View Full Forums : I'm not sure what it is, but it looks funny.


Panamah
01-10-2006, 09:10 AM
http://zen.chakuriki.net/world/

Has something to do with a Texan asking how long it'd take to drive to Japan.

vestix
01-10-2006, 09:16 AM
What a scream! Both in the sense of being funny and in one's reaction to most people's knowledge of geography :)

Jinjre
01-10-2006, 09:56 AM
That's just sad in a scary kind of way.

"Let's go invade South Africa, it's just a little south of us."

Arienne
01-10-2006, 10:08 AM
I'm not sure, but I think he has some inaccuracies there. After all... on HIS map you can't drive from Texas to Japan. *sheesh!*

Oh! And he's got Utopia in the WRONG place. 5 vowels.. two consonants... everyone knows that it's in Hawaii. (And he left out the second "i"... Utopiia.) :rolleyes: This guy is an uneducated buffoon!

Panamah
01-10-2006, 10:46 AM
"He" isn't doing anything wrong. He's just constructing the map according to how people tell him to. Mostly Texans I think. :p

Read the history of the map, that's where most of the humour seems to be. Its pretty funny they moved part of japan to texas.

028. The left side of Africa became Cambodia.
029. The island at the lower right of Africa became Taiwan.
030. The upper part of Iran became Afghanistan.

Thicket Tundrabog
01-10-2006, 10:51 AM
Funny but true.

In the mid-1980's my Dutch boss and I were eating in a restaurant near the Big Thicket north of Houston. The waitress commented on my bosses accent. We told her we had just arrived from the Netherlands. She wanted to know whether we had driven or flown. :)

Another time I used my Shell Canada credit card at a Shell station in New Orleans. After successfully arguing that my card was acceptable (she made a couple of phone calls) she asked "Sir, what state are you from?" I answered, "I'm from Canada, which is another country. We don't have states in Canada, we have provinces."

She paused for a moment, gave me an exasperated look and spoke more slowly and clearly, since I was obviously somewhat challenged. She said, "Sir, what state are you from?" I said "Ontario". That satisfied her.

Panamah
01-10-2006, 10:53 AM
202. A city of Carnival has appeared in Brazil. :)


In the mid-1980's my Dutch boss and I were eating in a restaurant near the Big Thicket north of Houston. The waitress commented on my bosses accent. We told her we had just arrived from the Netherlands. She wanted to know whether we had driven or flown.
Maybe this is a Texas colliquiloism? Arienne, does one say "did you drive or fly?" instead of asking "how was the trip?" :)

God, sometimes it is embarassing to be an American.

Aidon
01-10-2006, 11:18 AM
God, sometimes it is embarassing to be an American.

I wouldn't work under the assumption that other nations don't have similar issues ;)

Arienne
01-10-2006, 11:38 AM
202.Maybe this is a Texas colliquiloism? Arienne, does one say "did you drive or fly?" instead of asking "how was the trip?" :)It usually depends more on the level of education than where you live. :p

Don't get me started on Californians... :D

Panamah
01-10-2006, 11:47 AM
Don't get me started on Californians... :D
:box: You mean that state next to Okinawa? :p Bring it on baby!

Anka
01-10-2006, 02:36 PM
I wouldn't work under the assumption that other nations don't have similar issues

I'm afraid you've got the worldwide reputation now and it'll take a while to lose it.

Fyyr Lu'Storm
01-10-2006, 02:52 PM
I'm afraid you've got the worldwide reputation now and it'll take a while to lose it.

It appears to be a Japanese originating site(though no .jp thing).

Most of the attributed contributors appear to be non Americans.


I am not saying that Americans are NOT stupid, they are. I think either I am misreading that thing, or the rest of you are.

Aidon
01-10-2006, 03:18 PM
I'm afraid you've got the worldwide reputation now and it'll take a while to lose it.

Of course we do.

Because being the penultimate power in the world...we get the potshots.

Everyone loves to hate No. 1.

Just remember...we may have Texans, but you have the Welsh!

B_Delacroix
01-10-2006, 03:45 PM
People like to see things fall apart and explode from the inside out, and right now, we’re that something.
.

Fyyr Lu'Storm
01-10-2006, 03:54 PM
Who is Garibaldi?

Anka
01-10-2006, 04:04 PM
I am not saying that Americans are NOT stupid, they are. I think either I am misreading that thing, or the rest of you are.

I think you'll find that American tourists have a wide reputation for ignorance about the outside world. It's a bit like Japanese tourists always having a camera. You only need a few people to sustain the myth once it gets started.

Aidon
01-10-2006, 04:11 PM
I think you'll find that American tourists have a wide reputation for ignorance about the outside world. It's a bit like Japanese tourists always having a camera. You only need a few people to sustain the myth once it gets started.

I'm willing to bet that your average German or Frenchman or Japanese would be rather lost if they came to visit Sylvania Ohio.

But Americans are supposed to know about the local customs of Bumfuchsteinholme Germany when they pass through?

Fyyr Lu'Storm
01-10-2006, 04:27 PM
Anka,

If I asked you to sketch a map of Central American, I am sure that you would goof it up.

I would hardly expect you to know where all the countries are.

If I asked you to sketch out where all the US States are, even if you were planning on visiting, I would hardly expect you to know where Iowa is exactly.

I mean Nebraskans are from Nebraska. Texans are from Texas.

But Danes and Danish are from Denmark.

Dutch are from Netherlands which is the real name of Holland.

Unless you are Pennsylvania Dutch, in which case you are really German.

Panamah
01-10-2006, 04:48 PM
But... someone thought you could drive from Japan to Texas? I can't draw maps either, but I do know those two land masses are not connected.

Wait, wait! I know, it was someone from Pan Gaia ages before the continents had drifted apart!

Arienne
01-10-2006, 05:22 PM
I'm willing to bet that your average German or Frenchman or Japanese would be rather lost if they came to visit Sylvania Ohio.ONLY if the lights are out when they get there.

Jinjre
01-10-2006, 05:46 PM
I think the sad part of the map is not that people can't correctly identify exactly which country borders what, but that they can't get the right continent or at the very least, hemisphere.

I can't tell you exactly where all the slavic countries are located in relation to each other, but I can at least place them on the continent of Europe, between Russia and France. I can't tell you exactly where all the "stans" are in relationship to their border-mates, but I can get them south of Russia and near India. I don't think Hong Kong is located in Japan.

The saddest one of all on that map is the location of "South Africa" in Central America....I mean really! The name of the country gives both the continent and the compass direction - I'd think a person could at least get that part right.

Game Show Host: What is the location of the country of South Africa
Contestant: um, Central America?
Game Show Host: I'm sorry, the correct answer is the Southern part of Africa

and these people vote?!

Anka
01-10-2006, 09:47 PM
Yeah game shows seem really dumb nowadays. It's a shame the contestants seem even dumber ...

Game Show Host: What country has Brasilia as its capital?
Contestant: um, Australia?

Alaene
01-10-2006, 10:54 PM
I don't claim to be a geographical genius (or any other kind of genius!) by any stretch but, without a word of a lie, the following is almost word for word a conversation between myself and an American customs/immigration official in LAX about 2 years ago:

Me: [hands over New Zealand passport]
Customs officer: Wow, New Zealand, that's a long way away!
Me: Sure is.
Customs officer: What's it like there, very different to the States?
Me: In a lot of ways yes, but in some ways they are very very similar.
Customs officer: You still have cannibalism there, right?
Me: Only in the South Island.
Wife: [smack]

Jinjre
01-10-2006, 11:04 PM
LOL Alaene!

My sister had difficulties re-entering the US after going to Europe. The US customs agent kept saying she'd need a VISA to enter the US since she was from New Mexico. My sister kept trying to explain that New Mexico was a US State. It finally took a supervisor to straighten out the US customs agent.

It really is rather sad.

Fyyr Lu'Storm
01-11-2006, 12:06 AM
I really did lol on that one.


Thank you.

Madie of Wind Riders
01-11-2006, 08:04 AM
I think it epitomizes how ignorant most people are about the countries that he has Iran listed in close proximity of where it actually is but has Iraq in parenthesis next to it - like they are really the same country - which I think alot of people really do believe

Thicket Tundrabog
01-11-2006, 08:33 AM
According the National Geographic Society, Americans are quite ignorant about geography compared to other nationalities. There have been improvements in the last decade or so. Geography can be taught in any school around the world. It requires a map/globe and the will to educate. It isn't high tech or expensive.

Older information

http://geography.about.com/library/weekly/aa111797.htm


More recent information

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/11/1120_021120_GeoRoperSurvey_2.html

Panamah
01-11-2006, 10:37 AM
Maybe it is teaching "alternate geography" theory in American schools that is causing the problem? i.e. flat world theory? :p

Aidon
01-11-2006, 11:19 AM
I can't blame them. If you don't care about an area, why would you waste time learning where things are there, especially when you can just go look it up on a map if you need to know for some reason?

I mean, hell, I have only the roughest idea where Belgium, Luxumbourg, or Lichtenstein are. Albania? Um...somewhere over by Romania, Macedonia, and Greece, I think?

And nothing I will do will ever allow me the ability to keep the freakin Stan nations in order.

As for Africa...when they manage to have nations who's borders and names stop changing every twenty-five years or so...I'll worry about breaking it down into more than the Lavant, West Africa, Sub-Saharan, and South Africa.
Conversely, I'm willing to bet that most British students couldn't tell me where most American states are, even though many US states are geographically larger than many European nations.

There is nothing wrong with being Americentric. We live in America.

Fyyr Lu'Storm
01-11-2006, 11:47 AM
Welcome Madie,

I love our sig quote, btw.

Panamah
01-11-2006, 11:50 AM
I mean, hell, I have only the roughest idea where Belgium, Luxumbourg, or Lichtenstein are. Albania? Um...somewhere over by Romania, Macedonia, and Greece, I think?
But at least you haven't asked someone in Texas if they drove from Belgium! No, I couldn't correctly place them on a map either, but I know roughly where they are.

There's nothing wrong with being Americancentric... except its just so pathetic when it is combined with extreme ignorance and lack of education.

Jinjre
01-11-2006, 01:10 PM
I mean, hell, I have only the roughest idea where Belgium, Luxumbourg, or Lichtenstein are. Albania? Um...somewhere over by Romania, Macedonia, and Greece, I think?

And nothing I will do will ever allow me the ability to keep the freakin Stan nations in order.

But you can place them on the correct continent, probably pretty close to other major nations (in size at least), and you can tell which of the major oceans separate the US from the countries you named.

Aidon
01-11-2006, 01:34 PM
So can the vast majority of Americans, despite popular belief.

Anka
01-11-2006, 01:36 PM
There is nothing wrong with being Americentric. We live in America.


That's fine, but when your locationally challenged compatriots leave America it's fair game for people to have a giggle at them ;). You're in our world now. (sorry, had to drop it in).

Panamah
01-11-2006, 01:44 PM
So can the vast majority of Americans, despite popular belief.
We're talking about the same people who thought the Bill of Rights was a communist document a few years back?

Stormhaven
01-12-2006, 09:32 AM
Ok, I can buy that the map started due to the Texan asking how long it would take to drive to Japan, but looking at the current state of the map, I can definitely blame much of the newer changes on other Americans. I can pretty much guarantee that the majority of the state knows where the heck Mexico is (mostly because I'm assuming the majority of the State's residents know where they came from - no, it's not a racial jab, remember that Texas is one of the states where Hispanics are the majority). Most Texans also know exactly where Arizona, Oklahoma, Louisiana, New Mexico, and Colorado are. This is due to the fact that A - someone related to you or a close friend of yours probably lives in one of those states, and B - Texas likes teaching Texas History *a lot,* so you know your neighbor states pretty well. Oh, and most Texans also know exactly where Alaska is and how big it is - it still annoys us that there's a state larger than ours.

I can easily understand the conception of the rest of the US as well. When I was a kid that pretty much describes my acceptance of what was in the US - New York was in the Northeast and California was in the West, and both were evil. Disneyland could have easily been in Florida - in fact I probably still mix up Disneyland vs. Disneyworld. "Yankees" described both an annoying baseball team and an annoying type of person from the North.

The rest of the world - well when I was a kid, my mental picture was probably just as jumbled as the map shown. For the most part, I hated world history, and the only "geographical bits" I picked up were from PBS animal shows (Mutual of Omaha, Nature, Nova, etc) - and if you ever watch most of those programs, they barely ever mention geography other than saying, "We're in the African savannah" - no map or anything. Nowadays I (hope) think I'm a bit better, but I'm sure I'm still carrying around quite a lot of incorrect baggage. If someone came up to me with a gun and said, "Quick, find Latvia on this world map!" I'd know whereabouts to look, but I'm sure it'd take me a few minutes to pinpoint it.

True story - I was probably 10 or so before I figured out where Hawaii was. All the maps I was ever shown always had Hawaii in that insert window and usually in the Atlantic near Florida. I recall being shocked when I learned where it really was, not to mention how far away it was (well, compared to the Florida Keys, Hawaii is far!)

Aidon
01-12-2006, 09:43 AM
Latvia north of Lithuania and south of Estonia.

Sort of between Russia and Finland.

The Baltics =D

Thicket Tundrabog
01-12-2006, 10:32 AM
I remember a few things about my first school. I had been in Canada a few weeks, and didn't know English yet. It was a one-room, eight grade schoolhouse in rural farming country near Collingwood, Ontario. I was in grade one. There were two teachers and about 50 students total.

I remember a huge map of the world on the wall. One of the fun 'games' was pointing out places on the map. We learned geography at an early age.

Geography was a compulsory subject right into high school. I recall making a topographical map of South America on cardboard with flour/salt/water paste.

All parts of the world were studied. To this day, I remember the old names of African countries better than recent names -- Rhodesia, South-West Africa, Tanganyika, Gold Coast, Nyasaland.

I remember having a quiz where you had to name all 50 American states from memory. I can still do that today :) . Sometimes when I'm bored at an airport or in a plane, I'll see how fast I can write them down. Writing takes about 5 minutes... typing about 3.

A nation's geographic literacy is a function of educational priority.

Panamah
01-12-2006, 10:42 AM
Hey, I remember making a map like that. I don't recall what country it was though.

I don't remember any sort of real geography lessons in school so I suspect it wasn't taught all that much.