Are people this stupid? Does this even count as being stupid? [Archive]

irishpint

08-23-2005, 03:04 PM

At a bar last night with two girls- both just graduated college. One from New York, one from San Franscico. Both were convinced that Nebraska boarders Canada. I am not kidding. Are they stupid? (I would argue that not knowing States= not knowing countries and what's going on in the world). The bartender called them idiots. I agreed.

Shajen

08-23-2005, 03:06 PM

TTIUWP

TheBlueMonster

08-23-2005, 03:06 PM

they're not stupid..a lot of people don't know geography (even basic geography that any 11 year old could tell you). Just watch "jay walking" with Leno...most people know less than you think!

irishpint

08-23-2005, 03:07 PM

<blockquote>En respuesta a:<hr />
TTIUWP

[/ QUOTE ]

i dont know what this means.

BillNye

08-23-2005, 03:09 PM

nobodys stupid, we all are smart at something

im smart at science (and getting the ladies)
sup bro is smart at his stats
dead is smart at making people hate him

we all are smart

BusterStacks

08-23-2005, 03:09 PM

dude, OOT should be proof enough of people's stupidity. I've never felt so glad that some people's job will forever be to serve me coffee as when I read this forum. There is truly no limit to human stupidity.

Shajen

08-23-2005, 03:10 PM

cream, two sugars, right?

durron597

08-23-2005, 03:11 PM

[ QUOTE ]
nobodys stupid, we all are smart at something

im smart at sucking (and getting the men)
sup bro is smart at his stats
im smart at making people hate me

we all are smart

[/ QUOTE ]

BusterStacks

08-23-2005, 03:11 PM

[ QUOTE ]
cream, two sugars, right?

[/ QUOTE ]

fcukin right baby

kyro

08-23-2005, 03:21 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
nobodys stupid, we all are smart at something

im smart at sucking (and getting the men)
sup bro is smart at his stats
im smart at making people hate me

we all are smart

[/ QUOTE ]

[/ QUOTE ]

unless i missed a post a long time ago, this is one of the worst FYPs I've ever seen.

BusterStacks

08-23-2005, 03:23 PM

[ QUOTE ]

unless i missed a post a long time ago, this is one of the worst FYPs I've ever seen.

[/ QUOTE ]

see my post within this thread.

tdarko

08-23-2005, 03:24 PM

[ QUOTE ]
i dont know what this means.

[/ QUOTE ]
just like those girls didn't know about the dokota's huh?

wayabvpar

08-23-2005, 03:25 PM

kyro

08-23-2005, 03:25 PM

Honestly, I don't think knowing where certain states are qualifies as stupid. My girlfriend didn't realize New Hampshire bordered Canada and she's pretty smart. I think it has to do with ignorance and unawareness rather than intelligence.

Patrick del Poker Grande

08-23-2005, 03:27 PM

BusterStacks

08-23-2005, 03:29 PM

stop making excuses. if there weren't stupid people, there wouldn't be smart people.

wayabvpar

08-23-2005, 03:32 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
At a bar last night with two girls- both just graduated college. One from New York, one from San Franscico. Both were convinced that Nebraska boarders Canada. I am not kidding. Are they stupid? (I would argue that not knowing States= not knowing countries and what's going on in the world). The bartender called them idiots. I agreed.

[/ QUOTE ]
I know two completely unrelated people from two completely different places who both thought Hawaii was off the coast of Florida because that's where its inset is on the map.

[/ QUOTE ]

So what type of hammer did you hit them in the head with? Ball Peen? Claw? Mallet?

LSUfan1

08-23-2005, 03:33 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Honestly, I don't think knowing where certain states are qualifies as stupid. My girlfriend didn't realize New Hampshire bordered Canada and she's pretty smart. I think it has to do with ignorance and unawareness rather than intelligence.

[/ QUOTE ]

One flaw in your argument here. New Hampshire is NORTH eastern, so it could be close....Nebraska is MID western. That's fairly common knowledge, not to mention that my 4th grader learned it last year.

I do agree that a lack of knowledge in geography does not make someone stupid, but this is borderline in my opinion.

TheMainEvent

08-23-2005, 03:34 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I know two completely unrelated people from two completely different places who both thought Hawaii was off the coast of Florida because that's where its inset is on the map.

[/ QUOTE ]

Have they ever been to a little island called Rand McNally?

wayabvpar

08-23-2005, 03:35 PM

Intellectual laziness and a total lack of curiousity about even the most mundane things might not equal stupidity, but I would argue that there is a high correlation.

Patrick del Poker Grande

08-23-2005, 03:35 PM

[ QUOTE ]
One flaw in your argument here. New Hampshire is NORTH eastern, so it could be close....Nebraska is MID western.

[/ QUOTE ]
The "Mid" in Midwest doesn't have anything to do with how far North or South the states are.

BusterStacks

08-23-2005, 03:35 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I know two completely unrelated people from two completely different places who both thought Hawaii was off the coast of Florida because that's where its inset is on the map.

[/ QUOTE ]

Have they ever been to a little island called Rand McNally?

[/ QUOTE ]

That's in the Bahamas, right? I hear it's beautiful /images/graemlins/grin.gif

M2d

08-23-2005, 03:38 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

cream, two sugars, right?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

fcukin right baby

[/ QUOTE ]
keep that up and you'll get a special shot of cream in your next cup of joe

BusterStacks

08-23-2005, 03:39 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

cream, two sugars, right?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

fcukin right baby

[/ QUOTE ]
keep that up and you'll get a special shot of cream in your next cup of joe

[/ QUOTE ]

that's cool, i'll talk to your boss and put you on welfare like your mother.

MrMon

08-23-2005, 03:40 PM

[ QUOTE ]
At a bar last night with two girls- both just graduated college. One from New York , one from San Franscico . Both were convinced that Nebraska boarders Canada. I am not kidding. Are they stupid? (I would argue that not knowing States= not knowing countries and what's going on in the world). The bartender called them idiots. I agreed.

[/ QUOTE ]

Okay, here's the key. To them, Nebraska is flyover country. It's all one big red state in the middle, no civilization or nothing. If it's all one big red state, then it really does border Canada.

Note: We've got idiots in the middle too. Like the person I met who lives here in Missouri, yet thinks Ohio is the state directly to the north.

imported_The Vibesman

08-23-2005, 03:42 PM

[ QUOTE ]
convinced that Nebraska boarders Canada.

[/ QUOTE ]

It's borders . Stupid. /images/graemlins/smile.gif

durron597

08-23-2005, 03:42 PM

[ QUOTE ]

unless i missed a post a long time ago, this is one of the worst FYPs I've ever seen.

[/ QUOTE ]

Meh, poor impulse control on my part.

kyro

08-23-2005, 03:44 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Intellectual laziness and a total lack of curiousity about even the most mundane things might not equal stupidity, but I would argue that there is a high correlation.

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh I completely agree with you. It's not the case here, though. /images/graemlins/wink.gif

flatline

08-23-2005, 04:01 PM

This is not stupidity(lack of mental ability), it is ignorance(lack of knowledge). However there is a great likelyhood that these girls are also stupid.

Dominic

08-23-2005, 04:03 PM

[ QUOTE ]
nobodys stupid, we all are smart at something

im smart at science (and getting the ladies)
sup bro is smart at his stats
dead is smart at making people hate him

we all are smart

[/ QUOTE ]

you know? you're an idiot. We aren't all smart. Only smart people are smart. That's why we have the designation "smart."

Dominic

08-23-2005, 04:03 PM

[ QUOTE ]
nobodys stupid, we all are smart at something

im smart at science (and getting the ladies)
sup bro is smart at his stats
dead is smart at making people hate him

we all are smart

[/ QUOTE ]

you know what? you're an idiot. We aren't all smart. Only smart people are smart. That's why we have the designation "smart."

irishpint

08-23-2005, 04:05 PM

<blockquote>En respuesta a:<hr />
<blockquote>En respuesta a:<hr />
convinced that Nebraska boarders Canada.

[/ QUOTE ]

It's borders . Stupid. /images/graemlins/smile.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

damn. you got me. i give up, i was the stupid girl from san franscico.

asb165

08-23-2005, 04:05 PM

At a strip club in Vegas, I was talking to one of the girls. She asked where I was from, and I told her "Philadelphia".

"Where is that, in Pittsburgh?"

"No, Philadelphia is a city that's in Pennsylvania. So is Pittsburgh. It's like Las Vegas is in Nevada."

"Oh, whatever, I'm not a geology major."

"Can I get a dance please?"

irishpint

08-23-2005, 04:05 PM

<blockquote>En respuesta a:<hr />
<blockquote>En respuesta a:<hr />
nobodys stupid, we all are smart at something

im smart at science (and getting the ladies)
sup bro is smart at his stats
dead is smart at making people hate him

we all are smart

[/ QUOTE ]

you know what? you're an idiot. We aren't all smart. Only smart people are smart. That's why we have the designation "smart."

[/ QUOTE ]

i totally [censored] agree.

miajag81

08-23-2005, 04:06 PM

Yes, they were stupid, as are at least 95% of people. I don't get how people can not know basic geography. This is right up there with not knowing that "a lot" is two separate words.

irishpint

08-23-2005, 04:08 PM

i think it's hard to say someone is smart or stupid because of this one fact. however it makes me sick that you can grow up here in America, going to college, graduate, and not know or have any correct idea where a state is. i dont think that's right. i did however make the situation worse by saying that the reason they dont know where nebraska was is due to the fact that they are from cali and NY and thus are 'arrogant assholes'.

Bulldog

08-23-2005, 04:08 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
One flaw in your argument here. New Hampshire is NORTH eastern, so it could be close....Nebraska is MID western.

[/ QUOTE ]
The "Mid" in Midwest doesn't have anything to do with how far North or South the states are.

[/ QUOTE ]

Word. The first image I found when googling for "midwest map" was a map that included three states with land bordering Canada.

Bulldog

08-23-2005, 04:09 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
convinced that Nebraska boarders Canada.

[/ QUOTE ]

It's borders . Stupid. /images/graemlins/smile.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

damn. you got me. i give up, i was the stupid girl from san franscico.

[/ QUOTE ]

Is that anywhere near San Francisco?

irishpint

08-23-2005, 04:09 PM

<blockquote>En respuesta a:<hr />
Yes, they were stupid, as are at least 95% of people. I don't get how people can not know basic geography. This is right up there with not knowing that "a lot" is two separate words.

[/ QUOTE ]

allright, i agree. but your kidding about alot, write?

Grisgra

08-23-2005, 04:15 PM

[ QUOTE ]

Okay, here's the key. To all but perhaps seven or eight people, Nebraska is flyover country. It's all one big red state in the middle, no civilization or nothing.

[/ QUOTE ]

FYP

dibbs

08-23-2005, 04:21 PM

I'm pretty sure ignorant is a more correct description. Just goes to show ya how a college degree probably isn't close to what it used to be. Then again, if someone graduates with a degree in advanced trig, does that mean they're an idiot if they dont know Thailand borders Malaysia? Or that California borders Oregon? Should they know the own country they grow up in? Sounds like ignorance I think. Here's to semantics.

id·i·ot

1. A foolish or stupid person.
2. A person of profound mental retardation having a mental age below three years and generally being unable to learn connected speech or guard against common dangers. The term belongs to a classification system no longer in use and is now considered offensive.

To clarify on "stupid" person.

stu·pid

1. Slow to learn or understand; obtuse.
2. Tending to make poor decisions or careless mistakes.
3. Marked by a lack of intelligence or care; foolish or careless: a stupid mistake.
4. Dazed, stunned, or stupefied.
5. Pointless; worthless: a stupid job.

ig·no·rant

1. Lacking education or knowledge.
2. Showing or arising from a lack of education or knowledge: an ignorant mistake.
3. Unaware or uninformed.

All taken from dictionary.com

irishpint

08-23-2005, 04:22 PM

<blockquote>En respuesta a:<hr />

Should they know the own country they grow up in?

[/ QUOTE ]

i would hope so.

ddubois

08-23-2005, 04:46 PM

[ QUOTE ]
were convinced that Nebraska boarders Canada

[/ QUOTE ]
They are stupid because they were so certain of something untrue. Whereas I on the other hand, am practicing rational ignorance, because I neither know, nor care, what Nebraska borders.

Marlow

08-23-2005, 04:54 PM

That deserves a:

[ QUOTE ]
dude, OOT should be proof enough of people's stupidity. I've never felt so glad that some people's job will forever be to serve me coffee as when I read this forum. There is truly no limit to human stupidity.

[/ QUOTE ]

But jumpin' blue Jesus, this OOT thing is good stuff.

Marlow

gulebjorn

08-23-2005, 05:06 PM

1. I have no idea where Nebraska is
2. How many of you can name three countries Belgium borders to?
(without looking at a map)

-Skeme-

08-23-2005, 05:09 PM

[ QUOTE ]
it has to do with unawareness rather than intelligence.

[/ QUOTE ]

durron597

08-23-2005, 05:13 PM

[ QUOTE ]

2. How many of you can name three countries Belgium borders to?
(without looking at a map)

[/ QUOTE ]

Holland France Germany Luxemborg (I probably spelled that wrong)

imported_anacardo

08-23-2005, 05:14 PM

[ QUOTE ]
1. I have no idea where Nebraska is
2. How many of you can name three countries Belgium borders to?
(without looking at a map)

[/ QUOTE ]

1) Smack dab in the middle.
2) France, The Netherlands, Luxembourg. What do I win?

felson

08-23-2005, 06:17 PM

[ QUOTE ]
1. I have no idea where Nebraska is
2. How many of you can name three countries Belgium borders to?
(without looking at a map)

[/ QUOTE ]

You have a good excuse for not knowing where Nebraska is. These girls do not.

lapoker17

08-23-2005, 06:32 PM

Vegas Strip Club:

Girl: "what do you do for a living?"

My Buddy: "I'm a currency trader"

Girl: "Doesn't it get boring in that little booth?"

Dave G.

08-23-2005, 06:33 PM

I don't think Geography is much of an indication of intelligence. Maybe they just don't care enough about it to have studied it, or they never travelled much. I'm sure if I wanted to dedicate the time to learning all the US states / cities and where they are, I could. But I just don't give a rats ass about it. I'm from Australia though, so that's my excuse.

Intelligence is more related to the ability to critically think about a situation and draw a reasonable conclusion. Being "book smart" might be knowing where every city and every state is. Just because they aren't "book smart" doesn't mean they aren't intelligent.

However, I admit, if it were me talking to these girls from Australia, and they didn't know what the capital of Australia was, it would totally ruin any chance of a boner.

ILL34GL3

08-23-2005, 06:39 PM

It's one thing to be ignorant of Nebraska's location on a map.

It's downright stupid to say Nebraska borders Canada.

CORed

08-23-2005, 07:50 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
were convinced that Nebraska boarders Canada

[/ QUOTE ]
They are stupid because they were so certain of something untrue. Whereas I on the other hand, am practicing rational ignorance, because I neither know, nor care, what Nebraska borders.

[/ QUOTE ]

From memory, so I might miss a state: Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas.

CORed

08-23-2005, 07:53 PM

[ QUOTE ]
1. I have no idea where Nebraska is
2. How many of you can name three countries Belgium borders to?
(without looking at a map)

[/ QUOTE ]

Netherlands, Germany, France, Luxembourg.

CORed

08-23-2005, 07:55 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
1. I have no idea where Nebraska is
2. How many of you can name three countries Belgium borders to?
(without looking at a map)

[/ QUOTE ]

1) Smack dab in the middle.
2) France, The Netherlands, Luxembourg. What do I win?

[/ QUOTE ]

Actually, I believe that the geographic center of the 48 conterminous states is in Kansas, so Nebraska is a little north of smack dab in the middle.

08-24-2005, 12:36 AM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
convinced that Nebraska boarders Canada.

[/ QUOTE ]

It's borders . Stupid. /images/graemlins/smile.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

good one.

polltard

antidan444

08-24-2005, 01:30 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Yes, they were stupid, as are at least 95% of people. I don't get how people can not know basic geography. This is right up there with not knowing that "a lot" is two separate words.

[/ QUOTE ]

As a journalist, it amazes me how many fellow journalists don't know this.

08-24-2005, 02:00 AM

ChipWrecked

08-24-2005, 02:44 AM

[ QUOTE ]
1. I have no idea where Nebraska is
2. How many of you can name three countries Belgium borders to?
(without looking at a map)

[/ QUOTE ]

Easy, sorry. Hitler never invaded Nebraska.

edfurlong

08-24-2005, 04:06 AM

I have met people (americans) IN COSTA RICA that thought they were on an island.

tomdemaine

08-24-2005, 05:02 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Vegas Strip Club:

Girl: "what do you do for a living?"

My Buddy: "I'm a currency trader"

Girl: "Doesn't it get boring in that little booth?"

[/ QUOTE ]

ok so now we need to have a stupid thing vegas strippers have said to you thread

GimmeDaWatch

08-24-2005, 07:11 AM

[ QUOTE ]
At a bar last night with two girls- both just graduated college. One from New York, one from San Franscico. Both were convinced that Nebraska boarders Canada. I am not kidding. Are they stupid? (I would argue that not knowing States= not knowing countries and what's going on in the world). The bartender called them idiots. I agreed.

[/ QUOTE ]

Alot of people arent very good at geography. Anybody catch the Beauty and the Geek recap? They had a blank map of the US and when asked to point to Montana I think her 1st pick was Pennsylvania if I remember correctly. Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiice. I had a girl ask me if the Sun was star once. I had a girl respond to my question of "Are you going to a Christian church for your class?" with "No, its a Catholic church". My stepmother once asked me after I had used the term, "What's a Native American", and then when I told her followed that up with "Are Mexicans Native Americans?" I had an argument with a girl once who insisted that water was
NOT a renewable resource. Misogyny is yummy /images/graemlins/smile.gif .

GimmeDaWatch

08-24-2005, 07:13 AM

[ QUOTE ]
they're not stupid..a lot of people don't know geography (even basic geography that any 11 year old could tell you). Just watch "jay walking" with Leno...most people know less than you think!

[/ QUOTE ]

Jay-walking is a ridiculously scripted farce. If not scripted, people are at least clearly told to blurt out the 1st silly thing that pops into their heads. If I werent told that, I might just say something retarded just to make it on TV. Im sucha sucker for attention.

GimmeDaWatch

08-24-2005, 07:15 AM

[ QUOTE ]
nobodys stupid, we all are smart at something

im smart at science (and getting the ladies)
sup bro is smart at his stats
dead is smart at making people hate him

we all are smart

[/ QUOTE ]

LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL. You ever see Scott Stapp play poker? Very PC/Geigh of you, though.