History is about chaps, Geography is about maps
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There is something floating about the internet where someone asked some Americans to write the names of the countries on a map of Europe and lots couldn't. Some did very bad indeed. There is a similar effort where Europeans (or maybe just Brits) were asked to write the names of the states on a map of the USA. I've been arguing with someone about this. I have a geography A a Level, the syllabus was North and South America, with most of the Us focus on half a dozen southern states. I also read geography at university. I doubt I could get half of the states correct, I also doubt I'd do much better on a map of Europe. I don't think this is a bad thing. Once upon a time such facts were drummed into kids which is why 60 years later people can still name every European county on a map as well as their capital cities, major rivers, islands and so on. But is that any use to anyone? My dad initially trained as a geography teacher. He's shit hot in quizzes, he also bores people stupid drawing maps and filling in the details. So, could you name every country in Europe, or every US state, and is there any benefit in being able to do so. I'm 40 next year and we were not taught like that at school.
“I believe that there is an equality to all humanity. We all suck.” Bill Hicks
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There is something floating about the internet where someone asked some Americans to write the names of the countries on a map of Europe and lots couldn't. Some did very bad indeed. There is a similar effort where Europeans (or maybe just Brits) were asked to write the names of the states on a map of the USA. I've been arguing with someone about this. I have a geography A a Level, the syllabus was North and South America, with most of the Us focus on half a dozen southern states. I also read geography at university. I doubt I could get half of the states correct, I also doubt I'd do much better on a map of Europe. I don't think this is a bad thing. Once upon a time such facts were drummed into kids which is why 60 years later people can still name every European county on a map as well as their capital cities, major rivers, islands and so on. But is that any use to anyone? My dad initially trained as a geography teacher. He's shit hot in quizzes, he also bores people stupid drawing maps and filling in the details. So, could you name every country in Europe, or every US state, and is there any benefit in being able to do so. I'm 40 next year and we were not taught like that at school.
“I believe that there is an equality to all humanity. We all suck.” Bill Hicks
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There is something floating about the internet where someone asked some Americans to write the names of the countries on a map of Europe and lots couldn't. Some did very bad indeed. There is a similar effort where Europeans (or maybe just Brits) were asked to write the names of the states on a map of the USA. I've been arguing with someone about this. I have a geography A a Level, the syllabus was North and South America, with most of the Us focus on half a dozen southern states. I also read geography at university. I doubt I could get half of the states correct, I also doubt I'd do much better on a map of Europe. I don't think this is a bad thing. Once upon a time such facts were drummed into kids which is why 60 years later people can still name every European county on a map as well as their capital cities, major rivers, islands and so on. But is that any use to anyone? My dad initially trained as a geography teacher. He's shit hot in quizzes, he also bores people stupid drawing maps and filling in the details. So, could you name every country in Europe, or every US state, and is there any benefit in being able to do so. I'm 40 next year and we were not taught like that at school.
“I believe that there is an equality to all humanity. We all suck.” Bill Hicks
I agree. You don't need to know everything, but you should know where to find out. I doubt many people memorize the Holy Bible anymore either.
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I agree. You don't need to know everything, but you should know where to find out. I doubt many people memorize the Holy Bible anymore either.
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There is something floating about the internet where someone asked some Americans to write the names of the countries on a map of Europe and lots couldn't. Some did very bad indeed. There is a similar effort where Europeans (or maybe just Brits) were asked to write the names of the states on a map of the USA. I've been arguing with someone about this. I have a geography A a Level, the syllabus was North and South America, with most of the Us focus on half a dozen southern states. I also read geography at university. I doubt I could get half of the states correct, I also doubt I'd do much better on a map of Europe. I don't think this is a bad thing. Once upon a time such facts were drummed into kids which is why 60 years later people can still name every European county on a map as well as their capital cities, major rivers, islands and so on. But is that any use to anyone? My dad initially trained as a geography teacher. He's shit hot in quizzes, he also bores people stupid drawing maps and filling in the details. So, could you name every country in Europe, or every US state, and is there any benefit in being able to do so. I'm 40 next year and we were not taught like that at school.
“I believe that there is an equality to all humanity. We all suck.” Bill Hicks
The amount of information that's required to digest these days doesn't allow the luxury of remembering everything, so you toss that which is not useful. One of my profs in college always used to say "...that's what reference books are for".
VS2010/Atmel Studio 6.1 ToDo Manager Extension Relax...We're all crazy it's not a competition!
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There is something floating about the internet where someone asked some Americans to write the names of the countries on a map of Europe and lots couldn't. Some did very bad indeed. There is a similar effort where Europeans (or maybe just Brits) were asked to write the names of the states on a map of the USA. I've been arguing with someone about this. I have a geography A a Level, the syllabus was North and South America, with most of the Us focus on half a dozen southern states. I also read geography at university. I doubt I could get half of the states correct, I also doubt I'd do much better on a map of Europe. I don't think this is a bad thing. Once upon a time such facts were drummed into kids which is why 60 years later people can still name every European county on a map as well as their capital cities, major rivers, islands and so on. But is that any use to anyone? My dad initially trained as a geography teacher. He's shit hot in quizzes, he also bores people stupid drawing maps and filling in the details. So, could you name every country in Europe, or every US state, and is there any benefit in being able to do so. I'm 40 next year and we were not taught like that at school.
“I believe that there is an equality to all humanity. We all suck.” Bill Hicks
ChrisElston wrote:
could you name every country in Europe, or every US state,
Nope and no. I can however name all the states in Oz, all 8 of them, and their capital cities ;P . Your question is so me centric, it should have been can you name all the states in your country or the countries on your continent!
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity RAH
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There is something floating about the internet where someone asked some Americans to write the names of the countries on a map of Europe and lots couldn't. Some did very bad indeed. There is a similar effort where Europeans (or maybe just Brits) were asked to write the names of the states on a map of the USA. I've been arguing with someone about this. I have a geography A a Level, the syllabus was North and South America, with most of the Us focus on half a dozen southern states. I also read geography at university. I doubt I could get half of the states correct, I also doubt I'd do much better on a map of Europe. I don't think this is a bad thing. Once upon a time such facts were drummed into kids which is why 60 years later people can still name every European county on a map as well as their capital cities, major rivers, islands and so on. But is that any use to anyone? My dad initially trained as a geography teacher. He's shit hot in quizzes, he also bores people stupid drawing maps and filling in the details. So, could you name every country in Europe, or every US state, and is there any benefit in being able to do so. I'm 40 next year and we were not taught like that at school.
“I believe that there is an equality to all humanity. We all suck.” Bill Hicks
I think I used to know all the states in the US, but I don't now. True, brain storage space is better spent on other important things. But there is some use in knowing the "big picture" in all the subjects you get taught at school. In history, you don't need to remember to the date when some historical event happened, but it's kind of nice to know whether Henry VIII was before or after King Arthur. Similarly, it's nice to know whereabouts on the globe some countries, cities and regions that turn up regularly on the news are. It's nice to know where Washington D.C. is, for example, and the fact that it's on the opposite side of a continent from the Washington state. String everything together and you get a better understanding of the world around you in general. You watch some sports on TV and you understand why cricket is very popular in some countries and hardly ever heard of in others. You read books like the Disc World novels and understand what the stories are parodies of. You see some unfamiliar foodstuff on a menu with an explanation that says "in Vietnamese style" and you are able to guess roughly what to expect. Not absolutely essential in life, but helps you live a more interesting and rich life, I think... :rolleyes:
Almost, but not quite, entirely unlike... me...
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There is something floating about the internet where someone asked some Americans to write the names of the countries on a map of Europe and lots couldn't. Some did very bad indeed. There is a similar effort where Europeans (or maybe just Brits) were asked to write the names of the states on a map of the USA. I've been arguing with someone about this. I have a geography A a Level, the syllabus was North and South America, with most of the Us focus on half a dozen southern states. I also read geography at university. I doubt I could get half of the states correct, I also doubt I'd do much better on a map of Europe. I don't think this is a bad thing. Once upon a time such facts were drummed into kids which is why 60 years later people can still name every European county on a map as well as their capital cities, major rivers, islands and so on. But is that any use to anyone? My dad initially trained as a geography teacher. He's shit hot in quizzes, he also bores people stupid drawing maps and filling in the details. So, could you name every country in Europe, or every US state, and is there any benefit in being able to do so. I'm 40 next year and we were not taught like that at school.
“I believe that there is an equality to all humanity. We all suck.” Bill Hicks
The young human mind, developmentally unfolding along the dimension of biological time, with unique "windows" of opportunity for (innately) hard-wired periods of rapid learning, needs the challenges of memorization. But, later, we need to learn the topography of our own consciousness, for which all maps are metaphor, and all metaphors maps: "We say the map is different from the territory. But what is the territory? Operationally, somebody went out with a retina or a measuring stick and made representations which were then put on paper. What is on the paper map is a representation of what was in the retinal representation of the man who made the map; and as you push the question back, what you find is an infinite regress, an infinite series of maps. The territory never gets in at all. [...] Always, the process of representation will filter it out so that the mental world is only maps of maps, ad infinitum." Gregory Bateson, "Form, Substance and Difference," (1970) in Steps to an Ecology of Mind (1972). "In that empire, the art of cartography attained such perfection that the map of a single province occupied the entirety of a city, and the map of the empire, the entirety of a province. In time, those unconscionable maps no longer satisfied, and the cartographers guilds struck a map of the empire whose size was that of the empire, and which coincided point for point with it. The following generations, who were not so fond of the study of cartography as their forebears had been, saw that that vast map was useless, and not without some pitilessness was it, that they delivered it up to the inclemencies of sun and winters. In the deserts of the west, there are tattered ruins of that map, inhabited by animals and beggars, in all the land there is no other relic of the disciplines of geography. Jorge Luis Borges "On Exactitude in Science." (1954?), in Collected Fictions(New York: Viking Penguin, 1998), p. 325. Translated by Andrew Hurley. "And -- the map is closed, but the autonomous zone is open. Metaphorically it unfolds within the fractal dimensions invisible to the cartography of Control. And here we should introduce the concept of psychotopology (and -topography) as an alternative "science" to that of the State's surveying and mapmaking and "psychic imperialism." Only psychotopography can draw 1:1 maps of reality because only the human mind provides sufficient complexity to model the real. But a 1:1 map cannot "control" its territory because it is virtually identical with its territory. It can only
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The young human mind, developmentally unfolding along the dimension of biological time, with unique "windows" of opportunity for (innately) hard-wired periods of rapid learning, needs the challenges of memorization. But, later, we need to learn the topography of our own consciousness, for which all maps are metaphor, and all metaphors maps: "We say the map is different from the territory. But what is the territory? Operationally, somebody went out with a retina or a measuring stick and made representations which were then put on paper. What is on the paper map is a representation of what was in the retinal representation of the man who made the map; and as you push the question back, what you find is an infinite regress, an infinite series of maps. The territory never gets in at all. [...] Always, the process of representation will filter it out so that the mental world is only maps of maps, ad infinitum." Gregory Bateson, "Form, Substance and Difference," (1970) in Steps to an Ecology of Mind (1972). "In that empire, the art of cartography attained such perfection that the map of a single province occupied the entirety of a city, and the map of the empire, the entirety of a province. In time, those unconscionable maps no longer satisfied, and the cartographers guilds struck a map of the empire whose size was that of the empire, and which coincided point for point with it. The following generations, who were not so fond of the study of cartography as their forebears had been, saw that that vast map was useless, and not without some pitilessness was it, that they delivered it up to the inclemencies of sun and winters. In the deserts of the west, there are tattered ruins of that map, inhabited by animals and beggars, in all the land there is no other relic of the disciplines of geography. Jorge Luis Borges "On Exactitude in Science." (1954?), in Collected Fictions(New York: Viking Penguin, 1998), p. 325. Translated by Andrew Hurley. "And -- the map is closed, but the autonomous zone is open. Metaphorically it unfolds within the fractal dimensions invisible to the cartography of Control. And here we should introduce the concept of psychotopology (and -topography) as an alternative "science" to that of the State's surveying and mapmaking and "psychic imperialism." Only psychotopography can draw 1:1 maps of reality because only the human mind provides sufficient complexity to model the real. But a 1:1 map cannot "control" its territory because it is virtually identical with its territory. It can only
Are we there yet. The BoyTM "On a car trip" (2013)
MVVM # - I did it My Way ___________________________________________ Man, you're a god. - walterhevedeich 26/05/2011 .\\axxx (That's an 'M')
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There is something floating about the internet where someone asked some Americans to write the names of the countries on a map of Europe and lots couldn't. Some did very bad indeed. There is a similar effort where Europeans (or maybe just Brits) were asked to write the names of the states on a map of the USA. I've been arguing with someone about this. I have a geography A a Level, the syllabus was North and South America, with most of the Us focus on half a dozen southern states. I also read geography at university. I doubt I could get half of the states correct, I also doubt I'd do much better on a map of Europe. I don't think this is a bad thing. Once upon a time such facts were drummed into kids which is why 60 years later people can still name every European county on a map as well as their capital cities, major rivers, islands and so on. But is that any use to anyone? My dad initially trained as a geography teacher. He's shit hot in quizzes, he also bores people stupid drawing maps and filling in the details. So, could you name every country in Europe, or every US state, and is there any benefit in being able to do so. I'm 40 next year and we were not taught like that at school.
“I believe that there is an equality to all humanity. We all suck.” Bill Hicks
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ChrisElston wrote:
could you name every country in Europe, or every US state,
Nope and no. I can however name all the states in Oz, all 8 of them, and their capital cities ;P . Your question is so me centric, it should have been can you name all the states in your country or the countries on your continent!
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity RAH
True. At first, I was stumped at question from OP, thinking, Oh, you should know it. But then after reading your response, thought, yes, it was too specific to particular region. I know all state names (28)of my country (India) and capital of most states and such other facts. I know roughly where all major countries are. But states in US or countries in Europe. No, I don't know and I don't see the need..!
Thanks, Milind
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There is something floating about the internet where someone asked some Americans to write the names of the countries on a map of Europe and lots couldn't. Some did very bad indeed. There is a similar effort where Europeans (or maybe just Brits) were asked to write the names of the states on a map of the USA. I've been arguing with someone about this. I have a geography A a Level, the syllabus was North and South America, with most of the Us focus on half a dozen southern states. I also read geography at university. I doubt I could get half of the states correct, I also doubt I'd do much better on a map of Europe. I don't think this is a bad thing. Once upon a time such facts were drummed into kids which is why 60 years later people can still name every European county on a map as well as their capital cities, major rivers, islands and so on. But is that any use to anyone? My dad initially trained as a geography teacher. He's shit hot in quizzes, he also bores people stupid drawing maps and filling in the details. So, could you name every country in Europe, or every US state, and is there any benefit in being able to do so. I'm 40 next year and we were not taught like that at school.
“I believe that there is an equality to all humanity. We all suck.” Bill Hicks
I could probably name the continents, The countries I could guess But there's something I know really well. That's all the states of undress.
MVVM # - I did it My Way ___________________________________________ Man, you're a god. - walterhevedeich 26/05/2011 .\\axxx (That's an 'M')
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True. At first, I was stumped at question from OP, thinking, Oh, you should know it. But then after reading your response, thought, yes, it was too specific to particular region. I know all state names (28)of my country (India) and capital of most states and such other facts. I know roughly where all major countries are. But states in US or countries in Europe. No, I don't know and I don't see the need..!
Thanks, Milind
MT_ wrote:
But then after reading your response, thought, yes, it was too specific to particular region.
Don't listen to him. He doesn't even remeber that Australia has 6 States and 2 Territories.
Michael Martin Australia "I controlled my laughter and simple said "No,I am very busy,so I can't write any code for you". The moment they heard this all the smiling face turned into a sad looking face and one of them farted. So I had to leave the place as soon as possible." - Mr.Prakash One Fine Saturday. 24/04/2004
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There is something floating about the internet where someone asked some Americans to write the names of the countries on a map of Europe and lots couldn't. Some did very bad indeed. There is a similar effort where Europeans (or maybe just Brits) were asked to write the names of the states on a map of the USA. I've been arguing with someone about this. I have a geography A a Level, the syllabus was North and South America, with most of the Us focus on half a dozen southern states. I also read geography at university. I doubt I could get half of the states correct, I also doubt I'd do much better on a map of Europe. I don't think this is a bad thing. Once upon a time such facts were drummed into kids which is why 60 years later people can still name every European county on a map as well as their capital cities, major rivers, islands and so on. But is that any use to anyone? My dad initially trained as a geography teacher. He's shit hot in quizzes, he also bores people stupid drawing maps and filling in the details. So, could you name every country in Europe, or every US state, and is there any benefit in being able to do so. I'm 40 next year and we were not taught like that at school.
“I believe that there is an equality to all humanity. We all suck.” Bill Hicks
Well, I can name all of the Europpean states, there capitals. All of the 26 Swiss Cantons ('states') with there capitals.. Some US states / capitals, some African states (most of them).. And some others (I was quite good in geography and still love it..)
The signature is in building process.. Please wait...
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Are we there yet. The BoyTM "On a car trip" (2013)
MVVM # - I did it My Way ___________________________________________ Man, you're a god. - walterhevedeich 26/05/2011 .\\axxx (That's an 'M')
Kill the monkey-mind at the driver's-wheel, and there becomes here.
"What Turing gave us for the first time (and without Turing you just couldn't do any of this) is he gave us a way of thinking about and taking seriously and thinking in a disciplined way about phenomena that have, as I like to say, trillions of moving parts. Until the late 20th century, nobody knew how to take seriously a machine with a trillion moving parts. It's just mind-boggling." Daniel C. Dennett
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MT_ wrote:
But then after reading your response, thought, yes, it was too specific to particular region.
Don't listen to him. He doesn't even remeber that Australia has 6 States and 2 Territories.
Michael Martin Australia "I controlled my laughter and simple said "No,I am very busy,so I can't write any code for you". The moment they heard this all the smiling face turned into a sad looking face and one of them farted. So I had to leave the place as soon as possible." - Mr.Prakash One Fine Saturday. 24/04/2004
Yeah yeah I was waiting for one of you to pop that one. I'll be in Greystaynes after christmas annoying my kids :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity RAH
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Yeah yeah I was waiting for one of you to pop that one. I'll be in Greystaynes after christmas annoying my kids :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity RAH
Mycroft Holmes wrote:
I'll be in Greystaynes after christmas annoying my kids :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
20 - 25 minutes from my place. Must catch up for a beer.
Michael Martin Australia "I controlled my laughter and simple said "No,I am very busy,so I can't write any code for you". The moment they heard this all the smiling face turned into a sad looking face and one of them farted. So I had to leave the place as soon as possible." - Mr.Prakash One Fine Saturday. 24/04/2004
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There is something floating about the internet where someone asked some Americans to write the names of the countries on a map of Europe and lots couldn't. Some did very bad indeed. There is a similar effort where Europeans (or maybe just Brits) were asked to write the names of the states on a map of the USA. I've been arguing with someone about this. I have a geography A a Level, the syllabus was North and South America, with most of the Us focus on half a dozen southern states. I also read geography at university. I doubt I could get half of the states correct, I also doubt I'd do much better on a map of Europe. I don't think this is a bad thing. Once upon a time such facts were drummed into kids which is why 60 years later people can still name every European county on a map as well as their capital cities, major rivers, islands and so on. But is that any use to anyone? My dad initially trained as a geography teacher. He's shit hot in quizzes, he also bores people stupid drawing maps and filling in the details. So, could you name every country in Europe, or every US state, and is there any benefit in being able to do so. I'm 40 next year and we were not taught like that at school.
“I believe that there is an equality to all humanity. We all suck.” Bill Hicks
Expecting Brits to know every US state is the equivalent of expecting a Yank to know every UK county. It's not the same as knowing every country in the Americas.
========================================================= I'm an optoholic - my glass is always half full of vodka. =========================================================
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There is something floating about the internet where someone asked some Americans to write the names of the countries on a map of Europe and lots couldn't. Some did very bad indeed. There is a similar effort where Europeans (or maybe just Brits) were asked to write the names of the states on a map of the USA. I've been arguing with someone about this. I have a geography A a Level, the syllabus was North and South America, with most of the Us focus on half a dozen southern states. I also read geography at university. I doubt I could get half of the states correct, I also doubt I'd do much better on a map of Europe. I don't think this is a bad thing. Once upon a time such facts were drummed into kids which is why 60 years later people can still name every European county on a map as well as their capital cities, major rivers, islands and so on. But is that any use to anyone? My dad initially trained as a geography teacher. He's shit hot in quizzes, he also bores people stupid drawing maps and filling in the details. So, could you name every country in Europe, or every US state, and is there any benefit in being able to do so. I'm 40 next year and we were not taught like that at school.
“I believe that there is an equality to all humanity. We all suck.” Bill Hicks
I don't think I could name all 50 states, but I do occasionally come back to this http://www.addictinggames.com/puzzle-games/50states.jsp[^] It whiles away a few spare minutes. Regards, Stewart
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ChrisElston wrote:
could you name every country in Europe, or every US state,
Nope and no. I can however name all the states in Oz, all 8 of them, and their capital cities ;P . Your question is so me centric, it should have been can you name all the states in your country or the countries on your continent!
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity RAH
Not really, the original articles were about people from one part of the world being unable to name other parts of the world. Being able to name your own part of the world followed on from that.
“I believe that there is an equality to all humanity. We all suck.” Bill Hicks
