STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

Lilykind · Hermes

Geographically illiterate Americans.

sephorablue · Marc Jacobs

oh, don't even get me started. During my first year of design school, one day in class, two Pakistani girls in our program were patiently explaining to a couple other girls about arranged marriage and wearing head scarves etc. etc., and one of my classmates goes, "Pakistan is in Asia? I thought it was in Europe."

Oh. My. God. I can understand not knowing EXACTLY where it is--although I think we all ought to know that--but to think it was in EUROPE? How clueless can you be? How could you miss out on hearing about both its border with India and its border with Afghanistan? Unless maybe you think Afghanistan is in Europe too?

Drew · Gucci

I admit that I have this problem too. For me it's just a memory thing. In 9th grade I was the first person in my class to memorize all the countries in Africa, but now can barely remember the names of the countries in Africa. I do have a general idea of where countries are by continent, but that's about it. Frankly, I don't see the big deal. I mean if you need to know it you do, right? I guess what I'm trying to say is that I don't think it's an indicator for intelligence. It's just one of those things you don't have to know on a day to day basis. You need to know about countries and states, but what is the big deal if someone doesn't know the exact location? That's what maps are for.

asf · Kate Spade

i'm really bad with geography too. i hate it. i'm also bad with directions in general, and i really think that it's somehow related.

anyway, you ladies have inspired me to learn where all the countries of the world are located. i'm printing out maps as we speak. although i agree with drew that it's more important to know the "what" than the "where" of a country - i want to know it all!

blink · Coach

Hmm, well I think that geography and world events are a lot to absorb for typical American teens who have spent more of their free time watching American Idol, IMing their friends and checking MySpace.com. No offense to them, because Generation X wasn't much better, we were labeled slackers really early on.

BUT LOUISIANA?!?!? THAT'S ONE OF THE EASIEST STATES! It looks like an "L!" How could they miss it?? DUH!

sephorablue · Marc Jacobs

Drew wrote:

You need to know about countries and states, but what is the big deal if someone doesn't know the exact location? That's what maps are for.

This is a good point, but I would argue that a knowledge of where countries are plays a big part in knowing about the countries, period. Obviously borders are incredibly contentious issues in some countries, and locations/borders reflect and sometimes negate thousands' of years' worth of history and culture, and so knowledge of one facet complements knowledge of the others. Also, too, the article was focusing on ignorance of geography of regions which dominate current events. I think it's one thing not to be able to put a name on every country in Africa or Southeast Asia, and another thing not to be able to locate Louisiana or Iraq. I see what you're saying, and I agree that it's not necessarily an indicator of intelligence, but I think a good working knowledge of geography is an important part of being well-informed.

Drew · Gucci

sephorablue wrote:

Drew wrote: You need to know about countries and states, but what is the big deal if someone doesn't know the exact location? That's what maps are for. This is a good point, but I would argue that a knowledge of where countries are plays a big part in knowing about the countries, period. Obviously borders are incredibly contentious issues in some countries, and locations/borders reflect and sometimes negate thousands' of years' worth of history and culture, and so knowledge of one facet complements knowledge of the others. Also, too, the article was focusing on ignorance of geography of regions which dominate current events. I think it's one thing not to be able to put a name on every country in Africa or Southeast Asia, and another thing not to be able to locate Louisiana or Iraq. I see what you're saying, and I agree that it's not necessarily an indicator of intelligence, but I think a good working knowledge of geography is an important part of being well-informed.

Sorry, I still disagree. I still think everything you said falls into the what, more-so than the where. One can still have working knowledge of which countries have border disputes with others without identifying either country on a map. I'm not saying it's not worthwhile information (knowing where something is w/out a reference tool), just that it's not imperative and therefor I don't see why we would be up in arms over it. I think the focus should be on having that knowledge to begin with (which I think is the real issue).

Rica · Kenneth Cole

Ha, maybe I should reconsider that teaching career in geography....

zeitgeist4 · Gucci

I took a geography class in community college, and over half of the students in the class thought the capitol of California was San Francisco or Los Angeles. Now I can understand people NOT in California thinking that, but seriously, what kid who grew up in CA doesn't know it's Sacramento?!?

edited for grammar

-- Edited by zeitgeist4 at 13:08, 2006-05-03

Irene · Dooney & Bourke

Hmmm, I seriously couldn't identify Isreal or Iraq on a map. However, I do now where they are about. It's more like I cannot remember.

Other than that, I think at this time, I think every American should know where Louisiana is. IF you don't then you have a problem.

I don't think not knowing where certain places are have anyting to do with intelligence, but more memory. Some poeple just are not good at geography. My husband has no sense of direction and would not have any clue that Los Angeles is southwest of us even though we have been there 4 times. It's something he cannot comprehend.