer]

Re: American General Knowledge

Now for some more fun,

The Chasers War On Everything - Is America Alert To Terrorism

:angelic:

[Tuirc]

Re: American General Knowledge

Just reading over Glesgalass' response it put me in mind of my family's experience after immigrating to the US. They immigrated in 1790 to North/South Carolina right on the border and then some 30 years later a large number went to Mississippi. The family story is that 3 of the brothers that immigrated had attened the University of Edinburgh prior to immigrating. Additionally, there is a family story that the boys from the first generation went back to Scotland to attend university. I have not been able to verify this, however; one of those boys became a medical doctor and I've seen letters written by my ggg grandfather and his brother Duncan circa 1858 (telling my ggg uncle to get his butt in gear and study at the University of Mississippi). They both had an extraordinary hands (writing) and their thoughts and meanings both subtle and powerful. These were well educated men in the backwoods of Mississippi.

In my gg grandfather's generation, the children from our extended family were sent to two old maid aunts that lived in the county from the time they were 5 years old. I'm not clear on when the ending point was, but between 12 and 16 years old I believe. At that point, they had to give back. Meaning they would teach school to the younger ones until they were old enough to go to college. My gg grandfather, before the War Between the States, was a school teacher on a plantation. This set up for education continued after the war too, right up to the 20th century. My g grandfather became a minister and an educator becoming President of a small college in Mississippi. His brother became superintendent of schools for Phoenix and another system up in Washington state.

Another interesting fact I noticed is how tightly the Scots stayed together after immigration. In our family, my grandfather was the first in my paternal line going back 220 years not to marry a woman of Scots origin. (In order Colquhoun, McInnis, Wilson, Shepard). While I'm sure the culture evolved after immigration, at least there was a common starting point for everyone and maybe even common goals.