Dumb Americans?
Some hand-wringing over the state of American culture in new york times book review. Don't miss the accompanying youtube video in which the quiz contestant says, "Hungry? Is that a country? Have heard of Turkey, but never heard of it"
Youtube also threw another related video. The best part was where one man says, "I'm a little mixed up between the Israelis and the Palestinians. Which is the one throwing rocks?" It would be LOL, if it were not so sad and frightening.
The idea of Dumb American is of course a stereotype. Stupidity and ignorance are, I think, rational response to the growing complexity of the world affairs. It is true everywhere. On top of that there is this growing pressure of narrow specialization, resulting in a whole society of high IQ morons.
5 comments:
Excellent points, alok.
Can only agree and have nothing to add.
I wonder how you came to the conclusion that ignorance and stupidity are rational responses to complex affairs.
Trying to discount the acontextual nature of the video, dumb here isn’t about the lack of knowledge of geography and general knowledge ( which as a matter of fact, isn’t changing, there is only one Eiffel tower and I’m sure Parisians hate it enough to not have anymore) but the gross culturally centrist compulsion to give an answer. And it is consistent in almost every sphere of life in America.
You can also see another version in India, when asking for directions- people think they become inferior if they don’t know the directions and make their best to give or find something, even if wrong.( That’s Sudhir Kakkar)
If you ask an equally average audience in Europe, at the worst you would be drowned by apologies for not knowing the answers.
These videos are obviously meant to be seen as fun. I don't think they are representative in any sense. Cultural centrism is understandable but the compulsion to give answers? that's soemthing i am hearing for the first time.
I don't know, may be French and Germans know about the world more than Americans but I was making a general point about the growing compartmentalization and complexity of knowledge. You really can't expect everybody to know things which are outside what is needed in daily life because that is already too much. I myself have forgotten many high-school science concepts. I know who are the guys throwing the rocks but if you ask me details about the last election there I wouldn't know what to say. A financial analyst will not have a clue about the history of German literature. He can't have even if he is interested. His own requires so much of his time and effort. That's why I said we live in the society of high IQ morons and they are everywhere. Of course that doesn't mean we can' try. I am trying too... as this blog should indicate.
by "rational" I didn't mean it is a good thing just that it can be explained. If that was the confusion.
Hmm. To be clear, I have little interest if Americans know more or less than others.I am interested in what is your reasoning behind your arrival at this from the video:
The idea of Dumb American is of course a stereotype. Stupidity and ignorance are, I think, rational response to the growing complexity of the world affairs. It is true everywhere. On top of that there is this growing pressure of narrow specialization, resulting in a whole society of high IQ morons.
I dont think you were defending it, but I dont see any relevance. Here is why?
Knowing where North Korea or Iran is not that complicated. There is no geo-shifting complex dynamics involved. Further, if you dont know, you would be at the worst be embarrassed about it, for you know they are simple things.You wouldnt guess an answer and give a chuckle. Im still curious to know how such factual knowledge is subject to compartmentalization and a need to answer. Either you know or you dont, As i said, these are simple things, its not like they are being asked asking the atomic mass of lithium or the Vastness of the milkyway, which are specializations.
That you are limited by nature to hold information isnt a positio to defend the lack of awareness about oneself or for sharing your prejudices. So for instance, I would say you wouldnt pretend to know about last election if you dont.As simple as that. Not knowing is one thing, not accepting not knowing is another. Im sure you would agree that there is no high IQ needed for that. Is there?
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