kimilseung

.....yes....and most Americans can not tell time. Give them 21:20, and most do not have a clue (except soldiers)

scrubbedexpat099

I look at them with a puzzled expression and say Why, we lost.

Or point out would you say that to a Frenchman on Cinco de Mayo.

Which has the plus point as very few know the history.

SultanOfSwing

Aye, I remember when I was first visiting my future wife, I was sitting around the flat by myself while she was at work and though I'd be really helpful and reset the clocks on the stove and the microwave for her to the right time. Then I got yelled at when she was making dinner later on though: "why does it say nineteen for the time ..."

I set my cell phone's to 24-hour format, just to be secretly subversive

kimilseung

I say "Happy Bourgeoisie Revolution, next step Communism"

Egon

I have to be honest I've ever one face to face encounter with someone thinking 4th July was a 'thing' - my frustration comes more from the higher official places. Having applied for citizenship I looked at the citizenship questions and raised my eyebrows at a few - mainly the prospect of having to give an answer I know/consider to be incorrect if I want to pass.

kimilseung

Can you elaborate?

SultanOfSwing

I'm too busy enjoying what is usually my only day off in the summer to talk to anyone about the finer points ...

Egon

For example (from USCIS website given as multiple choice)

'Why did the colonists fight the British?
a) because they didn't have self-government
b) all of these answers
c) because the British army stayed in their houses
d) because of high taxes'

The 'correct' answer is 'b) all of these' - which leaves me wondering if I were to get that question and I gave an answer of 'Because George III established the Proclamation Line stopping them from taking more native lands' would I be marked as wrong? It's not on their sheet presumably but it is a reason.

I acknowledge that I'm nitpicking somewhat.

[EDIT TO ADD: That's a bad example actually as the 'correct' answers are still correct, just that it excludes other correct answers]

robin1234

No you aren't nitpicking.. I had similar misgivings when I was preparing for citizenship back in 2006. In the event, in my citizenship interview, my questions were all of the "Who lives in the White House?" variety so the question did not arise.

SultanOfSwing

Holy crap - there was a banner ad for 'tea party patriots' at the top of the page. Quite disturbing

Egon

Thank goodness it wasn't just me! The other one that jumped out was the 'why did colonists come to America' which was accompanied by the usual 'to practice their religion', etc etc - and the best answer the catch all 'freedom'.

That was actually the one where I felt some of the given answers were actually and demonstrably wrong.

Dan725

Really? Lol...in that case I'm really thankful I have a good ad blocker!

SultanOfSwing

I just noticed it as I was about to click back to 'My Profile'. I can't think of a less well-placed ad.

Dan725

Me neither. And that reminds me, to answer this thread....one of my least favorite things in the US - rabid mentalist Republican offshoots, such as that

I've thought long and hard about the whole "Freedom" concept here in the US...I can't for the life of me think of one single thing where it is "free-er" than the UK....in fact I can think of more aspects which makes the the US less free (tying of health insurance to work and "trapping" people in jobs being a big one).

The whole Freedom concept appears to based solely and utterly around the fact you can own guns here without any hassle....which is what these tea party lunatics exploit for their own ends.

Scouse Express

"Do you have the time on yer, cock?" goes right over their heads, too.


Jim.