US President George Bush is to host White House talks on British comedian Sacha Baron (7 Viewers)
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Martin said:
And why would that be? There have been lots of serious and less serious reports about how most people in the US had no clue where Iraq in spite of the heavy focus on Iraq. Frankly why would they know of Kazakhstan? I'm sure most people here don't know it, why would they? It's not like geography classes aim to educate people about every country on earth, mine certainly didn't. In junior high I was one of the few to know all European states, and that's just on my continent.
This whole "people don't know where X is" is so overblown. It's a fact of life and frankly not one we should be concerned about. Most people don't know polynomial division either, and yet the world continues to function. Iraq is different, just like Vietnam in the 70s, you should know what and where it is before you discuss it. But Muha's comment about Kazakhstan is neither controversial nor important (sorry, Muha
).
Frankly, I probably wouldn't have known about Kazakhstan 5 years ago if it wasn't because they had a great skier (Vladimir Smirnov) who was really popular in Norway as he always competed with our best skiers.
This whole "people don't know where X is" is so overblown. It's a fact of life and frankly not one we should be concerned about. Most people don't know polynomial division either, and yet the world continues to function. Iraq is different, just like Vietnam in the 70s, you should know what and where it is before you discuss it. But Muha's comment about Kazakhstan is neither controversial nor important (sorry, Muha
).Frankly, I probably wouldn't have known about Kazakhstan 5 years ago if it wasn't because they had a great skier (Vladimir Smirnov) who was really popular in Norway as he always competed with our best skiers.
Smirnov was a G btw
I don't understand your point.
Are you suggesting that no sample is representative unless 100% of the population is taken into consideration?
If you're alluding to the fact that my sample did not represent 30% who knew of Kazakhstan, then maybe I should include the fact that both I and my best friend did already know about Kazakhstan prior to Ali G's show.
But then again, it's not realistic as your notion is simply too stereotypical. I have known where Kazakhstan is since the 7th grade, and all the closest friends I have know where said country resides, barring one, my flatmate.
Education regarding geography is so piss poor in this country as far as I know that it's no wonder this stereotype exists, and the majority of people who actually know where a country such as Kazakhstan is are those who investigate the world for themselves. I know Sebi has done this, and the only way I was going to learn about the countries of this world was on my own time. Hell, even a music appreciation course was given more respect than a geography course in my high school, however I went to a biased rich-kid Catholic-affiliated school.
So to be honest, in contrast to Sebi's point about the supposed "rich kids," they are not necessarily those who will be subject to the greater education of the world in general. It depends on schooling itself and personal motivation. Luckily, Sebi and I actually have had some of that.
Education regarding geography is so piss poor in this country as far as I know that it's no wonder this stereotype exists, and the majority of people who actually know where a country such as Kazakhstan is are those who investigate the world for themselves. I know Sebi has done this, and the only way I was going to learn about the countries of this world was on my own time. Hell, even a music appreciation course was given more respect than a geography course in my high school, however I went to a biased rich-kid Catholic-affiliated school.
So to be honest, in contrast to Sebi's point about the supposed "rich kids," they are not necessarily those who will be subject to the greater education of the world in general. It depends on schooling itself and personal motivation. Luckily, Sebi and I actually have had some of that.
There is no geography class at my high school, or my middle/elementary schools either for that matter. Here, geography is integrated with History, so unless you happen to travel alot, or simply take a personal interest in it (as Andy mentioned) you're not going to know the difference between Mexico and Argentina.