MovieChat Forums > General Discussion > Wanna confound an American? Just pretend...

Wanna confound an American? Just pretend you have no idea where they're from...

posted 2 years ago by damocci (1502)
37 replies | jump to latest

Me: "You have an interesting accent. Where are you from?"
Him: "Oh, I'm from the USA."
Me: "Where's that?"
Him: "You don't where America is?"
Me: "Never heard of it. Is it near Mexico or something?"
Him: "Are you f***ing kidding me??? You're wearing a 'I Love New York' T-shirt!'"
Me: "York is a place in England. So America is in England then?"
Him: "You can't be that dense. You're wearing a Yankees cap."
Me: "Yes, as in 'Yankee Doodle went to town riding on a pony.'"
Him: "It was nice meeting you. Have a nice life, you dumb #@$*!"

Disclaimer: If it's not obvious, I am being facetious of course.

[–] AnubisRaydeen (7897) 2 years ago

So confounding.

[–] DMT (3916) 2 years ago

some british basturdo played this trick on me while on vacation. i never felt so confounded in my life :(

[–] jonathan_k80 (6436) 2 years ago

There are actually American citizens who cannot identify New York on a U.S. map.

[–] Just3Channels (185) 2 years ago

There are actually English citizens with straight, clean teeth.
I've never seen any, but I've heard there are like 7 or 8 of them in London alone 👍

[–] DMT (3916) 2 years ago

new york isnt even that recognizably of a state if u aren't from that area it can be confused with many other random little north eastern states. Texas, Florida, Alaska and California are easy to identify states. New York is mid tier difficulty. all u pompous asshole that live there think it is the center of the universe but for normal Muricans its just some random big ass bullshit city far away. it isnt on everyones minds like u bozos think it is

[–] BeaSouth (2832) 2 years ago

I don’t get your point. Are you saying there are Americans who can’t look at a map of the country and spot the state labeled “New York?”

[–] jonathan_k80 (6436) 2 years ago

Sadly, yes. I would be willing to bet there are some who would have difficulty even if it were labeled. They would have to scour the entire map, going through all the state names until they finally came across it.

See the second paragraph of this article, if you don't have time to read the entire thing:
https://www.cnsnews.com/commentary/walter-e-williams/dumb-american-youth

The article is from 2016 but is still relevant, probably even more so today, as our society becomes more dumbed-down and lazy, thanks to stupidphone* addiction and the social media.

*a.k.a. the "smartphone." Users think they are so-o-o smart because they own one of these ridiculous gadgets but in reality have become overdependent on them. Some can't perform simple tasks without implementing some silly "phone app." They stumble around like zombies and walk into traffic because they can't divert their eyes from the screen for even a few seconds, even when their own personal safety (and that of others) is at stake. Their entire lives revolve around a stupid electronic toy.

[–] AnubisRaydeen (7897) 2 years ago

Love Walter Williams. Good article. I don't think the phenomenon is isolated to the USA though. The dumbing down is global. Pretending that it is some unique identity of the USA is agit-prop.

[–] jonathan_k80 (6436) 2 years ago

I agree. This problem is spreading to other developed countries.

[–] BeaSouth (2832) 2 years ago

I read what you linked to and I now understand the point. Citizens should be educated about the important locations of their own country. I just don’t think there’s some big takeaway from people being unable to find things on a blank map when the whole reason for having maps is to label and identify places for the reader. I don’t find it concerning that an American living elsewhere might need a map to distinguish Vermont from New Hampshire or Arizona from New Mexico.

[–] DoctorThirteen (10613) 2 years ago

Users think they are so-o-o smart because they own one of these ridiculous gadgets but in reality have become overdependent on them. Some can't perform simple tasks without implementing some silly "phone app." They stumble around like zombies and walk into traffic because they can't divert their eyes from the screen for even a few seconds, even when their own personal safety (and that of others) is at stake.

God, this.

And especially,

Their entire lives revolve around a stupid electronic toy.

this!

[–] AndyKing1967 (34390) 2 years ago

Try explaining what a roundabout is.

[–] AnubisRaydeen (7897) 2 years ago

There are about 6 roundabouts within a 20 mile area were I live in California. Even though they've been there for some 15 or so years, I still see people discombobulated by them.

Bonus fact: There are also complete idiots in [insert OP's country here]

[–] robocat893 (13748) 2 years ago

https://youtu.be/_TkxDa4rKnI

[–] Just3Channels (185) 2 years ago

[deleted]

[–] GlenEllyn (21144) 2 years ago

Let's see...a roundabout is that quaint, musical carnival ride with wooden horses that little kids love to ride. 🎠

In the New England area, at least where my cousins live near Boston, they're called rotaries. Here in the Upper Midwest roundabouts are becoming more common all the time. The county installed one at the intersection where I had my fender-bender about four years ago. If only it had been there back then...no bending of fenders would have happened. I know how to use them properly, but always worry whether the other drivers know what they're doing or not.

[–] [deleted] 2 years ago

Man, everyone owns Fragile. We know what Roundabout is.

In all seriousness, I do a lot of roadtrips in the states and they're not as rare as you may think.

[–] DMT (3916) 2 years ago

aint that shieeeet some kinda circular communist intersection?

[–] 102000 (6138) 2 years ago

Roundabouts are becoming more popular here in the midwest.

[–] AndyKing1967 (34390) 2 years ago

When I was living in the US I think the only place that had them was Detroit.

[–] Otter (24464) 2 years ago

If I were traveling abroad, and met an English-speaker who claimed not to know what the US was, I'd be thrilled that I wouldn't have to worry about the usual anti-Americanism!

Or at least, that in order to keep up the trolling, they wouldn't be able to say anything insulting out loud.

[–] Just3Channels (185) 2 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Mustang (5256) 2 years ago

You don't even have to do that. Just start asking them about their own history or better still tell them about it!

If you want to take the gloves off, tell them about the world outside America. They will be shocked to find out it exists and that people do things differently.

[–] Just3Channels (185) 2 years ago

Get over your fancy queen kissing asses
And everybody in America knows what a roundabout is at this point.
I wish we didn't.
Waste of space.
Intersections are clean and take no extra space.
Anyway, we Americans love crossroads.
We know where to meet the devil and sell.our soul.

[–] Mustang (5256) 2 years ago

Not English and not to rub salt in the wounds but if you were more aware you would know even the English are over their Royal family especially once the Queen dies.

[–] Just3Channels (185) 2 years ago

"especially once the Queen dies."
LOL
ok

[–] Just3Channels (185) 2 years ago

Yeah, tell us about the start of our history, where we kick ass on those tea sippers and send them running LOL

[–] mikethemartian (6146) 2 years ago

I had a friend who thought this seen with Marcus Brody was a great example of a typical American in s foreign country:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiDpaM2r72A

[–] Redsfan001 (6026) 2 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Who (5146) 2 years ago

Him: "You have an interesting accent. Where are you from?"
Me: "Oh, I'm from the USA."
Him: "Where's that?"
Me: “Near Leeds, see ya”