LtDan6d ago

Are Europeans more well versed with world geography than Americans?

https://lemmy.zip/post/61380209

Are Europeans more well versed with world geography than Americans? - Lemmy.zip

I’ve seen multiple videos equivalent of Americans pointing where (country) is on the map, and there was an instance where the host asked the woman where the continent Africa is located (points to Asia) like WTF? That’s not even close at all. I know there’s bias towards those types of videos since there are accusations of the host “handpicking” select strangers framing them as if they are representative of the US. But the truth is that their education system isn’t good as it lacks funding. When you put it into perspective: how many Europeans can correctly locate & name countries adjacent to them within their own continent and globally? Is the education system within the EU that good or effective at teaching kids that subject?

Show threadKoboldCoterie6d ago
How many Europeans can point out Kansas on a map? I’d bet I could find just as many Europeans ignorant of North American geography as they find Americans ignorant of European geography, especially since, as you point out, they cherry pick the most ignorant sounding responses.
Show threadChe Banana6d ago

Kansas, a state, is not the equivalent of Africa, A continent as pointed out by OP.

OTOH, EU education varies w I d e l y and the American system is overall mediocre

Show threadKoboldCoterie6d ago
I would say Kansas as an American is roughly equivalent to a European country to a European. South America would be the equivalent of Africa, and while I agree that everyone should be able to name the continents, I’m very confident that I could find a European who could not point out South America if I cherry picked enough. I bet I’d get someone pointing to Mexico eventually.
Show threadFatVegan6d ago
What a weird thing to say. You think finding Kansas on a map is equal to finding france on a map?
Show threadKoboldCoterie6d ago
I think judging Americans for not knowing your local geography is pretty stupid, and I think judging Europeans for not knowing our local geography is also stupid, so in that sense yes, I think they’re equal.
Show threadguy6d ago
The thing is most Europeans know your local geography. They know which continent, the part of it is the US and where and what (mostly) your capitol is.
Show threadKoboldCoterie
Being able to point out the US on a map is like pointing out Russia. You can just throw a dart in the general right direction and you have a pretty good chance of hitting it just because of how absurdly large it is. Even if all you know is the continent and nothing else, you have more or less a 1 in 3 chance if you just guess a random spot. Calling the location of the country in North America and the general location of the capital “knowing our local geography” is like me claiming to know European geography (which I certainly don’t) just because I can point to Russia, Italy, England and a few other rather distinct locations.
Mar 25 at 4:32pmWeb
Show threadguy5d ago

Oh it’s about size you mean? What is is a reasonable size for you to learn where a country is? And I mean, can you even name all the countries in, say Europe, without putting them on a map?

Funny thing about Russia. It’s mostly in Asia so I mean you’re technically correct but 🤷

Show threadKoboldCoterie5d ago

I’m not implying that size has any relevance to importance, merely to the general chance that someone can point to it on a map. It’s a lot easier to identify Greenland than it is to identify Guatemala purely because it’s a bigger target and it’s more visible.

No, I sure can’t name all of the European countries. Can you name all of the North American countries? (Why is either at all relevant?)

Show threadguy5d ago

And what about it? Most know where the US and Russia is because of education, not because they’re big and they can hazard a guess.

Because you talk about size and pointing out on a map as defining for geographic knowledge. Of course Europe is confusing for you if you don’t even know what the continent contains.

Can you name all of the North American countries?

Of course lol

Show threadKoboldCoterie5d ago

Of course lol

Can you? All 23 of them? If so, good for you (not being sarcastic), but I’d be willing to bet very good money that if I went and picked 10 random Europeans that at least 8 if not all 10 would not be able to do so.