Too Many Americans Are Just Too Damn Stupid

[Yavin4]

Let's face the facts here. For every intelligent, well-informed, critical thinking American, there's at least one, possibly two, ignorant-ass American that is too stupid for words and will believe everything that Faux News, AM right-wing radio, and Toby Keith tells them.

Case in point, Jerry Springer had a caller who tried to make the argument that we are safer from terrorism under Bush. He cited the USS Cole and the U.S. Sudan embassy bombings as examples of terrorist attacks on "US soil", and how there haven't been such attacks since Bush has been president.

Never mind that well over 1700 Americans have been victims of attacks in Iraq. Never mind that there's no real distinction between attacks on the Cole and attacks on servicepeople on a base in Iraq. Never mind that terrorists can kill us at will in Iraq. Never mind all that

What kills me is that he's giving credit to Bush for there not being any additional attacks, but not the blame for 9/11. Bush gets lauded for things not being as bad as they could be.

[slackmaster]

1. People in other countries are stupid too

And Germans are every bit as fat as Americans.

[Yavin4]

4. Nope. Americans Take The Cake for Ignorance

Even the poorest amongst us has access to information, but we don't even use it. We don't want to learn anything for ourselves. This is why Bush's ignorant logic: "Fight them over there, so we don't fight them here" is successful. Americans are just plain stupid.

[driver8]

13. Have you ever been to a foreign country and been around Americans?

It is embarassing. Americans are so ignorant and act like such assholes when they are in another country. Many of them think that every country and culture should cater to their every whim, and that all the food and drinks they enjoy in the states should be available.

I was in Mexico and my wife and I went to Chichen Itza (spelling?) with a tour group. We stopped to eat at this little hotel, and there was a woman making home made corn tortillas. My wife and I got some chicken and beans and we were in heaven. Some comments I heard from the others: "This doesn't taste like Taco Bell", "I want some spaghetti", and then, "This spaghetti is awful. I can't eat it."

For fuck's sake!! You are in the middle of Mexico in the middle of the fucking jungle!! Of course there is no freakin' Taco Bell and of course the spaghetti does not taste good. Eat the homemade tortillas and chicken and just shut the fuck up!!

Sometimes I am so ashamed to be an American...

[Pool Hall Ace]

14. Oh no. I read that, and I am ashamed.

Is there a chance that just maybe they were joking about Taco Bell? I know, they probably weren't.

[driver8]

16. They were definitely not joking!!

It was a couple from New York City -- it was the husband complaining about the food. No offense to any New Yorkers...but these people were your stereotypical, pushy, opinionated, annoying New Yorkers. Nothing was as good as what they got in New York...

[slackmaster]

18. Ugly New Yorkers - that's the core problem

I've seen some New Yorker tourists (not all New Yorkers mind you) act like COMPLETE DICKHEADS here in Southern California, and also in the Southeast.

The boorish, loud, arrogant behavior of New Yorkers gives locals in Myrtle Beach and San Diego something in common to talk about.

Most US citizens never travel outside of the country, and haven't even seen a lot of the USA. There are a lot of affluent people in NYC who travel just because they can afford to.

[Pool Hall Ace]

28. Oh wow -- sounds like my former boss

He was an expert on everything, because he was from New York -- the home of the best of everything!

One time, he even said something about the Yankees being God's favorite baseball team. As if God really cares who wins baseball games. He spoke at the decibel level of a jet at takeoff, so there was no mistaking what he said.

What a buffoon.

[Stirk]

35. Whenever I get a chance to travel, I play "Spot the American".

It's fun.

There are plenty of polite, respectful, good Americans out there, too, of course- but you don't notice them when you're in a foreign city. They just blend in like everybody else.

But there's a certain type that stands out like a sore thumb. It's just hillarious. That particular sort of American is just "big" in every way. Their clothing is loud, they talk loud, they brag, they're usually obese... just "big". And man, people hate them. THAT is the stereotype people have of Americans.

[Im_Your_Huckleberry]

42. when we were there...

there were a couple of ugly americans who kept pronouncing it "chicken-eetsa'. i hung my head in shame.

[Name removed]

38. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[TheWatcher]

41. And what do you know

A Convenient Example chimes in. :)

[Vuem]

43. I know enough to know stupidity when I see it.

And someone's been sipping at the Nectar of the 'Tards for too long.

[TheWatcher]

45. Pot Meet Kettle

Are you looking in a mirror or simply being rude?

If all you have to offer in a discussion is insults and personal attacks, it definitely lends merit to the assumption that perhaps you got lost on the way to the Yahoo Boards.

[Vuem]

52. Do forgive me for pointing out the obvious

But you've entirely missed the point.

[Obamarama]

50. I saw these stupid Americans in Norway once....

They were looking under bridges. For trolls. Imagine that!

I told them: "My fellow Americans, trolls don't live under bridges. They all seem to have taken up residence on the Internets."

[cpamomfromtexas]

48. Actually I think this is more accurate

And I base this on the idea that I convert people everywhere I go.

It's the walmarting of the american worker, keep them poor, and working so many hours in a day just to make ends meet that they can't afford to spend much time analyzing things.

when I speak to people about why I believe what I believe, then they always say, I never thought about it that way....but you're right!

Our middle and lower classes aren't stupid they're just worn out and have no hope!

I don't know about you, but my goal is to build a business that helps others build businesses in spite of the jerks running the country. The only hope we have is to work together taking care of as many as we can and educating along the way!

[Bhaisahab]

34. Yeah. A majority of Indians are ignorant too...

but then, India is just a wannabe america... mcburgers (vegetarian, if you please) and all.

[manic expression]

46. That's not true

For me at least, Indians have been more than welcoming to an obvious outsider in a mostly-Indian environment.

Also, if you look at the BBC "Have Your Say", people from India mostly have the most insightful and sensitive comments out of everyone, while Americans are usually ignorant and idiotic (however, it has been better now that anti-war sentiment is growing).

[justinsb]

2. Math's a little off

I'd say for every intelligent, well informed, critical thinking .... there's at least one, ignorant - ass but then there are 2 or 3 that don't know, and don't care, don't watch the news, know nothing about what's going on, don't vote, don't read ....

[politicaholic]

3. "Stupid is as stupid does"...

and that's why the US has the President they have.

People seem so easy to direct:
Stay the course and until you find the cheese. We'll figure out where to put the cheese later, just run.

[movonne]

5. I think you were too generous, seems to me many more than one or

possibly 2...more like thousands.. I also have come to the conclusion that these people that call in right-wing talk shows (and liberal talk shows) are not just dumb but like the things that bush is doing..the religious nuts, the prejudice and the gay haters...

[NewWaveChick1981]

6. Sadly, how true...

My husband and I have half-jokingly said this for years, and it's all too apparent now. If people have to have stupid warning labels on products and be told not to do things like swallow nails (actual warning label on a box of household nails: CAUTION! - Do NOT swallow nails! May cause irritation! --to say the least!), that means someone has tried to swallow nails because the box didn't say not to. :yoiks: As I've said before, the general public are morons and/or apathetic idiots.

[sshan2525]

7. Never underestimate the power of large groups of stupid people

D'ya think............?

[B Calm]

8. Same people thought voting for an oil president would mean

cheap gas.. So you are right, they're dumber than owl droppings.

[screembloodymurder]

9. Homeland Security's definition of a subversive:

anyone that's been paying attention.

[displacedtexan]

10. I call them "The Backside Of The Bell Curve."

Each Friday, on my blog, I feature one (or a group) of them (mostly BushCo flying monkeys).

They all strive to be "normal."

Look where "normal" is on the Bell curve...




Their goal is to be smack dab at the tail end of above average?

Sad.

Edited to add: a Bell curve is a Bell curve; pay no attention to the source of this graphic-- I was in a hurry.

[dooner]

11. the press hasn't helped educate

isn't that what they are supposed to be doing with their "news"?

(I learned a lot about hurricanes from watching that Ramada sign fly off, didn't you? I also know quite a bit about Aruba, thank you very much.)

[nolabels]

12. It worked and you fell for it

Above all else people are intellectually lazy when ever possible. It's just so much easier to be told what to do. Thinking and doing for yourself is a lot of work. As long as their bellies get full you might be able to convince them of just about anything.

Getting outraged and annoyed at others when they have no intentions of feeling the same only wastes your own energy. The simple facts of bread and circus while you and comrades pillage was thought back in the Roman era. Besides that there was already a thread on this

What we MUST realize in order to win - Americans are stupid and uninformed
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=495887

[CoffeeAnnan]

15. What bothers me most about the ignorance of Americans is that they are

actually proud of it and wear it like a badge.

[slackmaster]

20. Not among my circle of friends

I find that tendency disturbing too, but it seems to me a subset of certain sectors of youth culture; some cliques act as if it's cool to be ignorant.

[manic expression]

47. Oh, yes

In youths it's much worse. To think critically is out of fashion. Believe me, if you're knowledgeable in HS and show it, it does not help other people's perceptions of you (not like it matters too much, but it's nice not to be the odd one out you know?).

[Yavin4]

17. Let Me Also Clarify Something About My Post

I'm not an elitist. I'm not talking about people's educational levels. There are dumb as shit Americans walking around with graduate degrees.

I'm talking about willfull ignorance. I'm talking about people jumping to a conclusion without looking at the facts. I'm talking about people who cheered the London bombing because it sends a message to Europe that they should join Bush in Iraq, even though Blair was his biggest supporter in Iraq.

I'm talking about people who don't use their intelligence. I'm talking about people who support Republicans because they're "winners". I'm talking about people who look down their noses at people from other cultures and other civilizations.

[slackmaster]

19. Your orgy of self-loathing hasn't gotten a whole lot of support, Yavin4

I regard, react to, and treat each individual as I see fit. I live in a city that caters to tourists, and believe me I've seen ugly, stupid, mean, undesirable ones from just about everywhere in the world. I've seen Japanese people literally push gray-haired old ladies out of the way so they can get a better view. I've also met a lot of nice people from everywhere including New York City.

[Yavin4]

30. You Need To Get Out More and See America for Yourself

I'm willing to bet that you live in a large urban area like NY, Chicago, LA, or SF. Let me tell you, those areas are the exceptions, not the rule.

[slackmaster]

31. I live in San Diego and have travelled in 43 states

I've lived in Kansas and a small town in New Mexico and have seen a lot more of the USA than most people ever do.

[Telly Savalas]

21. Holy shit! Did people really say that?

People argued that the London bombing was good because it sent a message?

Excuse me for being willfully ignorant on the subject, but after the bombing I put my head in the sand because I just couldn't stomach the idiocy that would follow. I take it this was a wise decision?

[Yavin4]

29. The Entire Fox News Channel Lineup Basically Said

Read today's Top 10 Conservative idiots.

[Deja Q]

22. A ship and a foreign country is also US soil? We own the whole planet?!

And, yes, people are stupid.

While not a new phenomenon for the world, the US has gone out of its way to keep people blissfully programmed...

[DS1]

36. Embassies are considered sovereign territory, as are naval

vessels from any country. You attack a Spanish ship in the Altantic and you're essentially attacking Spain. Same goes for Embassies.

So technically he's correct.

[silvershadow]

23. Not only that, but

You have only counted the intelligent, critical thinkers and ignorant Fox viewers and right-wing radio listeners...What about the MASSES of people so ignorant they don't even listen to the news or care about the issues one way or the other? I work in a very fast paced retail store and see them by the hundreds every day. People too stupid to count change, people too stupid to operate a gas pump, people too lazy to throw their trash in can. I could go on and on, but my point is the general masses of people, I am afraid, couldn't tell you the name of the President and Vice President, and certainly doesn't understand how government is supposed to work, what the role of the different branches of government are, responsibilities of the different appointees. The masses are simply uneducated and uncaring. It is beyond scary to me that I live among sheep, most of whom are asleep.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

24. I'll do you one better (or worse).

Just today at my new job, I was washing up after using the restroom. In the time it took me to wash my hands, I saw another employee from the same building (different office) go take care of his business, then he proceeded to leave WITHOUT washing his hands.

This was not a small child, but an adult about my age (25), and he actually did this in front of me in plain sight. Fortunately, I always use a couple of paper towels to open the door, but I still found it disgusting.

I don't normally make assumptions about people, but if he doesn't take the time to wash his hands after using the restroom, he probably doesn't take the time to follow the news.

[Zorra]

25. I recently had an experience in which I was in circumstances that

kept me in relatively close contact with a few freepers lately. I do not usually associate with fascists but sometimes they are hard to avoid.

You are 100% on the money. Too many Americans are too damn stupid.

Neither of the freepers I talked to graduated from high school, and they apparently did not learn anything in elementary school either.

Did you know that the borders of the United States are completely surrounded by oceans? Or that a prominent country music star owns Ford Motor Company? I didn't either! I found these "facts" to be totally amazing. *snarf*

These are just two of the many examples of the wit and wisdom of the two freepers I spoke with, both of whom, of course, voted for Bu*h, were staunch republicans, and would not give me a straight answer when I asked them why they had not enlisted in the armed forces to fight in Iraq.

So, there ya have it. America is, pretty much, a nation of ignorant, illiterate, uneducated morons that lack the common sense of an immature domestic turkey. Freepers will believe anything, ANYTHING, and the RW really scored when they put RW ranting radio hosts on the air 24/7 to give the freeps their lies and false information.

Freepers live their entire lives in a twilight zone trap of myths and webs spun with RW illusions.

It's really pretty damn sad, but it's also really dangerous.

[orpupilofnature57]

26. Then lets jail all smart people, for being elitists!! Shrub is Genius!!

[mitchum]

27. A nation of slack-jawed yahoos

[slackmaster]

32. There are a lot of bigoted, ignorant people here

And a lot of good ones as well. The more people you have, the more of every kind you can find if you look for them.

[barb162]

33. I'll say. And the situation is getting worse

Our education standards have become a joke, reality shows are on prime time TV, etc.

[Ron Green]

37. The Masses are the Masses, the world around.

I believe that most people, regardless of nationality or ethnicity, are pretty ignorant. They rely on systems of government or media to tell them what to think, and to the extent those systems operate in a benign or harmful way, so will the masses tend to "think."

[leftofthedial]

39. half of Murkans are below average.

some of the other half are insane.

some others of the other half are cynical, manipulative and venal.

Hail! The republican coalition.

[DaveJ]

40. True, which is why this guy may be our NEXT President

Cletus the Slackjaw Yokel

[DiverDave]

44. Overheard in Maui

In the bronx whiney voice:
The pizza in New York is so much better then this.
My response:
Then go back to New York.

[slackmaster]

54. I guess they should have tried the "Hawaiian style" pizza

Canadian bacon and pineapple.

:crazy:

You should see how New Yorkers (and Midwesterners) act in a restaurant when a noticeable earthquake hits. It's pretty funny.

[DaveJ]

49. People like dumb politicians because....

Dumb politicians improve dumb people's self esteem. Picture all the ignorant inbred yokels who love *, who are saying, "luk at tha.. thu presudant iz jus like uz." That was by point behind the Cletus the Slackjaw Yokel picture I posted. We may very well have a President like him soon, which would, if nothing else, serve to boost the self esteem of those who need it most.

[blindpig]

51. I've often felt(and feel) that way but

I realize that the American people have been subjected to the most intense propaganda program in history. For over 100 years socialization and job training have passed for education for the American masses. The pack of sanitized lies that passes for history in k-12 is a disgrace.

Television was quite a windfall for the controllers of our society, a most effective means cementing public opinion and delivering the "circus" part of bread & circuses.

It's been a century long dog & pony show whose whole purpose is to keep money and power in the hands of the people who have it. I doubt if any other people, subjected to similar, would do any better.

[DaveJ]

53. You make good points.

One I liked especially:

Job training is not the same as education! Job training may help one to become a nice cog in the corporate machine, but it does not help people to deal with the subtle complexities and variations that occur in the workplace.

It is misguided to think that job training is a substitute for education, and this should be kept in mind by both Democrats and Republicans.