Are most Americans really this dumb?

Question

I recently encountered an individual in the U.S. who, upon being informed that I was Ukrainian, responded... "Oh, Russian. You're pretty pale for a Russian." For fellow Ukrainians and Russians alike, this statement is hilarious on two levels. One being the most obvious, Ukraine is not Russia. This would be the same as someone saying I am Norwegian and meeting the response, oh you're Swedish. Haha. Secondly most obvious, East Slavs (Russians and Ukrainians) tend to be VERY pale compared to many Anglo-Americans and people of Western Europe, as well as a higher occurance of blondeness. Regardless of whether or not this may be "offensive" to some soft politically correct Americans, is this the average world/culture knowledge of most Americans.

Answer 1

Most Americans are pretty ignorant when it comes to world geography. I met one once who didn't believe there was such a US state as West Virginia, and that's in THIS country.

We're pretty savvy though, about identifying celebrities and names of popular brands. I knew someone who tell the difference between Paris Hilton, Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera, and could recite the entire Oscar Meyer jingle (;-)

Answer 2

Eh, at least he was in the general vicinity...Although one does wonder where he saw brown-skinned dark-haired Slavs...
I was in a restaurant with my family once and upon hearing us speak Russian the waiter decided that we were.............GERMANS. Seriously, when he brought the bread he actually said "Brot". He kept saying random German stuff throughout the whole evening, since we didn't have the heart to tell him that we are Russian.
Another thing that really annoys me is that people seem to think that only Swedes can be blond. I've been asked multiple times in airports if I'm Swedish and honestly it's getting very annoying.
However, I think your case is pretty unusual, since Americans tend to go out of their way to mention all the smaller Slavic ethnicities first, just because they've been "burnt" on this touchy topic already. Everyone knows how angry some Poles and Ukrainians get when you call them Russian...
Anyway, we shouldn't judge a whole nation by a couple of fools. The best we can do is enjoy the entertainment they provide. :)

Answer 3

Well, most Americans think that you are probably Russian because you have a similiar name to Russians? We tend to generalize but not all of us. I know for a fact that Ukrainians HATE to be called Russians as do Bulgarians, and Romanians. It's just that some Americans might have forgotten that the USSR had many 'states' which included the Ukraine. Chock it up to ignorance. Not stupidity

Answer 4

Here's a good one for getting it wrong.

I have some good friends in Alabama, whom I visited. I am Australian and I travelled through continental Europe with them. My friend's Dad picked me up from the bus station in Mobile. We stopped at a Denny's for dinner. My friend's Dad asked the waitress if she could pick where I am from. The waitress said "New York" because of my posh accent.

We both laughed and told her I am Australian. She was stunned.

This incident highlights the fact that many American people have limited knowledge of the rest of the world, cultural, current affairs, history or otherwise.

What happened to you is not an isolated incident. It may be the fault of the US education system.

With the internet, they have the opportunity to learn about the rest of the world. Don't hold your breath.

Answer 5

Where was this and where was this damned fool from in the U.S.?
I live in Wyoming and have encountered some eastern U.S. citizens, usually a young woman or a couple of them, that think we Wyomingites and some other Westerners still live in log cabins and endure Indian attacks. I used to ride a horse to school in my younger days, though.
Back East, there are Amish people who still go around in buggies.
You'll find ignorant people anywhere if you look for them.

Answer 6

No. Many people are still confused about all the different countries after the collapse of the Soviet Union, but most Americans picture those people as fair.

Answer 7

No, not all Americans are that dumb. That person might have been joking around with you......but maybe not.
Yes, we have plenty of what you would call "typical american idiots," but we also have plenty of well educated people to.
It depends on where you go, and the kinds of people that you choose to converse with.
Don't let 1 person make you think that they are the general representation of a country of 300 million people.
Have a nice day.

Answer 8

I'm sad to say that probably is the norm here.

Though stupidity is fairly common all over the world, I would say there are probably a greater percent of people in America who are not necessarily stupid, but just don't care to know anything, which is, in my opinion, worse than being stupid. Considering the shitty state of the public school system here, though, it really isn't surprising.

Answer 9

Sadly, yes, most Americans are that dumb. Ask one of us to point it out on an unmarked map! ... honestly, I probably couldn't find it. But, at least I know it's not the same country as Russia.

Answer 10

we don't learn much about where we actually came from. i mean almost all. if not all of our laws were based on Godly principles and Christianity and such. but look at where we are today (no "under God" anymore?). pretty dumb.