Is the American Perception of the World a Dangerous Game?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the perception of Americans towards the rest of the world, particularly in the context of education and awareness of global issues. Participants explore themes of ignorance, media influence, and historical perspectives, touching on both American and European viewpoints.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Meta-discussion

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that Americans treat global issues as a game, referencing a comedic clip that highlights perceived ignorance.
  • Others argue that Europeans also have their own biases and ignorance, questioning the reliability of media portrayals and suggesting that historical context is often overlooked.
  • A participant mentions a survey indicating a significant number of young Americans struggle to locate countries like Iraq on a map, suggesting a broader issue with education in the U.S.
  • Concerns are raised about the education system in the U.S. being inadequate compared to other countries, with some proposing that this leads to a lack of global awareness.
  • Some participants express frustration with perceived European elitism, arguing that Europeans also have a history of treating the world with a sense of superiority during imperialism.
  • There are references to the idea that if roles were reversed, perceptions of countries might mirror those of the U.S. today.
  • One participant mentions a TV program discussing the shortcomings of the American education system, suggesting that government monopolies in education may hinder quality compared to systems in other countries.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a mix of agreement and disagreement, with some acknowledging the ignorance present in both American and European contexts, while others defend their respective positions. The discussion remains unresolved with multiple competing views on the implications of education and media influence.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include varying definitions of ignorance, differing educational systems, and the influence of media on public perception. The discussion does not resolve the complexities of these issues.

EL
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Americans treat the rest of the world as a game of Risk.

Check out clip (klipp) 7 here:
http://www.kanal5.se/templates/page.aspx?id=11876

Funny...but also a bit scary?
 
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Do Europeans get all their information off of propaganda videos fed to them by their media? Why not learn about France's rich history through the back isles of a Blockbuster video store's action and drama section. While we're at it, I bet I could learn some German politics through watching 1940's European theatre propaganda films. Maybe steven spielberg could give me an indepth look at the india-pakistan affair while we're at it. Hell while I am at it, I can do what this film does and film 20 hours worth of interviews with European citizens and cut and paste information so I can feed it to willing ideologs within a small, unquestionable 2 minute timeframe and hope they think that's how all Europeans are.
 
It's never funny when it comes to close to the truth, right Pengwuino?:wink:

No seriously, this is a clip from a comedy show, and not ment to be objective. However I can find it a little bit scary people can be that uneducated in rich countries. (Not just in US.)
 
So you watched 100 höjdare as well EL :)
 
Umm, did anyone actually watch the movie? They managed to trick people into thinking that Iran was in Australia. I think that was the main point (that and the aggression), nothing about Risk.
 
The United States have a large amount of smart people compared to other "have" countries, but they also have way more than their share of dumbasses.

It comes directly from their (public) education system. They are taught nothing outside of their country and thus are ridiculously ignorant of the outside world. I bet if you asked 10,000 Americans to point out Canada on an unmarked map, 3000-4000 would not be able to. Maybe more.

Conversely, if you asked 10,000 Canadians to point out Mexico, I'd bet 9950 would get it right.
 
Why did you post somthing about a internet video in swiss on a site where most people speak english
 
ek said:
They are taught nothing outside of their country and thus are ridiculously ignorant of the outside world.
scott1 said:
Why did you post somthing about a internet video in swiss on a site where most people speak english
....[/color]
:frown:
 
Smurf said:
Umm, did anyone actually watch the movie? They managed to trick people into thinking that Iran was in Australia. I think that was the main point (that and the aggression), nothing about Risk.

Hmm what nationality were the people who were tricked?

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Young Americans may soon have to fight a war in Iraq, but most of them can't even find that country on a map, the National Geographic Society said Wednesday.

The society survey found that only about one in seven -- 13 percent -- of Americans between the age of 18 and 24, the prime age for military warriors, could find Iraq. The score was the same for Iran, an Iraqi neighbor.

http://archives.cnn.com/2002/EDUCATION/11/20/geography.quiz/
 
  • #10
scott1 said:
Why did you post somthing about a internet video in swiss on a site where most people speak english

In swiss? Wow, I could bet they were speaking english.:rolleyes: But anyway, I don't know any swiss at all, but I didn't think it was that similar to english.:smile: In fact, I didn't know there was any language named swiss. I thought they spoke german, italian, french and romansh in Switzerland.

In fact scott1, what you just wrote, was indeed a nice example of the US citizens ignorance of the rest of the world!:devil: :biggrin:
(I really don't know where you are from, but I would indeed bet al ot of money for USA.)
 
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  • #11
Right... and its not like Europeans killed millions of people in Africa, India, China, and the Americas during the age of imperialism.
 
  • #12
gravenewworld said:
Right... and its not like Europeans killed millions of people in Africa, India, China, and the Americas during the age of imperialism.

Eh, yes. But what does that have to do with this discussion?
I'm just saying I find it scary that people in rich countries could be so uneducated. I think you should start a new thread if you want to discuss the imperialism.
 
  • #13
EL said:
Eh, yes. But what does that have to do with this discussion?
I'm just saying I find it scary that people in rich countries could be so uneducated. I think you should start a new thread if you want to discuss the imperialism.


No I just hate how a lot of Europeans are snobs and think that they are more mannered and civilized than the rest of the world when they are perpetrators of some of the worst acts of barbarism in the history of the world. You don't think the Europeans didn't treat the world like a game of risk during imperialism? LOL.
 
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  • #14
EL said:
In swiss? Wow, I could bet they were speaking english.:rolleyes: But anyway, I don't know any swiss at all, but I didn't think it was that similar to english.:smile: In fact, I didn't know there was any language named swiss. I thought they spoke german, italian, french and romansh in Switzerland.
In fact scott1, what you just wrote, was indeed a nice example of the US citizens ignorance of the rest of the world!:devil: :biggrin:
(I really don't know where you are from, but I would indeed bet al ot of money for USA.)
Thanks for the correction sorry I got little confussed that Americas offical isn't english it's American
 
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  • #15
gravenewworld said:
You don't think the Europeans didn't treat the world like a game of risk during imperialism? LOL.

What are you LOL:ing at?
I totally agree with you that Europe treated the world "like a game of risk" during the imperialism. When did I say anything else?

No I just hate how a lot of Europeans are snobs and think that they are more mannered and civilized than the rest of the world.

It's funny you say like this. Just switch "Europeans" with "Americans" and "snobs" with "cowboys", and you'll get a nice picture of how the rest of the world looks at US these days.

Anyway, the headline "Americans treat the rest of the world as a game of Risk" is just a translation of the Swedish title of the comedy film clip.
My main point is still that I find it a little bit scary that people can be that uneducated in a rich nation. (And I'm not just talking about the US, but rich countries in general.)
 
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  • #16
scott1 said:
Thanks for the correction sorry I got little confussed that Americas offical isn't english it's American

Que? Was that a rebound attempt?
 
  • #17
EL said:
What are you LOL:ing at?
I totally agree with you that Europe treated the world "like a game of risk" during the imperialism. When did I say anything else?
It's funny you say like this. Just switch "Europeans" with "Americans" and "snobs" with "cowboys", and you'll get a nice picture of how the rest of the world looks at US these days.
Anyway, the headline "Americans treat the rest of the world as a game of Risk" is just a translation of the Swedish title of the comedy film clip.
My main point is still that I find it a little bit scary that people can be that educated in a rich nation. (And I'm not just talking about the US, but rich countries in general.)
I think if your country and the U.S. swicted places(not loction superpower)the world will see your country just like the U.S.
 
  • #18
scott1 said:
I think if your country and the U.S. swicted places(not loction superpower)the world will see your country just like the U.S.

No way. The mentality differs a lot.
 
  • #19
This thread reminds me of a TV program I saw last night:

It was called "Stupid in America: How Lack of Choice Cheats Our Kids Out of a Good Education".
http://abcnews.go.com/2020/Stossel/story?id=1500338
American schools don't teach as well as schools in other countries because they are government monopolies, and monopolies don't have much incentive to compete. In Belgium, by contrast, the money is attached to the kids — it's a kind of voucher system. Government funds education — at many different kinds of schools — but if a school can't attract students, it goes out of business.

Hope that wasn't too far off topic. I just thought it was a very interesting program on problems with public education in the U.S.
 
  • #20
Math Is Hard said:
Hope that wasn't too far off topic. I just thought it was a very interesting program on problems with public education in the U.S.

This was definitely on topic. Thx for the link, it was nice reading.
 
  • #21
Well, I can certainly recommend the Belgian school system. I'm in my last year of my master of physics. Tuition paid : €80 ('bout $100). And I can locate Iran on a map :biggrin:
 

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