Because we're like the 2nd worst state in the country so it sticks out. Whenever I get depressed about being stuck in Arkansas, I tell myself "at least I don't live in Florida"
Also American. I know where Germany is because I've had buddies from Germany, which made it useful information. Ditto Romania, Nigeria, and South Korea. I will remember X country when there is something of personal significance about it and apparently not before.
I don't know where Ohio is and will never learn, because there is nothing IN Ohio, and they know there's nothing in Ohio because they're still LYING ABOUT THE AIRPLANE.
There are two things in Ohio. Kings Island, and Cedar Point, though both are close enough to other states that Indiana could annex Kings Island, and Michigan could annex Cedar Point, but then they'd have to take Cincinnati and Toledo respectively and ain't nobody got time for that shit.
Yes this one is honestly a bit apples to oranges-ish, I can kinda understand though because Germany is about the size of a single US state.
Though it's very hard to fuck up western Europe if you ever looked at a world map. Western Europe only has a handful of countries.
Compared to a country of 50 or so states where only 3 have a memorable shape (California, Texas, Florida), one has a memorable location (Alaska) and NYC being a household name.
Hawaii is way further away from the US than Alaska I forgot it belonged to the US because of that, I am sorry if that offended anyone.
I would consider Michigan a memorable shape if it wasn't cut in half. As someone that's not from the US, without specifically going out of my way to learn about Michigans shape I would have expected the shape that actually represents Michigan to be two different states.
And yes, technically NYC itself isn't a state but honestly it's close enough to the actual name, that if I told natives I'm going to the state of NYC they'd know I'm talking about New York and am just being ignorant, and knowing where NYC is, most people could point out the state of New York on a map.
And yes, I am an imposter because I am from Germany and not the US.
No worries! If you ever saw the Hawaiian flag that would be all kinds of confusing because they are clearly claiming to be a British Commonwealth state, despite never being part of the British Empire. They just liked the Union Jack so much that they slapped it in the upper left corner of the flag. That was back when they were still a kingdom though.
Hawaii and alaska are simply forgotten as states entirely, and in my experience the same goes for new mexico which blends together with texas and arizona.
Seriously who the fuck thought it was a good idea to have a state called "new mexico" right next to a COUNTRY called "mexico"?
In addition to Michigan and the three op named, I would also argue Minnesota and Louisiana (shaped like an L, the first letter of the state’s name) have distinctive/memorable shapes.
We can't do New England much better than we can Eastern Europe. But at least we're relatively consistent. I wasted so many brain cells on Piedmont Sardinia, French Netherlands, Poland, Poland again, Poland the third, Prussia, and the UK but now none of them are part of Europe.
The Animaniacs made that one easy. Do you have an animated bouncing song for just Europe? Cause their world geography song doesn't work nearly as well as the US state capital/location song.
I agree, I have trouble labeling most south eastern european countries correctly as a European myself. Though I was specifically talking about western Europe in this case which isn't as fragmented.
But they're still states. States are internal divisions and only meaningful within the US. From an outside perspective there are very few differences between states, nowhere close to the differences between different countries.
Similar to how we don't talk about states or other divisions of china, even though there are probably divisions with more people than half of Europe.
You might not. As an American I've found it useful to know the difference between Sezchuan and Fouzhou. I do know and have worked for a fair number of Chinese immigrants though.
Can't find a good video but it's the one where he names a country and places its name on a world map. Then shows that it wasn't that country at all to show his viewers are bad at world geography.
That was a terribly unfunny explanation by me. But I like the bit.
Why oh why did they get Arkansas right??
Because we're like the 2nd worst state in the country so it sticks out. Whenever I get depressed about being stuck in Arkansas, I tell myself "at least I don't live in Florida"
And yet MS is "West George"
You forgot Mississippi, so at least you're only 3rd worst
Also west virginia. Why do they know about west virginia?!?!? Who told them?
I'm American and I don't know where Ohio or Germany is.
I’m American and I don’t know where Oreo is.
A correct answer is:
In my belly.
The only reason to know where Ohio is is to avoid going there
Also American. I know where Germany is because I've had buddies from Germany, which made it useful information. Ditto Romania, Nigeria, and South Korea. I will remember X country when there is something of personal significance about it and apparently not before.
I don't know where Ohio is and will never learn, because there is nothing IN Ohio, and they know there's nothing in Ohio because they're still LYING ABOUT THE AIRPLANE.
Tell me you're from Best Carolina without telling me you're from Best Carolina
There are two things in Ohio. Kings Island, and Cedar Point, though both are close enough to other states that Indiana could annex Kings Island, and Michigan could annex Cedar Point, but then they'd have to take Cincinnati and Toledo respectively and ain't nobody got time for that shit.
...how?
It's the chonky one in the middle.
To be fair most Germans know where America is.
Yes this one is honestly a bit apples to oranges-ish, I can kinda understand though because Germany is about the size of a single US state.
Though it's very hard to fuck up western Europe if you ever looked at a world map. Western Europe only has a handful of countries.
Compared to a country of 50 or so states where only 3 have a memorable shape (California, Texas, Florida), one has a memorable location (Alaska) and NYC being a household name.
Includes Alaska but not Hawaii for memorable locations.
Completely disregards Michigan for memorable shapes.
Refers to NYC as a state.
I'm starting to think you may be an imposter.
Hawaii is way further away from the US than Alaska I forgot it belonged to the US because of that, I am sorry if that offended anyone.
I would consider Michigan a memorable shape if it wasn't cut in half. As someone that's not from the US, without specifically going out of my way to learn about Michigans shape I would have expected the shape that actually represents Michigan to be two different states.
And yes, technically NYC itself isn't a state but honestly it's close enough to the actual name, that if I told natives I'm going to the state of NYC they'd know I'm talking about New York and am just being ignorant, and knowing where NYC is, most people could point out the state of New York on a map.
And yes, I am an imposter because I am from Germany and not the US.
I was just poking some fun 😊
No worries! If you ever saw the Hawaiian flag that would be all kinds of confusing because they are clearly claiming to be a British Commonwealth state, despite never being part of the British Empire. They just liked the Union Jack so much that they slapped it in the upper left corner of the flag. That was back when they were still a kingdom though.
Hawaii and alaska are simply forgotten as states entirely, and in my experience the same goes for new mexico which blends together with texas and arizona.
Seriously who the fuck thought it was a good idea to have a state called "new mexico" right next to a COUNTRY called "mexico"?
In addition to Michigan and the three op named, I would also argue Minnesota and Louisiana (shaped like an L, the first letter of the state’s name) have distinctive/memorable shapes.
Europe has all those small weird countries. Trying to label them as an American is impossible.
We can't do New England much better than we can Eastern Europe. But at least we're relatively consistent. I wasted so many brain cells on Piedmont Sardinia, French Netherlands, Poland, Poland again, Poland the third, Prussia, and the UK but now none of them are part of Europe.
The Animaniacs made that one easy. Do you have an animated bouncing song for just Europe? Cause their world geography song doesn't work nearly as well as the US state capital/location song.
https://youtu.be/MSvJ9SN8THE
I agree, I have trouble labeling most south eastern european countries correctly as a European myself. Though I was specifically talking about western Europe in this case which isn't as fragmented.
Can you find Andorra on a map? What about without border outlines?
I doubt 90% of Americans know it exists.
But they're still states. States are internal divisions and only meaningful within the US. From an outside perspective there are very few differences between states, nowhere close to the differences between different countries.
Similar to how we don't talk about states or other divisions of china, even though there are probably divisions with more people than half of Europe.
You might not. As an American I've found it useful to know the difference between Sezchuan and Fouzhou. I do know and have worked for a fair number of Chinese immigrants though.
Not really, as a European I can tell you where all the countries in the north American continent are.
Latin America and the Caribbean are part of North America.
Hilarious.
There's a third? Oh bugger 😝
Oh damn. I thought there was Canada and Not Canada.
You're forgetting 20 countries.
North America doesn't end at Mexico, it ends at Panama, and it also includes the Caribbean.
I don't see that, maybe a de-federated post to my instance.
The John Oliver bit will never get old for me.
Can't find a good video but it's the one where he names a country and places its name on a world map. Then shows that it wasn't that country at all to show his viewers are bad at world geography.
That was a terribly unfunny explanation by me. But I like the bit.
That's it! Thanks for finding it.
There are tons of examples over the years, that's just one compilation of many
Fake ass Euro not comprehending small and weird borders
Every state looks the exact same
The only memorable ones are California, nevada, washington, texas, florida, and maine.
Washington and Maine are only memorable because of very easy locations, being in the top corners of the country.
American on Germany: All states look like Bavaria.
American on Germany: other countries have states?
America on German cities: "That's a food!"
I'm just wondering how you mislocate "Virgin," yet somehow get West Virginia right.
COUNTRY ROOOOOOOOOADS
TAKE ME HOOOOOOME
I love Oreo. We should have a state of Oreo.
Right? I wouldn't oppose a state of Cheez-It either.
Is nobody going to mention the absence of Alaska?
Bit chilly in Ohio today, innit?
Americans are very sensitive about you knowing which state they're from
It used to be that Prussians, Germans and Austrians would cut you for confusing them for one of the others.
Mfw New York isn't even labeled on the map.
Its to the left of the Great Tower of Kansas, sharing real estate with New Jersey and New Mexico.
Now that's a sentence and a half
Honestly, that's how I feel about Kansas as well
To be honest, I would not be great at naming German states. I can get Brandenburg, Bavaria, and a couple others.
I find it interesting that Europeans are better at finding Washington than Americans.