EU is great for increasing awarness of history and other countries!

[KRonn]

Pomerania,
The point is you can find something to trash anyone with if you want a cheap shot, or need to get some laughs at someone else's expense. And the sterotyping is just plain ignorant and stupid to engage in.

Discussing the US educational system is fine, obviously. Just as discussing many other issues is fine.

Maybe if I said this game is good for the people of country 'xxxx', since it'll teach them how not to be so racist? But why should I want to say that?

And if we want to discuss the US educational system, we may want to first look in some older threads. It was discussed heavily. Or start a new thread in OT.

Now, I really shouldn't have to explain this too much - it really should speak for itself.
Or maybe I'm the one who's 'off' here. In which case I guess I'll start checking for negative info on various countries to throw out at 'opportune' moments.

 

[KRonn]

Daboese,
Point taken.
I really didn't intend to get into a contest over this. I probably over-reacted to an innocent comment that I may have thought a bit mean spirited.
I'm fully aware of the problems in the US school system these days.
And I'm not above being critical of the US. Check some of my posts.

I probably shouldn't have brought the whole thing up at all, but since I did (or you did), there you have it.
Probably enough said - I hope.

Besides I found the comment on 'Terra Incognita' pretty funny!

 

[unmerged(13)]

Peter,

fine, no problems.

'Since my son and some of his frieds are playing EU they ask a lot of questions about history that they would not have asked otherwise'

Delighted to hear it .. I've done the same on many occasions now. Especially during the beta test one was forced to learn / read about areas you weren't knowledgable about before. But you did, at least to save face and at least know about what you were discussing with the rest of the folks, at least partially

Sapura

 

[unmerged(13)]

Discussing the US educational system is fine, obviously. Just as discussing many other issues is fine.


Well, as far as I'm concerned, the US educational system is not perfect, however there are others which are equally in need of adjustment and some which are even worse than the American system. Over the years I've gone to Japanese schools, American Schools, Polish Schools, Australian Schools, Singaporian Schools, er..(have I missed something..), probably not.

Without a doubt the US system GENERALLY speaking does not equal some of the standards in Europe (or at least Poland & Singapore..). However going through the US system in my earlier period in life, I found it quite a good experience - generally. The system can be a lot more demanding and strict in my opinion. (earlier, jeez I sound like a grandad when I'm only 21)

The thing to remember, a lot of it DEPENDS ON CULTURE AND THE CULTURAL ASPECTS OF THE COUNTRY. ONE CANNOT compare a system in Japan with a system in the US, or a system in EUROPE with a system in the US - directly. It's silly.

Sapura

 

[unmerged(334)]

KRonn sorry if I upset you, it was not my intention. I did not try to put down Americans, I just said how I was educated and compared to the only other educational system I used (unfortunately it was US so I could not pick on some other one). This topic started after Australian lady did not know info about Poland. So I conclude that Australia has a problem too. ( all Australians on the forum plz don't flame me now). In my opinion (only in my opinion to which I have the right) there is a problem with US and other educational systems ( Polish too.) It is not a competition between countries who has better, they all should be improved. KRonn if there is something wrong with the system we should talk about it and fix it, not get defensive and opset. I am sure you will find something wrong with Poland ( I can find many problems) and I am willing to talk about and listen to other people opinions. That is the way to know more and to fix problems. If you say that we have the same problem or that it is a cheep shot at your country and do nothing about that, how dose that help. One more time, plz do not get angry with me it was not my intention. I never said Americans are stupid, I just said that their geography education sucks ( In my opinion.)

 

[KRonn]

Pomerania,
I have no problems with anything you've said.

I was pointing out why I had responded to an earlier post the way I did. I wasn't angry about the US school system, just about something that had been said.

I guess I was unclear about that when I addressed my post to you.

You didn't take any cheap shots - and as I said, I may have over reacted about the 'stupid American children' post. Or maybe not.

I was never really angry about any of it.

 

[unmerged(334)]

cool...

 

[KRonn]

Originally posted by Pomerania Prince:
cool...

way cool..........

Funny! When I read back over that post, I guess it does look like I was slamming you though!

 

[unmerged(334)]

Originally posted by KRonn:
way cool..........

Funny! When I read back over that post, I guess it does look like I was slamming you though!

it is my specialty to piss off people. I am very good at it. As my friends or family. sometimes I do it on purpose to see some reaction, but not in this case

 

[Viking]

I am constantly annoyed by europeans who thing that there are 52 states in the US. When I say 50 they say I must be wrong cause they learned 52 in school. Then I count them up reach 50 and ask which one I missed. They cant cause I didnt miss any.

Conclusion. Europeans are just as stupid as americans. Although europeans learn more about america in school than the americans do about europe so the europeans can claim intellectual superiority.

(european who lived really really long in america)

 

[Leprechaun]

Hmmm...
I guess that 52 states-thing is so widely spread because the US are often printed in this way:
The 48 'core' states on a large map, while Hawaii and Alaska are printed seperately in small maps at the bottom.
So people might think 50 + Hawaii + Alaska = 52.


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Pour dieu et mon droit

 

[unmerged(158)]

I propose to rank the educational systems of the countries according to the number of stars their reviewers gave to EU. Because this shows how much they appreciate historical knowledge. With respect to this the Germans are last. Which means that they need EU more than the others.

 

[Carlos Duarte]

Well... we Portuguese get put into Spain by BOTH Americans and Europeans so we could righteously deem that stupidity is all over the world

'All ignorance is strictly voluntary'

Carlos

 

[ishlilith]

Maybe you are right Carlos, but americans keep thinking that Spain is a little country under Mexico. At least you are in Europe and not in Angola.

 

[unmerged(824)]

Originally posted by ishlilith:
Maybe you are right Carlos, but americans keep thinking that Spain is a little country under Mexico. At least you are in Europe and not in Angola.

They just can't help it (sigh). I guess it's depressing to live in a has-been country.



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Bernhard R.

 

[Mariani]

To comment on the original subject AFTER the flurry of the prevalent US vs. EU conflict...

I was turned on to this game about a year ago by my european history teacher in high school (am currently a history major in college)...not sure exactly how much this gamewill convert the minds of those who are blithely uninterested in history...but it sure will add depth to the knowledge of those that are.

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'A set of local sovereign states can be no more than a transitory political configuration.'- Toynbee

 

[unmerged(786)]

Dear Carlos, my portuguese 'cousin'

Portugal being part of Spain?
Spain a country under the southern border of Mexico?.

I dont believe that the americans can say that, i have a lot of americans friends and they know perfectly where Portugal or Spain are, and on the other hand, a few friends of mine, men who went to the University, dont know where are Angola, or even dont know that we were on the Phillipines for 400 years.

Resuming, there are wise people in America and in Europe, and there are swallow ones in both places. We must try to avoid this generalizations. For Example, only a 10% of the people of my country sleep the Siesta, and a 50% dislike the bulls 'corridas'.

BTW Carlos, i will go to Portugal in a few weeks, to the wonderfull city of Évora

 

[daboese]

Now my answer why I originially guessed 51 states, although I lived in the US. Wasn't there a discussion a while ago to make Puerto Rico the 51st State? And, I am sorry, but if anyone is missing that there are 50, 51, or 52 states is WAY less bad than for example not knowing where Canada is, to think that the equator is actually going through the US or to think that Croatia is actually part of the UK. Don't let me continue, or I will start discussing the trip- overs of the newly elected American President (who is quite good in getting those prejudices increased!). In general (I studied at Rice) there are a lot of Americans who know better, but still a lot of them think that the US is the center of the Universe and they act that way.

 

[unmerged(824)]

Originally posted by Gelete I de España:
Dear Carlos, my portuguese 'cousin'

Portugal being part of Spain?
Spain a country under the southern border of Mexico?.

I dont believe that the americans can say that, i have a lot of americans friends and they know perfectly where Portugal or Spain are. <END QUOTE>
________________________________________________________________

As for my part, I was not responding to Carlos, whose comment was quite fair.
Actually, at least in California, the exploits of the Portuguese and Spanish explorers
is one of the few things we are generally taught about European History. They 'discovered' America after all (though the Native Americans would dispute that of course).
Alas, after that, the next event we are generally taught about is the Seven Years War, which is known as the French and Indian War in the U.S. This, at least, is the
curriculum for the non-college educated.




------------------
Bernhard R.

 

[unmerged(281)]

On awareness of history, those who just get the game and play it. Which is probably most Americans, will develop what I call 'Movie History' syndrome. Most Americans get much of the history they know from the movies, just talk to them about something and either they will quote some movie thing to you, or you will only get a look of recognition when you mention one everybody has seen. Fortunately, I think those that play EU will be getting a more accurate view of history then most films show.

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History is a lie agreed upon. Napoleon

[This message has been edited by GulFalco (edited 01-02-2001).]