The Clockwork Mansion

The Grand Hallway => The Outer Fortress => Topic started by: xHaZxMaTx on January 06, 2007, 11:23:42 PM

Title: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: xHaZxMaTx on January 06, 2007, 11:23:42 PM
http://www.shoutfile.com/v/gSfSsCpR/Why_People_Believe_Americans_Are_Stupid

I don't blame them.
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: bill on January 06, 2007, 11:25:21 PM
This is older than the Pope.
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: Valynth on January 06, 2007, 11:31:44 PM
Quote from: BillBuckner on January 06, 2007, 11:25:21 PM
This is older than the Pope.

So is stupidity which we've been trying to erradicate.  Strangely the Pope's power has declined as we've gotten smarter....  Does anyone else see a connection here?

Anyway, what do they expect just asking random Americans about stuff that they will probably never deal with and therefore never care about?  It's a rare few Americans who actually care about the world outside our borders, mainly because the rest of the world outside our borders are so incompetant that they need us to bail them out half the time (we export HOW MUCH of the world's food right now?).  Seriously, we're probably the only country who's poor are the fat ones.
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: bill on January 06, 2007, 11:36:41 PM
There are stupid people in America. Amazingly enough, there are also stupid people in Belgium. And in every other country in the world (except Norway). Stupidity is everywhere. In massive numbers. The stupidity meter is broken.
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: Dakata on January 06, 2007, 11:38:25 PM
I think it's funny how an old guy didn't know how many world wars there are.

LOL DUMBASS
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: Manawolf on January 06, 2007, 11:46:21 PM
You know they never actually show people who actually got it right with these things.  Seriously, was this in New York.  Ugh, if their public schools are assigned numbers, you know something is wrong.
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: Kasarn on January 06, 2007, 11:48:20 PM
Yeah, the Chaser do political satire and social commentary. They sometimes take things out of context... or just make up the context...

*pimps site*
http://www.chaser.com.au

Episodes 22-28 from last year's The Chaser's War on Everything are available for free
http://www.abc.net.au/tv/chaser/war/vodcast/

If you turn on the Triple J (http://www.triplej.net.au) stream right now you can listen to the fill-in show Bloody Sunday with Chris and Craig from the Chaser. They're currently talking about Wikipedia and how their corrections to their own pages were reverted.
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: superluser on January 07, 2007, 12:10:06 AM
On the other hand, it could be like this: When was the Treaty of Adrianople (http://jperryl.ecs.fullerton.edu/313/No6NNo2Together.mov)?

Oh, and for all the intelligent Americans out there, how many seats in the US Senate?  What about 50 years ago?
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: Zedd on January 07, 2007, 12:15:16 AM
 :smrt
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: Aridas on January 07, 2007, 12:36:39 AM
It didn't really help that that map that they wanted people to point things out on was a fake map that had misleading names on it. It's very much possible there was someone there who actually knew but was fooled by the fake map.
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: superluser on January 07, 2007, 12:41:57 AM
Quote from: Aridas Soulfire on January 07, 2007, 12:36:39 AMIt's very much possible there was someone there who actually knew but was fooled by the fake map.

Dude, the fake name was on the country of Australia.  It's a friggin' continent.  At the very least, you should know what continent the country you want to invade is in.

Or was that supposed to be sarcasm?

P.S. I get most of my news via the radio, so I can't for the life of me remember what John Howard looks like.
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: Aridas on January 07, 2007, 12:48:30 AM
Well, you can believe me when I say I'm no good at maps. That doesn't make me stupid, that just means I have a terrible memory for maps. Speaking of this video though, sometimes a few of the questions seem purposely vague, making them difficult to understand as it is, to be taken out of context by us. ("Do you support the president's stance on Kyrgyzstan?")
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: Kasarn on January 07, 2007, 01:25:45 AM
People will say anything when you stick a camera in front of them.
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: superluser on January 07, 2007, 01:36:15 AM
By the way, does anyone know what map projection they're using in that?  It's clearly not Mercator.  New Zealand is below Australia, for example.
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: Aridas on January 07, 2007, 02:03:56 AM
And besides, just watch a show like "Street Smarts", I don't really care where you're from, people everywhere are hideously undereducated in any subject.
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: Brunhidden on January 07, 2007, 02:13:01 AM
Quote from: BillBuckner on January 06, 2007, 11:36:41 PM
There are stupid people in America. Amazingly enough, there are also stupid people in Belgium. And in every other country in the world (except Norway). Stupidity is everywhere. In massive numbers. The stupidity meter is broken.

How did you know i was planning to move to norway? yeah, chances are they wont let me in, but im thinking if i change my name to Hraffn and claim in a berzerker baker. think theyd buy it?

anyways, you have to remember two things with this vidio.

1- stupid people are a minority everywhere, however they are a hgihly visible minority. the ease at which the thunderously stupid seem to locate cameras and coordinate thier actions to overlap with other idiots is eerie in its level of planning.

2- the point of this film is to prove americans are stupid, so any example of random person on the street who actually got a question mostly right was thrown on the trash. so estimate this film of a few minutes in length took about two hours of interviews and only the REALLY stupid lines made it in.


also, as a side note, if your interviewing people abot trivia....try and make sure you speak in an accent they understand. it took me like three minutes to figure out he was trying to say 'hiroshima' and 'nagasaki' but merely mangled the names so bad it sounded like a french comedy duo.

QuoteI hope you brought enough stupid for the rest of the class.
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: Kasarn on January 07, 2007, 02:26:32 AM
Quote from: Brunhidden da Muse on January 07, 2007, 02:13:01 AM
also, as a side note, if your interviewing people abot trivia....try and make sure you speak in an accent they understand. it took me like three minutes to figure out he was trying to say 'hiroshima' and 'nagasaki' but merely mangled the names so bad it sounded like a french comedy duo.

It's not their problem that they are Australian, it's yours.
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: superluser on January 07, 2007, 03:06:15 AM
Quote from: Kasarn on January 07, 2007, 02:26:32 AMIt's not their problem that they are Australian, it's yours.

Well, to be fair, it's an Australian accent on Japanese words.  And he does butcher them pretty badly.  Unfortunately, it's butchered in a way that should be recognizable to most Americans.

P.S.  Oddly enough, KFC's parent company is indeed based in Kentucky, though until 1997, it was based in New York.

P.P.S. Which state does Pace Picante Sauce come from?
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: Eibborn on January 07, 2007, 04:28:43 AM
I just wonder how many intelligent responses they received. Certainly a lot more than the ridiculous responses that they showed.

Howeverrrr.... Has anyone seen 'Talking to Americans?' It's more of the same, really. Just from a different source.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=BhTZ_tgMUdo
All the other countries get together and gossip about America behind it's back.  >:3
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: xHaZxMaTx on January 07, 2007, 05:08:05 AM
I met a guy on the train while I was in Canada who told me about that video. :lol
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: Zedd on January 07, 2007, 05:41:14 AM
Meh as funny may be but all these show just blow monkeyshit.....Sides I rather watch paint dry off my own house and answer odvious stupid questions that doesnt take a twenty cented brain of a human cant answer anyhow if you want to ask stupid people...Ask other than americans....Ask people about shit about things about their own crap insteded...Some people probley wont rember that...Thank you... :chainsaw
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: LionHeart on January 07, 2007, 06:00:45 AM
Quote from: superluser on January 07, 2007, 12:41:57 AM
...I get most of my news via the radio, so I can't for the life of me remember what John Howard looks like.

Kinda like this:

(http://www.dangermouse.org/images/penfold/funny3.gif)

Sorry, wrong pic:

(http://backingaus.innovation.gov.au/images/head_shot%5B1%5D.jpg)

...am I the only one who sees the resemblance?
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: RJ on January 07, 2007, 06:02:25 AM
OH NOES IT'S JOHN HOWARD! D:

And yes, we are relatively sure that it's actually his eyebrows that run the country, not him.
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: Kasarn on January 07, 2007, 06:08:10 AM
I thought George W. Bush ran our country nowadays. We should, like, make him the Governor-General. I'm pretty sure the Queen wouldn't have a problem with it :E
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: Aridas on January 07, 2007, 06:11:29 AM
Quote from: Zedd on January 07, 2007, 05:41:14 AM
Meh as funny may be but all these show just blow monkeyshit.....Sides I rather watch paint dry off my own house and answer odvious stupid questions that doesnt take a twenty cented brain of a human cant answer anyhow if you want to ask stupid people...Ask other than americans....Ask people about shit about things about their own crap insteded...Some people probley wont rember that...Thank you... :chainsaw
Someone's got issues >.>
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: Sid on January 07, 2007, 07:40:43 AM
Only managed to watch half the video before my internal Stupid-o-meter exploded. Yes, they of course only pick the dumbest examples, but "How many sides does a triangle have?" and the map on which FRANCE is its own continent close to the south pole... ouch... xD
Maybe not exactly objective or representative, but still highly entertaining :D
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: llearch n'n'daCorna on January 07, 2007, 11:32:32 AM
Quote from: LionHeart on January 07, 2007, 06:00:45 AM
Kinda like this:

http://www.dangermouse.org/images/penfold/funny3.gif

Problem is, Lionheart, dm.org doesn't let you deep-link their images.

Damn funny, but... :-)
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: superluser on January 07, 2007, 01:01:19 PM
OK.  Now this is a trick question, so think carefully.  What is the capital of Australia?
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: Alan Garou on January 07, 2007, 01:48:22 PM
Every person is an idiot, and every person is insane. Some are just more obvious.
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: fesworks on January 07, 2007, 01:56:49 PM
Quote from: superluser on January 07, 2007, 01:01:19 PM
OK.  Now this is a trick question, so think carefully.  What is the capital of Australia?

Well, googling it returns "Canberra" in the first few posts.

Sydny is the biggest city, I believe.

other than looking it up, no freaking way I'd know that, much like capitals of the states, I could also care less about their capitals... why learn what you can look up? Especially if you'll most likely never travel to there? All I need to know is about where I live as far as where things are. The Capital of Minnesota is St. Paul. People who live here are idiots if they say Minneapolis, which is the bigger city... collectively they are know as the "Twin Cities". Duluth is up north on Lake Superior, that is another major city, and the main roadways are I94, I35, State Highway 55, and U.S. Highway 10. I live in St. Cloud which is a big city in an of itself, but I think most other bigger cities make fun of us as a "wannabe" big city.
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: superluser on January 07, 2007, 02:07:07 PM
Quote from: fesworks on January 07, 2007, 01:56:49 PM
Quote from: superluser on January 07, 2007, 01:01:19 PMOK.  Now this is a trick question, so think carefully.  What is the capital of Australia?
Well, googling it returns "Canberra" in the first few posts.

No, no.  The answer is of course Ottawa, the capital of Canada.  That was the trick part of the question (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuAhYNHwGM4).

Can't give that one to you, but I can offer it to anyone else.
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: Alondro on January 07, 2007, 08:30:18 PM
*sighs*  If I had my way, France would be located at the South Pole... stupid Frenchies!  I should know!  Last name:  de Charleroy. 

*ZOMG!  His real name!*   D: 

Anyway, I'm quite sure there are quite a number of people in other countries who don't know anything either.  Especially in those countries that don't even have a functional educational system.  Buuuut, we can't say anything about those countries, cuz that's insensitive!   :P
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: TheGreyRonin on January 07, 2007, 11:26:53 PM
(...won't comment, won't comment, won't...hell with it...)

Information is increasing faster than an individual can absorb it, let alone usefully retain it. In the society of better-developed nations, it is becoming increasingly easier for people to simply look up information, freeing their minds from the necessity of carrying around bits of data that they do not need on a daily basis.

In reality, how often does the average person need to know that the capitol of South Dakota is Pierre? Or that Dakotans habitually mispronounce it as "peer"? It's less stupidity than simple ignorance, and ignorance of facts that are not necessary to that individual's life.

I find it interesting that they equate intelligence with carrying around knowledge that is generally useless in a day-to-day situation. By that logic, good Trivial Pursuit players must be gods among men. LOL
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: Kasarn on January 08, 2007, 12:27:28 AM
On the other hand, if you are going to support the invasion of another country then you should probably know something about it. Of course, some people are just bigots...

CNNNN is also an Australian show and the jokes are loosely based on Australian current affairs.
John Howard likes to talk up his close relationship with George Bush and the USA in general. Thus the joke is that nobody in the USA knows or cares who John Howard is and barely know where Australia is.


"As long as there are absolutely no follow up questions, then yes."
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: Stygian on January 08, 2007, 12:36:45 PM
Quote from: Alondro on January 07, 2007, 08:30:18 PM
*sighs*  If I had my way, France would be located at the South Pole... stupid Frenchies!  I should know!  Last name:  de Charleroy. 

*ZOMG!  His real name!*   D: 

Anyway, I'm quite sure there are quite a number of people in other countries who don't know anything either.  Especially in those countries that don't even have a functional educational system.  Buuuut, we can't say anything about those countries, cuz that's insensitive!   :P

Please, go ahead and say anything you want about sweden and the swedish educational system. This place is messed up, I tell you. Finally, we've got a liberal government at last, but it's going to take more than a political shift to rework this place...
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: Brunhidden on January 08, 2007, 02:37:21 PM
is anyone here aware that there was a survey sent to china. on this survey people were asked by the surveyors such things as "do you know what an aeroplane is?", "have you ever seen or hear a radio?", "do you know who the leader of your country is?" and my personal favorite "do you know what china is?"

theres chunks of china the size of cuba where maybe one person in twenty has any clue what china is, where it is on a map, or that they live in it.

is anyone aware that years ago when people were afraid of the population explosion in affrica a group was sent in the intrest of public health to give away free vasectomies? after they had no takers they offered cheap crappy transistor radios that may catch one or two channels on a good day.  you know the africans had no clue what was going on, because after they had a vasectomy they would GET BACK IN LINE. i feel sorry for them because many of them probably spent the next five years wondering why the gods of fertility frowned on them.

no, im not picking on the third world. china is right now the most dynamic economy in the world, has the most pervasive infusion of public relations and civic programs anywhere, and is deadset to make sure every man woman and child in china knows enough to be productive and loyal. and africa, well, can you really excuse them if they dont know something about two minutes after they got a full lecture telling you what it is? no, thats just not careing cause you will be given a transistor radio.

please understand that theres stupid people in every country. the three reasons why people think americans are stupider then anywhere else is
1- weve elected our head idiot as leader. sadly he does not represent the country. in fact he never won either election.
2- due to americans haveing grown so used to free speach the loudest voice that america, americans, american government, and the suchlike is idiocy...well, the loudest voice is the americans. seriously, more americans are vocalising that america is stupid, and with more accuracy,  then anyone else on the world.
3- everybody just likes to insult america. it used to be france, but apperantly thats not politically correct anymore to make jokes about frogs and serving cats to tourists

QuoteStupid is as stupid does, and theres a whole lotta stupid going on right here
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: Eldoran on January 08, 2007, 04:26:50 PM
"Hey, if I give you twenty dollars, would you act like a complete idiot in front of a camera? Thanks." Because I don't think anyone is as stupid as the people who accepted the map test thing. There is noone that stupid here in Hattiesburg (:

Also, I liked how he asked someone a question about war tactics (: It made me feel really gushy inside.
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: Alondro on January 08, 2007, 10:30:48 PM
Quote from: Brunhidden da Muse on January 08, 2007, 02:37:21 PM

1- weve elected our head idiot as leader. sadly he does not represent the country. in fact he never won either election.
2- due to americans haveing grown so used to free speach the loudest voice that america, americans, american government, and the suchlike is idiocy...well, the loudest voice is the americans. seriously, more americans are vocalising that america is stupid, and with more accuracy,  then anyone else on the world.

QuoteStupid is as stupid does, and theres a whole lotta stupid going on right here

Little problem there.  First, Bush very clearly did win the second time by majority vote. 

Second, he's not the head idiot.  Paris Hilton, Brittary Spears/K-Fed (loser), Madonna, Anna Nicole Smith, Tom Cruise, John Travolta... (the list of stupid 'celebrities' goes on and on) all have an overwhelming lead over him in the dumb-ass category and are rather on the wrong side of the century mark on the ol' IQ chart. 
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: Hilary on January 08, 2007, 11:25:35 PM
I don't think this is a reflection on the level of intelligence of American people, but a reflection of the nature of our society. These days people just don't want to learn. They're smart enough, if they'd just try. But the American lifestyle these days is not particularly conducive to learning. (The reason I want to get out of America isn't the people-- it's the lifestyle.) I'm sure that if some of those people had lived most of their life in another country, they could answer those questions.

On the other hand, a lot of facts such as those mentioned in the video get ingrained in your head, whether you want to learn or not. I mean, three world wars? Good grief. With many people, it is simply stupidity. Just not most people.

*Still wants out of this country* When I'm old enough, G.B., here I come. Brace yourselves.
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: Alan Garou on January 10, 2007, 09:06:56 AM
I live in Austin. It is the only smart city in Texas, and the most beautiful, culture-oriented, and wierd. And yet every day when I listen to the radio I still get an earfull of the antics of the bigoted morons running this countries. They're always yapping on and on about how only they will be "saved" during the Rapture. You know what I think? I think the Rapture is God's plan to finally get rid of them so the rest of us can finally set things right.
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: xHaZxMaTx on January 10, 2007, 09:19:24 AM
Quote from: Hilary on January 08, 2007, 11:25:35 PM
When I'm old enough, G.B., here I come. Brace yourselves.
And that was the last anyone ever heard from Hilary.
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: Alondro on January 10, 2007, 09:22:28 AM
Heh, those who believe in the Rapture have obviously never actually read the Bible.  They've taken one passage of a parable entirely out of context and ignored several chapters worth of actual descriptions of the prophecied Second Coming.

Speaking of silly beliefs, what on earth is with the martyrdom so you can get 72 virgins?  Talk about being sex-crazed.

*Bill Clinton*  72?   ;)
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: llearch n'n'daCorna on January 10, 2007, 10:28:14 AM
Who wants a virgin, anyway. Give me an experienced woman, anytime. Virgins squeal too much.

*cough*
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: Vidar on January 10, 2007, 10:58:03 AM
Quote from: llearch n'n'daCorna on January 10, 2007, 10:28:14 AM
Who wants a virgin, anyway. Give me an experienced woman, anytime. Virgins squeal too much.

*cough*

If you do the often enough, they will become experienced, eventually.

Quote from: Alondro on January 10, 2007, 09:22:28 AM
Heh, those who believe in the Rapture have obviously never actually read the Bible.  They've taken one passage of a parable entirely out of context and ignored several chapters worth of actual descriptions of the prophecied Second Coming.

Meh. The Rapture, and the rest of Revelation should have been shoveled out of the bible along with the rest of the apocrypha. It doesn't make any sense, no matter what angle you look at it from.

Of course, that's just what I as an atheist says. *cough*

Quote from: Alan Garou on January 10, 2007, 09:06:56 AM
I live in Austin. It is the only smart city in Texas, and the most beautiful, culture-oriented, and wierd. And yet every day when I listen to the radio I still get an earfull of the antics of the bigoted morons running this countries. They're always yapping on and on about how only they will be "saved" during the Rapture. You know what I think? I think the Rapture is God's plan to finally get rid of them so the rest of us can finally set things right.

It's stuff like that, that makes the rest of the world think the Americans are idiots, because they elect religious nuts like that to rule over them, and make important decisions for them.
When are you going to run them out of office, and banish them to Alaska?

Other thing your leaders get pegged for are: closed minded anti-gay sentiments, starting wars in the middle east, and granting tax-benefits to the wrong people.

Also, America spawned things like Britney Spears and Paris Hilton.
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: Valynth on January 10, 2007, 11:03:41 AM
Quote from: Hilary on January 08, 2007, 11:25:35 PM
I don't think this is a reflection on the level of intelligence of American people, but a reflection of the nature of our society. These days people just don't want to learn. They're smart enough, if they'd just try. But the American lifestyle these days is not particularly conducive to learning. (The reason I want to get out of America isn't the people-- it's the lifestyle.) I'm sure that if some of those people had lived most of their life in another country, they could answer those questions.

Do I have to point out to you that the American lifestyle is that you can pick what ever lifestyle you want?  Thats why America is "free."   The reason Communist coutries have 100% literacy is because they kill or jail everyone who doesn't immediately spew back their propaganda.
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: Tapewolf on January 10, 2007, 11:11:21 AM
I wanted to stay out of this but I can't hold back anymore...

Quote from: Vidar on January 10, 2007, 10:58:03 AM
Quote from: Alondro on January 10, 2007, 09:22:28 AM
Heh, those who believe in the Rapture have obviously never actually read the Bible.  They've taken one passage of a parable entirely out of context and ignored several chapters worth of actual descriptions of the prophecied Second Coming.

Meh. The Rapture, and the rest of Revelation should have been shoveled out of the bible along with the rest of the apocrypha. It doesn't make any sense, no matter what angle you look at it from.

It does if you consider that the Revelation ends with something akin to "do not edit this bit out of the Bible or God will kill you".  But IMHO that's the only angle that really makes sense to me...

One of the things which I find utterly incredible is the concept that every word in the Bible is literally true despite the fact that it's been re-translated and re-edited so many times.
And sadly this seems to be a US-centric belief, which is as you say, one of the unfortunate reasons for other people's perception of the US.

Quote from: Alan Garou on January 10, 2007, 09:06:56 AM
I live in Austin. It is the only smart city in Texas, and the most beautiful, culture-oriented, and wierd. And yet every day when I listen to the radio I still get an earfull of the antics of the bigoted morons running this countries. They're always yapping on and on about how only they will be "saved" during the Rapture. You know what I think? I think the Rapture is God's plan to finally get rid of them so the rest of us can finally set things right.

Ooh, I like that spin on it.  I'll have to remember that one  >:3
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: Stygian on January 10, 2007, 12:17:06 PM
Quote from: llearch n'n'daCorna on January 10, 2007, 10:28:14 AM
Who wants a virgin, anyway. Give me an experienced woman, anytime. Virgins squeal too much.

*cough*

"For my talent portion..." *Spot the quote!*

Why is it that people run down religion in general? I'm anti-religious. I'm not against the concept of a god, but I think all forms of organized superstition are destructive. And still, I could consider leaving nearly all other religions alone, if only for one thing; if we could get rid of the bloody christians, and the bloody muslims.

Why? Well, who's making the most noise right now? Whose beliefs are stated in all the modern world as the prime examples of religion, and similarily in some places as the prime examples of corruption and degenerate human thinking? Whose beliefs have been the most prolific, in terms of spawning a good number of large, exploitative undergroups?

In all, you can say what you want about religion in general, but two of them in particular seem to dominate the bullshitting and groin-punching leagues, and those are Christianity and Islam. There are a lot of f-ed up parts of Judaeism too, sort of the root of them both, that I don't like, but say what you want; Judaeism doesn't promote the same kind of "worship" as its ugly children.

And why these two then? Well, you can look at it all from a cultural perspective, and go on and on about history, development through time and all that. And you'd be right. But all you'd do was rehash what has already been said, and right now I don't feel like coming off like some sort of professor. I want to have a bit of sting, so I'll say this instead:

Christianity and Islam (and Judaeism, yeah...) are the only two religions that have genuinely convinced a really large mass of people that there is a big, allmighty guy who sits in the sky or wherever, and knows and sees all, but doesn't even rub his nose in it. And they're the only ones that have convinced people that this guy has a list of things that he wants you not to do, and that he has a special place full of anguish and torment where he sends you off to after you die if you've done some of these things. But he loves you.
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: Aridas on January 10, 2007, 12:32:20 PM
Quote from: Valynth on January 10, 2007, 11:03:41 AM
Do I have to point out to you that the American lifestyle is that you can pick what ever lifestyle you want?
...As long as what you want is what they want you to want. Otherwise you're scum. Try a few other countries; they work the same way and then some.
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: superluser on January 10, 2007, 02:13:17 PM
Quote from: Vidar on January 10, 2007, 10:58:03 AM
Quote from: Alondro on January 10, 2007, 09:22:28 AMHeh, those who believe in the Rapture have obviously never actually read the Bible.  They've taken one passage of a parable entirely out of context and ignored several chapters worth of actual descriptions of the prophecied Second Coming.
Meh. The Rapture, and the rest of Revelation should have been shoveled out of the bible along with the rest of the apocrypha. It doesn't make any sense, no matter what angle you look at it from.

Well, if what Alondro says is true, then the Rapture is not mentioned in the book of Revelation.  Revelation has no parables.  A quick look at the Wikipedia entry (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapture) suggests that Alondro is referring to Lk 17:30-35, though the word `rapture' only comes from 1 Thess 4:15–17.  There seems to be no basis for it in the book of Revelation, but it's been a while since I read it.

As for chucking that, I'm of the opinion that both the book of Revelation and the letter to the Hebrews should be demoted.  Neither is credibly of apostolic character, which was a criterion for inclusion.

Quote from: Vidar on January 10, 2007, 10:58:03 AMOther thing your leaders get pegged for are: closed minded anti-gay sentiments, starting wars in the middle east, and granting tax-benefits to the wrong people.

Yeah, we know.  We're trying to change that.
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: Valynth on January 10, 2007, 02:18:00 PM
Quote from: Aridas Soulfire on January 10, 2007, 12:32:20 PM
Quote from: Valynth on January 10, 2007, 11:03:41 AM
Do I have to point out to you that the American lifestyle is that you can pick what ever lifestyle you want?
...As long as what you want is what they want you to want. Otherwise you're scum. Try a few other countries; they work the same way and then some.

bzzzzt, wrong, that real culprit is "you can choose what ever life style you want so long as you produce something."  And guess what?  THATS TRUE EVERY WHERE!  No matter where you go, even if you are by yourself you are expected to at least produce SOMETHING, like food or other resources nessecary for the lifestyle of your choice.


Also, trivia time, How many solar systems are there?
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: Tapewolf on January 10, 2007, 03:33:35 PM
Quote from: superluser on January 10, 2007, 02:13:17 PM
Well, if what Alondro says is true, then the Rapture is not mentioned in the book of Revelation.  Revelation has no parables.  A quick look at the Wikipedia entry (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapture) suggests that Alondro is referring to Lk 17:30-35, though the word `rapture' only comes from 1 Thess 4:15–17.  There seems to be no basis for it in the book of Revelation, but it's been a while since I read it.

Bear in mind that the Rapture is pretty much a US idea, so most of what I've learned of it is from The Unexplained, a series of magazines dedicated to the investigation of the paranormal published from around 1980-1982 and bound into ten volumes.

According to their series on the End Times, the Rapture is derived from two segments of the Bible, the first book of Thessalonians which you've already mentioned (which, for the benefit of anyone else who's idly reading this, is the source of the part about everyone floating up to Jesus) and this:

First Book of Corinthians 15:50-53
015:050 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit
        the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit
        incorruption.

015:051 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we
        shall all be changed,

015:052 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump:
        for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised
        incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

015:053 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal
        must put on immortality.


..which seems to be saying two things:
1. Flesh cannot enter paradise
2. Come the final hour, the living and the dead shall both instantly transformed into immortal thingies which are able to enter heaven

Admittedly to my paranoid mind this sounds awfully like "No-one gets to Heaven alive, so God's gonna come and kill ya", but maybe that's just me.
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: superluser on January 10, 2007, 04:29:44 PM
Quote from: Tapewolf on January 10, 2007, 03:33:35 PMBear in mind that the Rapture is pretty much a US idea

Well, I'm a Christian from the US, and I don't believe in any sort of rapture.  Just so you don't associate me with the premillennial dispensationalists.

I believe that there will be some sort of parousia, and that sometime around then, there will be a great judgment which could as easily be instantaneous or a million years, but that's about as close as I can state anything definitively.

The 19th century was the source of a bunch of nutso religious theories in the US.  The Oneida community, the anti-evolutionists, the flat earth society...
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: bill on January 10, 2007, 04:33:33 PM
Are there any Preterists in the house?
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: Tapewolf on January 10, 2007, 04:42:00 PM
Quote from: superluser on January 10, 2007, 04:29:44 PM
Quote from: Tapewolf on January 10, 2007, 03:33:35 PMBear in mind that the Rapture is pretty much a US idea
Well, I'm a Christian from the US, and I don't believe in any sort of rapture.  Just so you don't associate me with the premillennial dispensationalists.

Urrr.. what I was saying was that the Rapture concept doesn't seem to have gained any traction outside the US, therefore most of my information comes from unorthodox sources.  It's not something many people in the UK have even heard of in my experience.

As it happens I'm agnostic and while I can't bring myself to believe in the Bible, it does fascinate me.  I just thought you (and anyone else who's curious) might find the other passage useful.
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: bill on January 10, 2007, 04:43:48 PM
Likely cause being the effectiveness of the Rapture as an exploitation tool for Benny Hinn and the like. Far easier to get money from the flock if you set a deadline.
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: Aridas on January 10, 2007, 04:54:30 PM
Quote from: Valynth on January 10, 2007, 02:18:00 PM
Quote from: Aridas Soulfire on January 10, 2007, 12:32:20 PM
Quote from: Valynth on January 10, 2007, 11:03:41 AM
Do I have to point out to you that the American lifestyle is that you can pick what ever lifestyle you want?
...As long as what you want is what they want you to want. Otherwise you're scum. Try a few other countries; they work the same way and then some.

bzzzzt, wrong, that real culprit is "you can choose what ever life style you want so long as you produce something." And guess what? THATS TRUE EVERY WHERE! No matter where you go, even if you are by yourself you are expected to at least produce SOMETHING, like food or other resources nessecary for the lifestyle of your choice.


Also, trivia time, How many solar systems are there?
They wouldn't be trying to make laws against certain lifestyles if that were true. >_>

Also: One.
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: Vidar on January 10, 2007, 05:10:26 PM
Quote from: Aridas Soulfire on January 10, 2007, 04:54:30 PM
Quote from: Valynth on January 10, 2007, 02:18:00 PM
Quote from: Aridas Soulfire on January 10, 2007, 12:32:20 PM
Quote from: Valynth on January 10, 2007, 11:03:41 AM
Do I have to point out to you that the American lifestyle is that you can pick what ever lifestyle you want?
...As long as what you want is what they want you to want. Otherwise you're scum. Try a few other countries; they work the same way and then some.

bzzzzt, wrong, that real culprit is "you can choose what ever life style you want so long as you produce something." And guess what? THATS TRUE EVERY WHERE! No matter where you go, even if you are by yourself you are expected to at least produce SOMETHING, like food or other resources nessecary for the lifestyle of your choice.


Also, trivia time, How many solar systems are there?
They wouldn't be trying to make laws against certain lifestyles if that were true. >_>

As in :
*gay people* : Hi, we like other people of the same gender as we are!
* prez * : You defile our marriages! I'm going to make laws to make your lives more difficult than they already are! No marriage for you! Also, I'm going to invade middle-eastern countries, because I want to.
*gay people* :  Why!  :cry
*reverent Phelps* : God hates fags!
*gay people*:  'A'

Yeah. Land of the free, indeed. As long as you conform to some standard, and not deviate from it too much.
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: xHaZxMaTx on January 10, 2007, 05:31:46 PM
This is funny. :giggle
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: bill on January 10, 2007, 05:58:36 PM
You forgot about Pat Robertson. Even Christians think know he's a complete idiot.
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: Valynth on January 10, 2007, 06:20:32 PM
Quote from: Vidar on January 10, 2007, 05:10:26 PM
Quote from: Aridas Soulfire on January 10, 2007, 04:54:30 PM
Quote from: Valynth on January 10, 2007, 02:18:00 PM
Quote from: Aridas Soulfire on January 10, 2007, 12:32:20 PM
Quote from: Valynth on January 10, 2007, 11:03:41 AM
Do I have to point out to you that the American lifestyle is that you can pick what ever lifestyle you want?
...As long as what you want is what they want you to want. Otherwise you're scum. Try a few other countries; they work the same way and then some.

bzzzzt, wrong, that real culprit is "you can choose what ever life style you want so long as you produce something." And guess what? THATS TRUE EVERY WHERE! No matter where you go, even if you are by yourself you are expected to at least produce SOMETHING, like food or other resources nessecary for the lifestyle of your choice.


Also, trivia time, How many solar systems are there?
They wouldn't be trying to make laws against certain lifestyles if that were true. >_>

As in :
*gay people* : Hi, we like other people of the same gender as we are!
* prez * : You defile our marriages! I'm going to make laws to make your lives more difficult than they already are! No marriage for you! Also, I'm going to invade middle-eastern countries, because I want to.
*gay people* :  Why!  :cry
*reverent Phelps* : God hates fags!
*gay people*:  'A'

Yeah. Land of the free, indeed. As long as you conform to some standard, and not deviate from it too much.

*cough*gaysdon'tproducechildren*cough*
But thats not the point.  It isn't law, and never shall be so long as I can vote.  You've been listening a bit too much to republican propaganda, that law really doesn't have the support they wished it did.

Also, more states are making sperate rules for gay marriages, which should be done.  You guys get to marry, and we don't have to worry about you taking Gov. funds away from our children.  Everyone wins.
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: Aridas on January 10, 2007, 06:24:14 PM
I wasn't aware they had anything in the first place.
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: bill on January 10, 2007, 06:25:36 PM
Congratulations on the 10,000th Outer Fortress post, AS. Yes, it's a slow news day.
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: Aridas on January 10, 2007, 06:29:44 PM
I deserve positive karma as a prize. DESERVE.  :<

Not that it means I will get any, no. Just that I deserve it. Yeah.
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: bill on January 10, 2007, 06:30:19 PM
You get one cookie. Good job.
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: Aridas on January 10, 2007, 06:33:25 PM
Cookies are delicious. :3

On topic: America might be bad, it's certainly the loudest, but I can think of a couple countries that I won't name (for fear of offending a few people here) that seem to be overrun with ignorance. What's worse is that it seems like the same amount of people, but it IS a smaller total population...
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: superluser on January 10, 2007, 07:34:07 PM
Quote from: Vidar on January 10, 2007, 05:10:26 PM* prez * : You defile our marriages! I'm going to make laws to make your lives more difficult than they already are! No marriage for you! Also, I'm going to invade middle-eastern countries, because I want to.

Well, I'm a Libertarian, so I gotta ask: why does anyone need the government's permission to get married?  Besides, if the government has the right to say that there can be no same-sex marriages, doesn't that mean that they have the right to say that there can only be same-sex marriages?

Quote from: Vidar on January 10, 2007, 05:10:26 PM*reverent Phelps* : God hates fags!

Reverend Phelps has, on the whole, zero followers.  The people that you see at his activities are basically all his extended family.  What other followers he might have had basically deserted him when he embarked on the whole ``Let's say the dead soldiers are all in Hell because they're gay, even though they aren't gay!'' plan.

He's very media-savvy, but nobody really listens to him (and this is compared to the power of other low-power religious figures, like Tammy-Faye Bakker). 

On the other hand, there is quite substantial evidence that God Hates Figs (http://www.godhatesfigs.com)

P.S. I'm not sure how many solar systems there are, but with the discovery of multiple extrasolar planets orbiting single stars (e.g. Gliese 876), the answer has to be more than one.
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: Melpomene on January 10, 2007, 07:39:44 PM
Quote from: superluser on January 10, 2007, 07:34:07 PM
On the other hand, there is quite substantial evidence that God Hates Figs (http://www.godhatesfigs.com)

What about Fig Neutons? Does god hate those?

On Topic: Some Americans might be stupid about global knowledge, but there's probably just as many who're academically brilliant. I don't think we should write America off as unintelligent because some random guy asks random people random questions.
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: Valynth on January 10, 2007, 07:47:48 PM
Quote from: superluser on January 10, 2007, 07:34:07 PM
P.S. I'm not sure how many solar systems there are, but with the discovery of multiple extrasolar planets orbiting single stars (e.g. Gliese 876), the answer has to be more than one.

bzzzt, wrong.  There's only the one.  The ones you mention are STAR Systems, unless we name every one of the stars "Sol,"  there is only one SOLar System.
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: superluser on January 10, 2007, 08:17:17 PM
Quote from: Valynth on January 10, 2007, 07:47:48 PM
Quote from: superluser on January 10, 2007, 07:34:07 PMP.S. I'm not sure how many solar systems there are, but with the discovery of multiple extrasolar planets orbiting single stars (e.g. Gliese 876), the answer has to be more than one.
bzzzt, wrong.  There's only the one.  The ones you mention are STAR Systems, unless we name every one of the stars "Sol,"  there is only one SOLar System.

I suppose if I can pull the capital of Australia bit, I can accept that.  Still, no one's answered my question about how many seats there are in the US Senate, now and 50 years ago.
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: bill on January 10, 2007, 08:23:35 PM
100 and 96?
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: superluser on January 10, 2007, 08:34:23 PM
Quote from: BillBuckner on January 10, 2007, 08:23:35 PM100 and 98?

Close enough.  100 and 96.  Both Hawaii and Alaska were admitted in 1959.  I suspect that it would work better in a Jaywalking-type setting, where you can get a patter down, ask it like this:

Me: How many senators are there?
It: 100.
Me: How many representatives?
It: Uh...
Me: OK, OK.  How many senators were there 50 years ago?
It: 100.  There's always 100 senators.
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: bill on January 10, 2007, 08:41:59 PM
Please don't ask that about Congress House Representatives, though, because I doubt 5% of the population could get that correct on the spot.

(edit'd for typo)
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: superluser on January 10, 2007, 08:50:44 PM
Quote from: BillBuckner on January 10, 2007, 08:41:59 PMPlease don't ask that about Congress House Representatives, though, because I doubt 5% of the population could get that correct on the spot.

I actually couldn't.  I found myself saying ``Well, I know that there were 435 last decade, but that changes with each census, right?''  Turns out it doesn't.  It's been fixed at 435 since 1911.

Anyways, the point isn't to find out if they know the size of the House, it's to make them think that the Senate part of the question isn't the real question.
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: Hilary on January 10, 2007, 08:53:55 PM
435 in the House, making 535 altogether in Congress. (The only reason I can answer that off the top of my head is because I'm in a Civics and Economics course right now. Yay.)

Ninja'd!
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: Vidar on January 10, 2007, 11:31:57 PM
Quote from: Valynth on January 10, 2007, 06:20:32 PM
Quote from: Vidar on January 10, 2007, 05:10:26 PM
Quote from: Aridas Soulfire on January 10, 2007, 04:54:30 PM
Quote from: Valynth on January 10, 2007, 02:18:00 PM
Quote from: Aridas Soulfire on January 10, 2007, 12:32:20 PM
Quote from: Valynth on January 10, 2007, 11:03:41 AM
Do I have to point out to you that the American lifestyle is that you can pick what ever lifestyle you want?
...As long as what you want is what they want you to want. Otherwise you're scum. Try a few other countries; they work the same way and then some.

bzzzzt, wrong, that real culprit is "you can choose what ever life style you want so long as you produce something." And guess what? THATS TRUE EVERY WHERE! No matter where you go, even if you are by yourself you are expected to at least produce SOMETHING, like food or other resources nessecary for the lifestyle of your choice.


Also, trivia time, How many solar systems are there?
They wouldn't be trying to make laws against certain lifestyles if that were true. >_>

As in :
*gay people* : Hi, we like other people of the same gender as we are!
* prez * : You defile our marriages! I'm going to make laws to make your lives more difficult than they already are! No marriage for you! Also, I'm going to invade middle-eastern countries, because I want to.
*gay people* :  Why!  :cry
*reverent Phelps* : God hates fags!
*gay people*:  'A'

Yeah. Land of the free, indeed. As long as you conform to some standard, and not deviate from it too much.

*cough*gaysdon'tproducechildren*cough*
But thats not the point.  It isn't law, and never shall be so long as I can vote.  You've been listening a bit too much to republican propaganda, that law really doesn't have the support they wished it did.

Also, more states are making sperate rules for gay marriages, which should be done.  You guys get to marry, and we don't have to worry about you taking Gov. funds away from our children.  Everyone wins.

For the record, I'm not gay, and also not American.
Yes, gay people can get married, but not to people of the same gender, which is what all the fuss is about.
Also, the argument that gay people don't produce children holds no ground what so ever. Infirtile people also don't produce children, yet they can get married whitout problems. Also, current or near-future technology can allow same-sex couples to have children related to both of them.
And what is this about "taking away Gov. funds from your children"?
If the government grants funds to people, it doesn't take any funds away from other people. That's what taxes are for, and I do believe homosexuals pay taxes just like everyone else.
So far, all the anti-gay marriage arguments are stupid and backwards, which brings us neatly back to 'Why people believe Americans are stupid'.
It's because your leaders do and say stupid and backwards things, like the anti-gay marriage thing (amonst others).
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: Valynth on January 11, 2007, 12:52:16 AM
Quote from: Vidar on January 10, 2007, 11:31:57 PM
For the record, I'm not gay, and also not American.
Yes, gay people can get married, but not to people of the same gender, which is what all the fuss is about.
Also, the argument that gay people don't produce children holds no ground what so ever. Infirtile people also don't produce children, yet they can get married whitout problems. Also, current or near-future technology can allow same-sex couples to have children related to both of them.
And what is this about "taking away Gov. funds from your children"?
If the government grants funds to people, it doesn't take any funds away from other people. That's what taxes are for, and I do believe homosexuals pay taxes just like everyone else.
So far, all the anti-gay marriage arguments are stupid and backwards, which brings us neatly back to 'Why people believe Americans are stupid'.
It's because your leaders do and say stupid and backwards things, like the anti-gay marriage thing (amonst others).

okay, just listen to me for a sec.... SOME STATES RECOGNIZE SAME SEX MARRAIGES and more are coming to!  Good Lord, I'm been saying that all along and you just refuse to listen.  Also, you're crying about a MINORITY VIEW!  Typically only the very exteremist republicans feel that gay marriage should be bannned and that the republican party is the "moral" party.  For the most part Americans really don't care if you homosexual or not, it's just when you get all fruity in the head over it that we get a bit concerned.

Homosexuality is Illogical, therefore anything against or for it will also be Illogical.  After all, the whole point of orgasm is to create a new life, but if you remove that, why couple in the first place?  And if we did everything that "feels good" civilized life would devolve into something similar to the middle east.
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: superluser on January 11, 2007, 01:18:42 AM
So... I'm thinking the map projection in the clip might be a Hammer-Aitoff.

What do you guys think (http://www.radicalcartography.net/?projectionref)?
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: Vidar on January 11, 2007, 01:34:30 AM
Quote from: Valynth on January 11, 2007, 12:52:16 AM
Quote from: Vidar on January 10, 2007, 11:31:57 PM
For the record, I'm not gay, and also not American.
Yes, gay people can get married, but not to people of the same gender, which is what all the fuss is about.
Also, the argument that gay people don't produce children holds no ground what so ever. Infirtile people also don't produce children, yet they can get married whitout problems. Also, current or near-future technology can allow same-sex couples to have children related to both of them.
And what is this about "taking away Gov. funds from your children"?
If the government grants funds to people, it doesn't take any funds away from other people. That's what taxes are for, and I do believe homosexuals pay taxes just like everyone else.
So far, all the anti-gay marriage arguments are stupid and backwards, which brings us neatly back to 'Why people believe Americans are stupid'.
It's because your leaders do and say stupid and backwards things, like the anti-gay marriage thing (amonst others).

okay, just listen to me for a sec.... SOME STATES RECOGNIZE SAME SEX MARRAIGES


One state: Massachusetts.

Quote from: Valynth on January 11, 2007, 12:52:16 AM
Homosexuality is Illogical, therefore anything against or for it will also be Illogical. 

Only when it comes to pro-creation, but there's more to a human being then making more human beings, you know.

Quote from: Valynth on January 11, 2007, 12:52:16 AM
After all, the whole point of orgasm is to create a new life, but if you remove that, why couple in the first place? 

Because it feels good? In modern society sex isn't just for pro-creation anymore, we do it for fun. What do you think contraceptives are for?

Quote from: Valynth on January 11, 2007, 12:52:16 AM
And if we did everything that "feels good" civilized life would devolve into something similar to the middle east.

Where did you get that idea?
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: Valynth on January 11, 2007, 01:58:58 AM
Because the whole reason our civilization exists is because we can tell ourselves to stop going for the immediate enjoyment and wait for other, more fufilling things.

Do you really think it's religion that drives power in the Middle east?  No, it's "what ever feels good" (for the men at least).   Why do they openly rape women?  Cause it feels good.  Why do they kill other men?  Because it makes them feel better than their victim and therefore good.  Why do they blame everyone else for their problems?  Because it would interfere with the good feelings they get while doing them.  Why do they have a religion?  To have a reason to do nothing but "whatever feels good."
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: Vidar on January 11, 2007, 03:25:11 AM
Quote from: Valynth on January 11, 2007, 01:58:58 AM
Because the whole reason our civilization exists is because we can tell ourselves to stop going for the immediate enjoyment and wait for other, more fufilling things.

Do you really think it's religion that drives power in the Middle east?  No, it's "what ever feels good" (for the men at least).   Why do they openly rape women?  Cause it feels good.  Why do they kill other men?  Because it makes them feel better than their victim and therefore good.  Why do they blame everyone else for their problems?  Because it would interfere with the good feelings they get while doing them.  Why do they have a religion?  To have a reason to do nothing but "whatever feels good."

Wow, if I was from a middle-eastern country, I would be seriously offended.
I don't know where you heard that public, open rape is the norm there, or that people kill each other in Iraq / Afghanistan / Israel / Turkey /<insert middle easter nation> because it makes them feel better is not uncommon, or that the religious beliefs are solely because they want to do whatever feels good. What are your sources?

By 'religion' I assume you mean the Islam, though the Jewish and Christian religions are also present.
The Islamic religion has some serious restrictions on what can and cannot be done, and requires the faithful to make some sacrifices.
Muslims are supposed to pray 5 times each day.
Ever heard of the Ramadan? It's the ninth month of the Islamic calandar, in which the muslims are not allowed to eat, drink, smoke, have sex between sunrise and sunset.
Does any of that feel good? I thought not.
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: llearch n'n'daCorna on January 11, 2007, 08:25:45 AM
Is -that- what Ramadan is? I'd heard of it, but not the specifics.

So... they only eat at night, for a whole month?

... Hmm. I do that all the time anyway.... :-)
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: Vidar on January 11, 2007, 08:39:30 AM
Quote from: llearch n'n'daCorna on January 11, 2007, 08:25:45 AM
Is -that- what Ramadan is? I'd heard of it, but not the specifics.

So... they only eat at night, for a whole month?

... Hmm. I do that all the time anyway.... :-)

They also don't drink ANYTHING during the day. No beer, no coffee, no tea, no water, nothing.
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: Tapewolf on January 11, 2007, 08:43:45 AM
I was under the impression water was allowed.  Might vary with the devoutness of the individual of course.
We used to have a Muslim guy working at my firm, I don't think he did the five-prayers-a-day thing, but he did follow Ramadan.  I remember him waiting impatiently for the sun to finish setting, and as soon as it did he began to devour things voraciously.
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: Stygian on January 11, 2007, 10:01:07 AM
Personally I can't understand, if even for my life, why homosexuals would want to have the right to marry. Is it a practical thing? Is it some sort of revolutionary change? No, it's an exchange of names. Why is it that people want to confess their probably less than unending love for someone to a god that so many of them simply do not believe in? Personally, I myself am doubtful that I'll ever marry anyone, and not for lack of a lovelife.

And please don't get started on the children debate... Gay people can practically have children too, with modern technology, but that doesn't make it either right or wrong. It's just another possibility, that's all. The circumstances are what decide the morality, I usually say. And the whole thing about genetic heritage has been entirely fucked up within humanity, so quite frankly I don't think you want my opinion on that, since I'd sound like some neo-Nazi when it comes to that question.

As for America... Even if it is, by funding and research, the most scientifically advanced country in the world, there has obviously been a price to pay. That price is that the economy that fuels that research is intrinsically tied to a political and legal system that allows for enormous commercial exploitation, legal abuse, immorality and other horridities. Frankly, the US system contributes to these sort of examples happening because of its imbalance and naive disregard for human nature.
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: Alondro on January 11, 2007, 10:35:13 AM
Quote from: Stygian on January 11, 2007, 10:01:07 AM
As for America... Even if it is, by funding and research, the most scientifically advanced country in the world, there has obviously been a price to pay. That price is that the economy that fuels that research is intrinsically tied to a political and legal system that allows for enormous commercial exploitation, legal abuse, immorality and other horridities. Frankly, the US system contributes to these sort of examples happening because of its imbalance and naive disregard for human nature.

Mmm-hmm, so how do you explain China, North Korea, Sudan, Somalia, Cambodia, Congo, Rwanda, Nigeria and all those other places around the world where corruption is vast, oppression is a way of life, and less than 1% of the population control +90% of the wealth.

The US is not the worst country in the world on any of the areas you bring up by any practical measure.  There was a story in World News Tonight a few days ago about Nigeria.  The corrupt government there has stolen hundreds of BILLIONS of dollars from the people, money from the huge oil boom in that country which was intended to bring up the citizenry from poverty.  Instead, a handful of officials have titanic mansions while a significant percentage of the populace lives in boxes and shacks of sticks and corregated tin.

Let us also not forget that China, in the wake of its industrial boom, is poised to surpass the US in pollution generation within a few years at its current rate of increase.  Any country that becomes a massively industrial country will have tremendous pollution levels.  And unlike the US, China doesn't have any strong environmental laws.  They supposedly have some laws, but they don't work in practice and/or aren't enforced until something major happens, such as the big benzene spill this year.

As for the gay marriage thing, I wonder how long it will be after that's legalized that bestialists start fighting for their rights... and how soon the lawyers start jumping on board.  After the homosexuality issue is gone, they'll need to find another cause to keep their income going!  Or maybe NAMBLA...  There'll be plenty of even more weird groups for them to represent!  Just think of the notoriety if they actually win one of those cases!  That's the driving force behind the entire gay marriage thing.  It's the quest for more money disguised as a desire for more rights.  The question is can a tiny minority in the population impose its social influence over the majority.  That's not democracy.  Democracy says the people must decide.  My main objection has always been that the states which have legalized it have done so without the consent of the citizens living there.  The marriage debate is not a Constitional issue, it's a State's Rights issue, therefore the law says that each state must make its own laws regarding it.  And to be done in a democratic way, the people should be allowed to vote on it.  In every single case its become a ballot issue, the voters have overwhelmingly rejected it, even in Oregon where supporters thought it'd pass easily.  While most people are generally fine with letting homosexuals live their lives without persecution, they aren't comfortable allowing a neuro-psychological anomaly to infuence a long-held societal norm. 
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: Kasarn on January 11, 2007, 10:59:26 AM
Earth sucks, I'm moving to Mars the first chance I get :P
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: Nikki on January 11, 2007, 11:02:09 AM
more reasons Americans are stupid:

We Voted George W. as our president.
We got in a war with Iraq
We haven't accomplished anything

i could go on and on
(but can't cus i is in school)
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: Brunhidden on January 11, 2007, 11:15:33 AM
the #1 reason that america is stupid

at no time have we attempted to rid out country of paris hilton, brittney spears, j-lo, christena angulera, and all thier clones and chronies.

seriously, what country can call itself inteligent for allowing such abominations to reside and breed within your borders.


QuoteHey kids, lets all sing the insemination song!
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: Stygian on January 11, 2007, 01:11:34 PM
...so the United States isn't the worst country in the world. Great. I didn't say it was. But as the one that gets quite probably the most "attention", they should be trying to do much better than they are.

As for your second point, Alondro, I do agree with you on many points. However, I must point out that you're sounding just a little bit frantic. And condemning gay people who are lobbying for those rights for the actual cause of money in general, is general. That means you will have to say the same thing about other minorities doing thesame, no matter who they may be. And don't bring up democracy, please. Go read A Theory of Justice, by John Rawls first. You'll see what I mean then.
   It seems that Americans express themselves a lot more than many Europeans, Swedes in particular, I have noticed. They get upset, they drive on, they value their freedom... Basically, to me nearly all Americans I have met and seen have seemed a bit loud. And that's fine under normal circumstances. I actually like it when people are a bit more outspoken, as a contrast to myself and my own environment. But it only is so long as what is said is either reasonably smart, or controlled. Not by some government or authority, mind you. But there should be a few more limitations, a bit more thought and a hell of a lot more consideration to it all. Because when the freedom to unleash stupidity upon the world is coupled with the people who do it, and too few sensible people who are allowed to keep them in check, there will be stupidity.
   Freedom is indeed a high value, higher to some than even life. But in society, freedom is conditional. Make no mistake about it.
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: superluser on January 11, 2007, 03:26:02 PM
Quote from: Tapewolf on January 11, 2007, 08:43:45 AMI was under the impression water was allowed.  Might vary with the devoutness of the individual of course.

I only have one reference point--a Muslim co-worker, who has assured us that she can't drink during Ramadan.  Which led to an amusing conversation with another cow-orker, who asked ``Oh, you mean you can't drink alcohol, right?''  At which point we both tried to explain that giving up alcohol would not be much of an additional burden, seeing as how you can't do that anyways.

This contrasts with the Catholic idea of fasting.  On days of fast and abstinence, you can only have one major meal and two minor meals which cannot equal one major meal.  And they can't have any meat in them.  Whoo!  Sounds difficult.

(actually, I only drink water on days of fast and abstinence)

Quote from: Alondro on January 11, 2007, 10:35:13 AMAs for the gay marriage thing, I wonder how long it will be after that's legalized that bestialists start fighting for their rights [...] Or maybe NAMBLA...

Well, marriage is a contract, and if beasts and boys cannot enter contracts, it stands to reason that marriage is out for them, too.  Polygamy also sets up some major problems.  Like, what if the entire board of directors at Enron married each other, and their testimony was protected by spousal privilege?  That one's not going anywhere, either.
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: Alondro on January 11, 2007, 08:44:03 PM
Actually, there was already a case in Nevada, I believe, where several years ago a guy married a horse because there were no laws to prevent it... and it wasn't done as a prank either.  And it's not simply marriage, I mean they'll begin to bring the whole 'consent' issue into it.  A 12-year old girl can have an abortion without parental notification in some places.  If they're old enough to choose that for themselves, why can't they choose to have sex?  THAT'S an argument already being used!  And it's frighteningly started to have some influence.

When you take religious morality out of the picture, there is no reason to forbid it any longer save for some weak abstract notions of social conduct, which are changeable depending on what society calls a norm.  Thus, the people who engage in the bizzarre practices will simply state that their changing society to be more 'accepting' of all lifestyles!  Both bestialism and pedophilia are legal in some countries to this day, and they use that as fodder.  It's not so bad, they say; the countries in which its legal haven't fallen apart.  So why impose a religious-based law on them?  They thought the First Amendment forbid the government from forcing religious beliefs!  Yet that's what those laws are doing!

Those are the exact arguments they've made.  And they're slowly, ever so slowly, gaining support.

   Once you break down one portion of religious morality, all the remainder become increasingly difficult to enforce.  How can you ever set up laws for right and wrong when your own philosophy has no belief in either? 
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: superluser on January 11, 2007, 09:16:31 PM
Quote from: Alondro on January 11, 2007, 08:44:03 PMActually, there was already a case in Nevada, I believe, where several years ago a guy married a horse because there were no laws to prevent it... and it wasn't done as a prank either.

Looking it up, I see that it was a Jerry Springer show, and there's no indication that a civil marriage was involved.  Channel Four did a documentary on it, and stated that the man ``claimed to be married to a horse (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3927891.stm).''  I assume at the very least, this means that they couldn't find the marriage license.
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: Aridas on January 11, 2007, 09:20:12 PM
Heh. If it's on jerry springer, i'd be willing to guess it was a paid act >.>
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: superluser on January 11, 2007, 09:32:40 PM
Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid

1.) Jerry Springer

(Actually, I think that most of you outside the US (thankfully) don't have the opportunity to watch Jerry Springer)
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: Brunhidden on January 11, 2007, 09:44:15 PM
i believe anyone who appears on a daytime talk show should be sterilised to protect americas dim future.

QuoteFixed? i dont udnerstand, i wasnt aware i was broken
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: Kasarn on January 11, 2007, 10:42:15 PM
Quote from: superluser on January 11, 2007, 09:32:40 PM
Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid

1.) Jerry Springer

(Actually, I think that most of you outside the US (thankfully) don't have the opportunity to watch Jerry Springer)

He used to be on at midday down here but I have no idea whether it's still on (it's school holidays so daytime TV is family friendly).
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: RJ on January 12, 2007, 01:29:12 AM
Quote from: Kasarn on January 11, 2007, 10:42:15 PM
Quote from: superluser on January 11, 2007, 09:32:40 PM
Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid

1.) Jerry Springer

(Actually, I think that most of you outside the US (thankfully) don't have the opportunity to watch Jerry Springer)

He used to be on at midday down here but I have no idea whether it's still on (it's school holidays so daytime TV is family friendly).

That was years ago... though I DO wish they'd bring back Ripley's Believe it or Not.
Title: Re: Why People Believe Americans are Stupid
Post by: Brunhidden on January 12, 2007, 06:58:53 AM
heraldo was even dumber then springer- dude couldnt understand why he was assulted by armed forces when he was drawing a map in front of a camera showing americas troop locations during a war.

yeah, i wonder how that EVER could be a bad thing. its not like people in other countries watch the news or anything.

QuoteSomeday when you are older you will realise the world does not revolve around you, it revolves around me