Today our education system failed... drastically

[BrAinPaiNt]

Visited Gettysburg with two friends. After spending all day touring the battlefield we went to a local restaurant.

One of my friends looked up at the name.

"That looks familiar for some reason."

The name was Picketts Buffet.

:laugh2: Did he pay for the buffet by charging his credit card. :laugh2:

 

[Hostile]

I am always amazed at the number of times I have heard people who think West Virginia is part of Virginia. I spoke about this in the sports zone where Mort and Nessler basically said West Virginia was part of Virginia.

You also get the stereotype of West Virginia being uneducated people. To be fair I have been to many states and have seen many stupid people so there is some that fit that mold.

One time when I was stationed in Louisiana I was talking to a guy from that state. He asked where I was from. I told him West Virginia. He said...Oh is that the western part of Virginia near Norfolk. Then he says a wise crack joke about uneducated hillbilly.

I told him. Talk about being uneducated. West Virginia and Virginia are different states...they have been since June 20, 1863. I also pointed out that Norfolk is not in the western part of Virginia, it is in the eastern part of Virginia. I said do you know the Capital of WV, he says no. I said do you know the state flower of WV, he says no. I said do you know the state bird of WV, he says no. I said could you describe our state flag or tell me what it says on it, he replies no. I said I can understand not knowing some of the answers however everyone should know the state capitals and everyone should know that WV is not part of Virginia so who are you claiming is the uneducated ones?

So he replies...well I don't really know much about that part of the country, I am not from that area and then says, How about I ask you some of the same questions. I reply sure.

He asks what the state capital is, I reply Baton Rouge. He asks what is the state flower, I reply the Magnolia, he asked the state Bird, I say pelican, he asked if I could describe the flag...I say it has a pelican on it and the words union justice and confidence on it. He looks at me with an open mouth and blank stare and then says...it's a brown pelican not just a pelican and walks away.
:laugh2: :laugh2:

He sure told you smarty pants.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Love stories like these...reminds me of the "here's your sign" stories from Bill Engval (sp?)

 

[ethiostar]

When I was still teaching in college (anthropology), I used to give geography quizzes so that students can see where the various culture groups we talk about were located. I got tired of students complaining about how knowing world geography was irrelevant to their lives. They claimed that knowing US geography was adequate and that they've already taken classes on it in high school.

One day i walked in class with a blank map of the US showing state boundaries. I asked them to fill it out by writing as many state names on it as they can. Out of 45 students only 6 correctly identified more than 20 states. On average, students were able to correctly identify 7 states on the map.

 

[ologan]

I got you all beat.

I know this guy who is constantly blabbering to show how smart he is. It's like clockwork, if you prove him wrong he'll deny he ever said something or flat out ignore those pointing it out. He's a real annoyance. I've started to simply tune it all out. He's supposedly college educated.

First time I met him was at work, talking to a bunch of other guys and then BOOM all of a sudden he interjects right in the middle of our conversation. Can't remember what we were talking about but I remember being annoyed by it. The thing is, you know the dude isn't as smart as he claims he is but you can't really prove it. I've thought about asking to see his credentials and calling him out on it but whatever, some people need the attention.

So yeah, either the education system failed on him or he isn't as smart as he thinks he is.

Tupperware,I don't think it really has anything to do with education or "smartness",but everything to do with rudeness,which seems to be in epidemic proportions in this country today.

 

[Hostile]

When I was still teaching in college (anthropology), I used to give geography quizzes so that students can see where the various culture groups we talk about were located. I got tired of students complaining about how knowing world geography was irrelevant to their lives. They claimed that knowing US geography was adequate and that they've already taken classes on it in high school.

One day i walked in class with a blank map of the US showing state boundaries. I asked them to fill it out by writing as many state names on it as they can. Out of 45 students only 6 correctly identified more than 20 states. On average, students were able to correctly identify 7 states on the map.

I hope it embarrassed the crap out of them. I can understand people not knowing which one is Vermont and which one is New Hampshire possibly, but the rest there is no excuse.

Oh, and if it confuses anyone else Vermont looks like a V.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

When I was still teaching in college (anthropology), I used to give geography quizzes so that students can see where the various culture groups we talk about were located. I got tired of students complaining about how knowing world geography was irrelevant to their lives. They claimed that knowing US geography was adequate and that they've already taken classes on it in high school.

One day i walked in class with a blank map of the US showing state boundaries. I asked them to fill it out by writing as many state names on it as they can. Out of 45 students only 6 correctly identified more than 20 states. On average, students were able to correctly identify 7 states on the map.

Good Grief. I can understand not getting them all. Sometimes people just don't retain all of the info but an average of only 7 states is crazy, that just boggles the mind.

====

How about the opposite of telling someone else, how about stories where you were basically told.

Many places have variations of words or pronunciations for words. It can be a regional thing. Some examples might be Pop vs Soda / coke vs pepsi. Some people might say the word creek while some places you will hear crick due to accent.

Here is one of those backwoods words that is used a great deal in WV...some people say worsh instead of wash.

One day I was teasing someone with a boston accent. I said...why don't you use the letter R in words like car or bar? He had a quick wit and ripped right back and said...because I figured I would let you use the letter R in Wash since you say worsh. :laugh2: :laugh2: I said dude, you got me, that was a good one and since that time I have not used the word worsh and even today when I hear someone say that it bothers me and on occasion I will say, wash does not have the letter R in it and also it is an A not an O. They just look at me.

 

[Alumni2k11]

Best for me that comes to mind.

Watching a Cowboys @ Commanders game once with the ex-wife, and she says "I'm suprised it's not snowing, I heard it gets pretty cold this time of the year in Washington state."

 

[ethiostar]

I don't know if this falls in the category of "being told" but I sure felt stupid when i finally made the connection.

A couple of years after I came to the US, my friend was teaching me about American football because i had no idea what the heck was going on on the field. One of the hardest things i had with was correctly using the right language to talk about the time segments of the game, "quarters". I would use words like "periods" and "halves" to refer to each quarter even though i knew that the game was broken down into 4 equal parts. He was very patient with me so finally he took out a dollar bill and 4 quarters and put them on a table in front of me and simply looked at me...........and then it hit me. :laugh2:

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

I don't know if this falls in the category of "being told" but I sure felt stupid when i finally made the connection.

A couple of years after I came to the US, my friend was teaching me about American football because i had no idea what the heck was going on on the field. One of the hardest things i had with was correctly using the right language to talk about the time segments of the game, "quarters". I would use words like "periods" and "halves" to refer to each quarter even though i knew that the game was broken down into 4 equal parts. He was very patient with me so finally he took out a dollar bill and 4 quarters and put them on a table in front of me and simply looked at me...........and then it hit me. :laugh2:

:laugh2: I had a fun talk with someone when I said it was a quarter till or a quarter after when talking about time. They did not know what it meant.

So I explained that 60 minutes can be broken down to 4 increments of 15 minutes that are sometimes referred to as quarters. I said it is kind of like having four quarters in a dollar. Thinking that made perfect sense. Only to hear...well a quarter is 25 cents so why is it only 15 minutes. I did not know what to say. :laugh2:

 

[Vtwin]

I hope it embarrassed the crap out of them. I can understand people not knowing which one is Vermont and which one is New Hampshire possibly, but the rest there is no excuse.

Oh, and if it confuses anyone else Vermont looks like a V.

I've been asked "what state is that in" more than once when I am asked where I'm from and reply Vermont.

Had a conversation at a bar in Arizona with a women a couple years ago. We were talking about tipping, she was a bartender (not at this bar). She said that the standard for tipping had gone up from 15% to 20%. I asked her why and she looked at me like I was moron and said "inflation duh!"

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

I've been asked "what state is that in" more than once when I am asked where I'm from and reply Vermont.

Had a conversation at a bar in Arizona with a women a couple years ago. We were talking about tipping, she was a bartender (not at this bar). She said that the standard for tipping had gone up from 15% to 20%. I asked her why and she looked at me like I was moron and said "inflation duh!"

:laugh2: :laugh2:

 

[Yeagermeister]

My sister used to drive me crazy when she'd say liberry instead of library. Every time she'd say it I reply back there is no BERRY in library eventually she stopped.

I will admit I'm guilty of saying worsh. :

 

[Joe Realist]

I am always amazed at the number of times I have heard people who think West Virginia is part of Virginia. I spoke about this in the sports zone where Mort and Nessler basically said West Virginia was part of Virginia.

You also get the stereotype of West Virginia being uneducated people. To be fair I have been to many states and have seen many stupid people so there is some that fit that mold.

One time when I was stationed in Louisiana I was talking to a guy from that state. He asked where I was from. I told him West Virginia. He said...Oh is that the western part of Virginia near Norfolk. Then he says a wise crack joke about uneducated hillbilly.

I told him. Talk about being uneducated. West Virginia and Virginia are different states...they have been since June 20, 1863. I also pointed out that Norfolk is not in the western part of Virginia, it is in the eastern part of Virginia. I said do you know the Capital of WV, he says no. I said do you know the state flower of WV, he says no. I said do you know the state bird of WV, he says no. I said could you describe our state flag or tell me what it says on it, he replies no. I said I can understand not knowing some of the answers however everyone should know the state capitals and everyone should know that WV is not part of Virginia so who are you claiming is the uneducated ones?

So he replies...well I don't really know much about that part of the country, I am not from that area and then says, How about I ask you some of the same questions. I reply sure.

He asks what the state capital is, I reply Baton Rouge. He asks what is the state flower, I reply the Magnolia, he asked the state Bird, I say pelican, he asked if I could describe the flag...I say it has a pelican on it and the words union justice and confidence on it. He looks at me with an open mouth and blank stare and then says...it's a brown pelican not just a pelican and walks away.
:laugh2: :laugh2:

BP now stands for Brown Pelican.

 

[Yeagermeister]

When I was still teaching in college (anthropology), I used to give geography quizzes so that students can see where the various culture groups we talk about were located. I got tired of students complaining about how knowing world geography was irrelevant to their lives. They claimed that knowing US geography was adequate and that they've already taken classes on it in high school.

One day i walked in class with a blank map of the US showing state boundaries. I asked them to fill it out by writing as many state names on it as they can. Out of 45 students only 6 correctly identified more than 20 states. On average, students were able to correctly identify 7 states on the map.

I'd have nailed that test. I may not get 100% but I'd come darn close to it.

 

[jnday]

I got one . Several guys from my area meet up on occasion and shoot the bull . The subject came up that one of the ladies in our community had been acting strange . One guy hinted that the women's behaviour might be caused by menopause . One of the othe guys replied that his father had went through menopause and it come close to killing him . He stated that his father really had a hard time getting over his case of menopause . Yes, he is an idiot , but he is our idiot .

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

BP now stands for Brown Pelican.

:laugh2: Nice...did not even think of that.

 

[YosemiteSam]

These are a few differences I've noticed from Texas to NY.

Now, do you say:

• On accident (Texas)
• By accident (NY)

How about:

• Get in line. (Texas)
• Get on line. (NY)

My wife always tries to correct me and say it's "on line", not "in line". I reply. Do you see a line on the grown to stand on? No, we are forming the line, not standing on it. Therefore we are getting "IN LINE", not "ON LINE".

Many New Yorkers (not all) add an "R" to the end of words that end with an "A". For instance, some of you have hear Chris "MadDog" Russo before. He used to do the "Mike and the Maddog" radio show here in the NY area on WFAN, but now has a show on Sirius Radio. He does it all the freaking time! Especially when talking about the Atlanta Falcons.

For instances:

• AtlantaR
• FormulaR
• GorillaR

Hah it's a freaking beating to listen too. :laugh2:

 

[YosemiteSam]

I got one . Several guys from my area meet up on occasion and shoot the bull . The subject came up that one of the ladies in our community had been acting strange . One guy hinted that the women's behaviour might be caused by menopause . One of the othe guys replied that his father had went through menopause and it come close to killing him . He stated that his father really had a hard time getting over his case of menopause . Yes, he is an idiot , but he is our idiot .

I hope they didn't laugh at you too much. :laugh2: :

 

[YosemiteSam]

I'd have nailed that test. I may not get 100% but I'd come darn close to it.

I can name every state easily, but I must admit. It probably would take me quite a while to remember all the state capitals. I could probably name 40-45 of them off the top of my head. All of them, I'm sure I would have some trouble with all of them. It's been a long time though.

I do remember Vtwin's state capital though! Montpelier! :laugh2: