Alarming... American people scientific knowledge

Ok, just before starting this, I repeat this is only a FYI thread and nothing else, not a trolling/US bashing thread or anything.
I just read that scientific and statistic researchers conducted a poll over American people. The fact is funny/alarming (you choose). To those 3 'basic' scientific questions:

_ Did dinosaurs live in the same era than the first primitive humans? 42% did not know the answer or said yes

_ What is the percentage of water/ocean covering the Earth (I think it should something like 70% IMO ) 48% of people did not know the answer or answered wrongly

And finally, the funniest/worst(?):

_ How long does it take to Earth to cycle around the Sun....
53%!!!! Did NOT know the answer...

No you are not dreaming. 53% of American did not know it took 1year (and several hours) to Earth to go around the sun...

Now, as promised I give no comment on those statistics. But just meditate about them. I guess if I was Usanian, I wouldn't belong to those 53%

And once again, the sample of people was American but I guess if they were European or any other country, the result would be similar. But I was terribly surprised by that fact though.

GOD BLESS AMERICA


Though I have to say I think the results of something over here would be very similair

There is only one way to increase the intelligence of the population - make people do this test and then shoot those who fail.
Fair enough?

I find this neither funny nor alarming. Rather I find it saddening.

In my 47 years of studying the human condition, both here in the USA and in Europe, I have come to an unhappy conclusion: the average 'man on the street' is an idiot.

In response to what padma just said

Yes the aerage man in the street is obviouysly an idiot..
And yet the government most of us here (not offending any of you chinese, cuban or other people living in non-democratic societies cos I aint offending anyone now) support is based on the premise of asking the man on the street how the country should be run

Quote from terry pratchett:

'What a mess the world is in'

im 14 and I know it.
but what did you expect?most americans are just sitting watching tv and wasting their lives and they start to puke when they hear the word "library".
it is funny....in a way

Padma:
: the average 'man on the street' is an idiot

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Terribly true. Especially some ladies I see at the market using a small calculator to compute 3+6.45 euros...

Bah. I guess they should play MC more, that makes them clever

There is a lot of truth in the saying:

"A single human can be quite intelligent,
BUT a mass of humans is simply dumb!"

That is the reason why theories like Communism, invented by smart humans, are impracticable in the world we live in. And if all Mankind would behave "intelligently", there would be no need for governents, military, wars, poverty, money itself, etc.
That is the problem you face in most science-fiction movies. The basic thought for example behind Star Trek is that Mankind has evolved enough to truly behave as one race.

If the mass of humans would behave intelligently, the systems we know as Democracy and Free Trade Markets could not work. All advertisement for products AND parties would be useless if the mass of people would be intelligent. There could be NO manipulation anymore, and the whole world is based on manipulation of the masses, no matter how much you say that you live in a "free" country.

So these numbers are not surprising, I would have thought them to be even higher.

You're right, GtM.

It makes me understand where 'benevolent despots' come from: If the people are to stupid to do what is needed, you make them do it / do it for them.

The trouble is, you can't MAKE anybody learn. Just ask any of the thousands of schoolkids on these forums! If they don't WANT to learn something, no amount of parent/teacher pressure can make them. Sometimes you just want to grab people up by their heels and shake some sense into them.

The good thing is that there ARE intelligent people out there. 53% may not understand what a year really is, but 47% do! That's not enough, by a long shot, but it's a start.

I won't argue that Americans are overly intellectual. However, that quiz was the saddest of all - the answers were misleading or plain incorrect for many of them. So, I think this is sadder - that we don't even have the ability to make a proper test to see what we really do or don't know... There is very little glory in teaching, and it's very difficult to support a family on a teacher's salary. Not that money is most important, but it does tend to reflect a societies priorities. I'd guess that science quiz developers earn slightly less than teachers do, judging from what they come up with and publicize.

Originally posted by philippe
im 14 and I know it.
but what did you expect?most americans are just sitting watching tv and wasting their lives and they start to puke when they hear the word "library".
it is funny....in a way

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This opinion being formed from your extensive travels in America and conversations with Americans, I presume.

I wonder if these Americans sitting watching TV think that most Europeans are wasting their lives by surfing the Internet and taking potshots at America. It would be sad if they do, but it would be ironic.

I wonder why you don't see studies like this done in Europe? Perhaps they are, and are just not published widely enough to come to our attention. Perhaps it is lack of interest.

Yeah, we Americans are so stupid...

Please, statistics are numbers that are good at lying.

A study was also taken about a year ago that showed that average Americans have more basic scientific knowledge than the average person in Japan.

Besides, what did dinosaurs ever do for us, anyhow?

The arrogance here is amazing. Its sad to see so many Americans condemn their fellow Americans to stupidty, and then have even more Americans chime in and agree. Do you realize the problem with that?

I think many American's are pragmatic. I have a good memory so I remembered those things, but the fact of the matter is it is practically USELESS knowledge for average day to day living. How does the brilliance of any individual here give them the right to critisize and insult people they don't know because they don't have the right answers?

Originally posted by knowltok2
I wonder why you don't see studies like this done in Europe? Perhaps they are, and are just not published widely enough to come to our attention. Perhaps it is lack of interest.

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Internationally, I get the impression that people expect American's to be brilliant... since we are so wealthy, and they are so intelligent, they are hoping there is a correllation. Its self evident; all intelligent people agree that intelligence is a great thing!

Originally posted by Lucky
If the mass of humans would behave intelligently, the systems we know as Democracy and Free Trade Markets could not work. All advertisement for products AND parties would be useless if the mass of people would be intelligent. There could be NO manipulation anymore, and the whole world is based on manipulation of the masses, no matter how much you say that you live in a "free" country.

Click to expand...

And to provide an example of your brilliance, you NEVER buy anything advertised. If everyone were just a little more like YOU the world would be a better place?
And of course, the masses are being manipulated and don't realize it, but with your clairvoyant ability you can watch from the distance as they move like worker ants through their lives (Which must be miserable because they are not like yours).
Free markets and democracy are based on principles of rational and intelligent human beings conducting with one another in a civilized manner.

The #1 goal of advertisement is to get your product out there, and portray it in as positive a light as possible. Kind like when you leave the house to meet someone who you might want to have a decent relationship with, you advertise yourself. You attempt to look presentable, and tell them things about yourself that portray you in a positive light. Its a good thing you can manipulate people in that way, yes?

I'm going to take a guess about how most Americans feel, which I rarely do... I would guess that most Americans would ignore your analysis of how they live their lives, and request for you to mind your own business. Now that is freedom.

I can understand the dinosaur being answered wrongly cause that isn't a proven fact is it?. I know it is taught but so is evolution and that is not proven. I went to a christian school so I know they teach that it is possible that man did live with dinosaurs and probable or that is what I was taught.

It is truly alarming I know that some of the smartest people in my class hardly know any history and science they just memorize facts and then forget them. We live in a stupid world where just the people on civfanatics small talk are smart.

Originally posted by GenghisK
_ Did dinosaurs live in the same era than the first primitive humans? 42% did not know the answer or said yes

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In all fairness, some people do not believe this is true, though they at least know that according to the scientific community, it is true.

What I really find shocking, is seeing that everyone in this thread believes to be more intelligent that their average compatriot.
Even if it is true, I would be more discreet.

Originally posted by Greadius
And to provide an example of your brilliance, you NEVER buy anything advertised. If everyone were just a little more like YOU the world would be a better place?
...
I'm going to take a guess about how most Americans feel, which I rarely do... I would guess that most Americans would ignore your analysis of how they live their lives, and request for you to mind your own business. Now that is freedom.

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I think Lucky (please correct me if i think wrong ) wasn't talking about americans in particular but merely about people in general (himself included).

I wonder why you don't see studies like this done in Europe? Perhaps they are, and are just not published widely enough to come to our attention. Perhaps it is lack of interest.

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I vaguely remember a similar test made in europe where about half the peoble thought the sun revolves around the earth.

But we shouldn't make the mistake of taking lack of knowledge as lack of intelligence. I mean the questions asked were hardly things you need to know to survive, are they? So it's doesn't really indicate that these people are stupid, the just don't see a point in knowing stuff like that.

Personnaly,i don't believe those results.
Even if i hold the american school system for shi**y i think most americans know those facts.

Besides,wouldn't those tests be a way for the govt to say"that's y we decide at ur place,because people are too dumb".I already didn't hold americans for lights but don't exagerate.

Originally posted by Becka


In all fairness, some people do not believe this is true, though they at least know that according to the scientific community, it is true.

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For Becka and cegman, I guess it's because they are watching too much the Flinstone. No kidding.

Damien, I got those results from Sciences & Avenir, a French scientific review. Would you accuse them of lying?

Anyway could a Mod move this thread to humor please? Thanks

Originally posted by KaeptnOvi
I think Lucky (please correct me if i think wrong ) wasn't talking about americans in particular but merely about people in general (himself included).

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Indeed!
I simply stated a quote, my interpretation of it and some of my personal opinions.

Originally posted by Greadius ...And to provide an example of your brilliance, you NEVER buy anything advertised. If everyone were just a little more like YOU the world would be a better place?
And of course, the masses are being manipulated and don't realize it, but with your clairvoyant ability you can watch from the distance as they move like worker ants through their lives (Which must be miserable because they are not like yours).
Free markets and democracy are based on principles of rational and intelligent human beings conducting with one another in a civilized manner.

The #1 goal of advertisement is to get your product out there, and portray it in as positive a light as possible. Kind like when you leave the house to meet someone who you might want to have a decent relationship with, you advertise yourself. You attempt to look presentable, and tell them things about yourself that portray you in a positive light. Its a good thing you can manipulate people in that way, yes?

I'm going to take a guess about how most Americans feel, which I rarely do... I would guess that most Americans would ignore your analysis of how they live their lives, and request for you to mind your own business. Now that is freedom.

Click to expand...

I was reluctant to post something in the first place, because I knew that some narrow-minded person would be personally offended, even if I NOWHERE in my post specifically mentioned any group, race or country.
I also did not say that I am above things or whatever you interpreted in my text.
And I DEFINITELY did NOT make an analysis of your life!
Of course it is your personal freedom to ignore anything I post, but it´s not part of your freedom to flame me for something you personally read out of it.
And even if I expressed an opinion that you don´t like, it would be MY personal freedom to do so.

But I´m really surprised what kind of things you read in my posts. A quote used by people like Karl Marx and Winston Churchill, an interpretation commonly accepted along with a few thought and additions of my own, gives you the feeling of a personal attack, an attack against marketing strategies and against your own views??? Great!

I have to remind myself not to post in threads where certain people will most likely be personally offended, despite the content of any post.

What % of Mongols have the correct answers?