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‘America Is The Only Country In The World’: 64 Times Internet Users Showed Just How Much They Lack Education
Good grades aren’t everything, sure. But good education, an open mind, and intellectual humility are all undervalued. Way, way undervalued. And you can see the results when you go on social media.
Look, the fact is that everyone, no matter where they’re from, makes mistakes from time to time. But some folks are so loud with their wrong opinions that other netizens can’t help but take notice. Some of the most egregiously uneducated and arrogant internet users get called out by members of one satirical Facebook group. We’re bringing you the cringiest posts and comments to make you laugh as you facepalm.
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#2
Blue Bunny of Happiness 6 hours ago
They’d freak out at the fact that within the UK regional variations are Mum, Mom and Mam.
#3
Cyril Sneer 4 hours ago (edited)
The fact that HP is British is neither here nor there really. No one in the books says "Mate, Man U are doing well this season" either. It's a book about a boy wizard, no one cares about muggle sports
The satirical ‘America is the ONLY country in the world!!!1!’ pokes fun at the global stereotype that some US citizens are narcissistic, lack education, and have little to no awareness of the rest of the world and other cultures.
Of course, despite the focus of this particular Facebook group, it’s worth remembering that absolutely everyone makes mistakes and has knowledge blind spots, no matter what country they’re from.
Learning never stops. And it takes real humility and courage to admit you don’t know something instead of pretending that your half-baked opinions and misremembered interpretations are the same as objective truth.
But you need intellectual humility for that. In reality, some people like to claim they know more about the world than they actually do. They are guilty of what’s known as ‘overclaiming’ and pretend to be experts.
#5
BeesEelsAndPups 3 hours ago
I didn't know what either type of flapjack was, so I looked it up. For the pandas, like me, who are from neither country, in the UK a flapjack is a very delicious sounding oat bar. It's made with rolled oats, brown sugar, butter, and syrup, and I'll be making some tomorrow. In the US, this is called a cereal bar, and a flapjack is another word for a pancake.
Psychologist Elizabeth Krumrei-Mancuso explains that intellectual humility is your ability to recognize your intellectual limitations, as well as gaps and inaccuracies in your body of knowledge.
Being intellectually humble can affect many areas of your life, including politics, religion, and even your career.
According to research conducted by Stav Atir, Emily Rosenzweig, and David Dunning in 2015, a phenomenon called ‘overclaiming’ leads people to overestimate their knowledge.
These individuals claim knowledge of concepts, events, and people that do not exist and cannot be known.
#11
The_Nicest_Misanthrope 5 hours ago
Thank fùck it isn't. If USD was the global standard, I'd be even more impoverished than I already am!
#12
zububonsai 6 hours ago
If you thought a conversation hit its deep end it got even worse (or "badder"?)...
The researchers noted that people overclaim to the extent that they perceive their personal expertise favorably.
Overclaiming can apply to vastly different areas of (perceived) expertise. For instance, in finance, science, geography, etc.
People may claim familiarity with geographical places that literally do not exist. Or they might state that they understand financial or scientific concepts that are fictitious.
“The more individuals believe they know about a domain, the more likely they are to claim knowledge in that domain that they cannot possibly possess,” the researchers write.
Instead of people consulting a “mental index” that catalogs their knowledge, they “draw on preexisting self-perceptions of knowledge to make inferences about what they should or probably do know.”
#17
According to the researchers, “for domains of high self-perceived expertise, these inferences may induce a sense of familiarity with terms that sound plausibly real but are not.”
Alternatively, greater self-perceived knowledge motivates people to search their memories more actively for relevant knowledge.
#21
The_Nicest_Misanthrope 5 hours ago
Always amuses me how many American's say 'fùck Yourope', but in the same breath, are desperate to tell you how exotic they are cos their great-grandma lived in Belgium once. 🙄
For example, someone who is well-versed in biology or geography might therefore be more motivated to “construct a plausible notion” of what a fictional term might mean.
The main problem with overclaiming should be obvious. Self-perceived experts may give bad advice “when they should give none.” People acting on this uneducated advice may be harmed.
#22
Another issue is that individuals who have a tendency to overclaim actually stop themselves from educating themselves further in those areas where they already think they’re experts.
“In other words, overclaiming may hinder people from truly achieving a valuable level of genuine knowledge.”
#27
Janissary35680 5 hours ago
Exactly like a fish being unaware that it lives in water... until it doesn't.
Once you’re done chuckling, cringing, and upvoting the pics you loved to hate the most, share your thoughts in the comments at the bottom of this list.
Realistically speaking, what do you think can be done to improve the level of education around the world? Are there any areas where you ‘overclaim’ and think you're an expert (even though you aren’t)?
Who is the most intellectually humble person you know? How do you stay curious and open-minded when there are so many strong opinions online? Let us know.
#31
Blue Bunny of Happiness 6 hours ago
Or more often Postie here, although they’re not a proper postie unless they wear shorts in winter.
#33
Janissary35680 5 hours ago
Speakers of varieties of English other than North American often get subtitled on US news and other shows.
#36
Lazy Panda 2 5 hours ago
What does it matter if ballots are printed in multiple languages? In Wales we just get on with dual Lang signs. And Singapore copes ok with seven official languages.
#37
Debby Keir 1 hour ago
*The earliest recorded legal prohibition against slavery in Europe occurred on July 3, 1315, when King Louis X of France issued a royal edict*
#39
Blue Bunny of Happiness 6 hours ago
I mean, it’s not perfect, but better than a heck of a lot of other places at the moment…
#40
Blue Bunny of Happiness 6 hours ago (edited)
I mean technically you can, France, Andorra and Spain for example. Spain, France, Germany is a bit trickier….
#42
The_Nicest_Misanthrope 5 hours ago
It's also where education and critical thinking skills go to dìe
#44
Lazy Panda 2 5 hours ago
I really wish this was true and we were on km. The Irish switched, so can we.
#45
Teutonic Disaster 2 hours ago
He's got a lotta nerve, coming from a place where half the adult population don't seem to know that electric kettles exist.
#49
Jason Noob 1 hour ago
I have to wonder if the account that posted this is an alt for a certain orange faced carnival barker....
#50
ABC NoFourteen FUCKCENSORISM 3 hours ago
"I don't like or understand what's going on" seems to be the common trope of this list.
#51
Jason Noob 1 hour ago
FFS can you not go on one trip without Diet Coke anyway? I mean, why visit anywhere at all if you're not going to try something different? Also, Diet Coke is disgusting.
#58
TotallyNOTAFox 1 hour ago
Daylight savings is a german invention first made during World War 1 to save fuel, stopped in 1919 and reintroduced during WW2 for the same reason again
#63
Jason Noob 1 hour ago
This just sounds like someone making an honest mistake and missing a zero...not really sure why this person deserves to be made fun of.
#64
Blue Bunny of Happiness 6 hours ago
In the UK it feels like the world is going to hell in a handcart right now…
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What do you think ?
Rose the Cook 4 hours ago
These all show extreme arrogance and ignorance. Come on intelligent Americans, we know you exist, come out out of hiding and restore your country's reputation.
Boo 4 hours ago
I made it to ten and quit before I facepalmed myself into oblivion.
Load More Replies... Cerulean 2 hours ago (edited)
Well the problem is, these are rage-bait, or at least sneer-bait. I've seen heaps of them recycled here on BP over and over. So, yes, there are stupid ppl on the net - surely no-one thinks their own country has no stupid people? Ignorant, bigoted people? Whence this superiority? Some of them are funny, and Trump/Maga is scary, but I'm starting to feel a little diminished in myself, by reading these over n over.
Rose the Cook 4 hours ago
These all show extreme arrogance and ignorance. Come on intelligent Americans, we know you exist, come out out of hiding and restore your country's reputation.
Boo 4 hours ago
I made it to ten and quit before I facepalmed myself into oblivion.
Load More Replies... Cerulean 2 hours ago (edited)
Well the problem is, these are rage-bait, or at least sneer-bait. I've seen heaps of them recycled here on BP over and over. So, yes, there are stupid ppl on the net - surely no-one thinks their own country has no stupid people? Ignorant, bigoted people? Whence this superiority? Some of them are funny, and Trump/Maga is scary, but I'm starting to feel a little diminished in myself, by reading these over n over.
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