Why do non-americans assume all americans are idiots?

[Anubis]

As it's been many times, People are universally stupid. It has nothing to do with location.

I have no problem with ignorance, it just means the person hasn't yet found out the truth. It's when people cling to ignorance that I get angry and disappointed.

As a culture, we have some kind of "Proud to be Ignorant" thing going on. Especially down south. I hate to say it, but I live around LOTS of the people stereotyped in this thread.

[Anubis]

Also there is a very big population that believes America is going to be on top forever. Unfortunately this isn't how large societies operate. All empires crash.

Eventually, America will fall, and when it does the rest of the world isn't going to run and put us back together again.

Just my .02

[Mozgus]

If I wasn't stateside, I'd probably think and say similar things. We had a fucking chimp representing us for 8 years, and we did a lot of absolutely stupid, embarrassing shit in that time-frame. Of course, the rest of the civilized world looks down on us. Why wouldn't they?

[Ack]

Eventually, America will fall, and when it does the rest of the world isn't going to run and put us back together again.

No, we know, though nations have helped restore other nations before and helped them become superpowers in different ways. Our aid to Japan after World War II helped them transition from a fallen military superpower to an economic superpower. In other nations, the transformation will not always involve others, such as Russia's transition from a military superpower to a fledgling democracy after the collapse of the Soviet Union to a new, rising military superpower now, or China's fall from power in the last few centuries slowly changing as they are emerging as a new superpower.

We'll just have to wait and see what happens.

[The Apprentice]

If I wasn't stateside, I'd probably think and say similar things. We had a fucking chimp representing us for 8 years, and we did a lot of absolutely stupid, embarrassing shit in that time-frame. Of course, the rest of the civilized world looks down on us. Why wouldn't they?

I don't have a problem with disrespect for a nation, but I do have a problem with personal disrespect on a citizen by citizen basis. For example, I don't think highly of Iran as a nation, but I have no enemies there. If a person from that country were to speak to me, there shouldn't be any reason for my problems with their nation to bleed into my respect for that person.

That's just how I look at the world, everyone's a friend until they do something wrong to me or someone else.

[dsheinem]

As it's been many times, People are universally stupid. It has nothing to do with location.

Location does matter because people living in different locations have very different lived experiences. One way to measure "stupidity" vs. "intelligence" is via testing, as this reveals what kind of varying educational experiences people have. Certainly stupid and smart people exist everywhere, but testing allows us to get at percentages/demographics (and to answer the OP question).

These tests show that, relative to much of the industrial world, America has a disproportionate amount of "stupid" people when it comes to basic knowledge of world history and geography, science, math, technology, or any other measure of intelligence that human civilization has ever valued. When you look at the relative wealth of the country, these statistics are even more appalling.

The root problem is our K-12 education: we don't get enough, don't spend enough, and don't have high enough standards. That said, the current administration is on to something with better funding of education (and the sciences), advocating the all-year school schedule, and abandoning No Child Left Behind. If we implement all of these things, it would at least be a start to getting us caught up to those "stuffy Europeans."

[Ack]

As far as education's concerned, I think we also need to examine our consideration of the importance of education. The first time I ever really felt interested in my own education was after I'd graduated college. Before that, it mostly came down to taking what was required or what seemed like it would be the easiest or the most fun. That's not to say I didn't have some great teachers and learn many things along the way, but my attitude towards the entire process of education changed once I had left the system. Perhaps I suddenly felt more freedom to learn what I wanted to learn, as opposed to being forced to pick up certain things by outside forces.

Getting beyond throwing money at it, I think we need to find a way to instill an interest in learning in our children if we really want results. Sure, money will help, I'm not saying it won't, but there's got to be a bit more to it. I'm really interested in this "lifelong learning" talk I keep hearing about in library school, if only because I'm glad its a policy to help further education beyond regular schooling somewhere.

Then again, I wish self reliance was also taught in schools, but I suppose that's just something you have to pick up on your way.

[dsheinem]

As far as education's concerned, I think we also need to examine our consideration of the importance of education...Getting beyond throwing money at it, I think we need to find a way to instill an interest in learning in our children if we really want results. Sure, money will help, I'm not saying it won't, but there's got to be a bit more to it.

I certainly agree with this. Year long schooling adds an important psychological component as it keeps school from just being something you have to "get through" in order to get to your summer/fun time (where you can forget everything you crammed for!). Year long school emphasizes that learning should be continual.

The problem spans generations though...generally if children see education is important to mom and dad, or that it helps adults accomplish their goals, it becomes important to them. If not, they tend to resent school and try to do the minimal possible to finish. When they see that American adults increasingly strive towards Idiocracy, it probably becomes pretty disheartening.

In other words, we don't do enough as a culture to link education to success. Instead, we have a culture that celebrates "beating the system" by pointing to exceptions (Bill Gates, athletes, entertainers) rather than those who moderately rise above their circumstances (or maintain them) because of their educational diligence.

I could go on...but I'm afraid now I am starting to get off topic.

[glynnahab]

People are people...

People are people.

People are people.

[RyaNtheSlayA]

Probably because 90% of us Americans ARE idiots. Id say that 90% of people are all idiots too but I still even think thats low balling it.