• PumaStoleMyBluff@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    This has little to do with American vs British schooling and a lot more to do with the specific people involved. The UK has lots of comedians dumber than Noel and the US has plenty smarter than Chelsea

    • Dasus@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      Aye, but… we all know they are different.

      Perhaps it’s hard to see if you’re American, but sometimes it’s downright incredible — in the very sense of the word — how badly educated some Americans are.

      I’m Finnish, and I genuinely have a hard time imagining someone not being able to name like 10 countries on a map. Even people I know who literally discovered an inner monologue at the age of 25 while in a stimulant psychosis, and who had been huffing gas and paint since they were 12, and never were too sharp to begin with, those people could name a couple of dozen countries and at least all the continents. (Edit, now that I consider it, I think it’s also to do with Europeans “needing” to know Europe whereas Americans don’t. Just need to know Canada, Mexico, but then all the different states. Although European countries have similar divisions as well, I’d argue the local entities are less crucial than in the States. Hell, I probably don’t remember our one’s 100% correctly)

      No offense, America has a lot of smart people. And Noel Fielding isn’t an example of a highly educated person. He was in the Croydon School for Art and then got a degree for graphic design. Meanwhile in the US, common core maths is a thing.

      So like, let’s not pretend there’s not a pretty significant difference in the education systems. Not recognising that would mean accepting the one the US has, and I for one think education is rather important and that the US could improve even if they were the best in the world. Which they’re not. Granted, now was the first time I checked the 2024 rankings, and the difference between UK and US is much smaller than I expected. UK being #14 and US #18.

  • General_Effort@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    Is she a right wing personality? Not remembering much about Nicaragua is a serious career booster in those quarters. They should have had Oliver North on the show. No one doesn’t remember more about Nicaragua than him.

    …no one is going to get this one.

    • Soggy@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      Most of us aren’t 60 years old or are going to remember every detail of every major GOP scandal. The short version, Ollie North took the fall for Reagan’s Iran-Contra weapons sales, is sufficient without knowing that the Contras were Nicaraguan.

  • ByteOnBikes@slrpnk.net
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    2 months ago

    As an American, I get surprised by US states. Like, wtf, you telling me Arkansas is a state? You mean there’s a NEW Mexico? Rhode Island?

    • AngryCommieKender@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      Fun fact. New Mexico is older than Mexico. New Mexico was much bigger back then, and named by the Spanish. The US got into a war, and claimed the New Mexico territory, leaving the name the same, and then several years later, the Mexican People declare independence and finally named their country Mexico.

    • Maalus@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      As a European, I’m not surprised by US states, we literally learned them at school.

  • KillingTimeItself@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    2 months ago

    europeans dominating when they get into a naming countries competition with the not educated in the field of naming countries competition competition that they have.

  • GBU_28@lemm.ee
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    2 months ago

    Having grown up in both countries, the joke here is about colonialism more than American stupidity.

    The British know everywhere spices, sugar and coffee come from innately

    • Egg_Egg@lemm.ee
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      2 months ago

      Yes. It does. We have a national curriculum that includes the negative aspects of the British Empire. National curriculums are awesome, you should try it one day.

    • DokPsy@infosec.pub
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      2 months ago

      Considering the US is actively trying to reframe their atrocities as positives or flat out trying to write them out of history, probably not the best take

      • Nuke_the_whales@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        Why is it a bad take? Nobody here is defending America over England. They’re both monsters, they’re both of the same cloth.

        • DokPsy@infosec.pub
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          2 months ago

          Assuming a us viewpoint, it’s akin to a serial killer telling a petty thief how despicable they are for stealing.

          Not a perfect metaphor with England’s past but considering they’re actively trying to educate on and make up for the atrocities they’ve committed, it serves to illustrate the point.