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Astounding Ignorance

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mrs_overall | 08:50 Mon 13th Apr 2015 | ChatterBank
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Last night at the quiz, my regular team mates were absent (they had gone to a Gay Rights meeting) so I formed a team with 3 blokes in their 20's. The depth of their ignorance was staggering. A small selection of things they had never heard of includes:
Donald Campbell & Bluebird, The Crimean War, The Boer War, Martina Navratilova, Bobby Moore (they also had no idea we won the 1966 World Cup), Wallis Simpson & Edward VIII, The tv programmes Allo Allo and Porridge, The Magna Carta, the Spinning Jenny, Morse Code, Emily Bronte, Chippendale furniture.....the list goes on.
They gamely had a stab at most questions:
Q Which US president died in 1945? - their answer was Ronald Reagan
Q Leningrad is now known as what? -their answer was Moscow

I ended up doing the quiz single handed and we came a respectable 3rd.
What on earth has happened to education in the days since I left school?
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// Not knowing stuff doesn't make people ignorant.// yes it does - and when they dont know narfin - they are called very ignorant
21:27 Mon 13th Apr 2015
Baldric
Mikey is never wrong.Well if he is he never,apparently, returns to admit it as we have witnessed in the last 24hours. :-)
I think general knowledge is gained gradually through life, not necessarily through your schooling, although history - notable dates, political or social events that have shaped our world should be taught at school. Young people of 20 are not experienced enough to read and learn of different bits of general knowledge that is picked up and retained as you go along. I like learning about things even now and enjoy reading encyclopedias. Campbell did his land speed record when I was young so I can remember that, but not around for the Magna Carta. I'm rubbish at Maths though.
// Not knowing stuff doesn't make people ignorant.//

yes it does - and when they dont know narfin - they are called very ignorant
Q. Where did King John sign the Magna Carta?

A. At the bottom.

There is a tale that he did not actually sign it because he couldn't write but I don't know how true this is.
"I'm rubbish at Maths though."

So's mikey :P.

Otherwise, yes, in general older people have had more time to gather general knowledge, so if they use that time it's hard to compete with that. It's just a shame that pub quizzes test only what you know, and not how fast you can recall it -- I reckon then youngsters would give the older generation a run for their money!
askyourgran
Quite agree with you.My son (youngest) is a financial advisor in a High St bank. He has never enjoyed reading literature, I doubt if he could answer any of those questions because he was never motivated to search for answers through books etc. My wife and I tried to motivate him but failed as Playstation ruled his interest when younger,The school he attended trotted out the politcally correct agenda which disgusts me but he never came out of that school worldly wise.His maths isn't wonderful either????
:-)
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'older people have had more time to gather general knowledge'

Yes Jim, I agree with that statement.

However, I would not class some important facts about the history of this country as general knowledge.

BTW, before you answer this question, please be aware that I still have one sand filled Marigold at the ready.....who are you calling old?

Morning Mrs O. Hope you are well.

That's a bit scary Retrocop. Your son is a financial advisor but his maths isn't wonderful either.
Oh dear ;-)
State schools teach a narrow curriculum, aimed at getting exam grades

Anything outside that is wasting the school's time

Very few kids know much about the two world wars
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Morning oz, I am fine thanks and hope you are too.

Venator, you have summed it up perfectly
I am always amazed by the knowledge of the contestants on University Challenge. They are usually in their 20s, of course. I don't think we need to worry too much.
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Cloverjo, sometimes I don't even understand the questions on UC....especially the convoluted maths ones
Just done an experiment

My 26 year old daughter, educated at a top ten girls' school, with an MA in English Lit, asked to name some generals from World Wars 1 or 2, got Haig and Montgomery

When I asked for some American names, she failed completely.

Makes you wonder
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And here is me with O level Needlework knowing more generals than that lol
General Knowledge Mrs O.?

Good stuff for a quiz.
And here is me with O level Needlework knowing more generals than that lol


Personally or just................
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@ oz
Careful Talbot, you may get "stitched up" by Mrs.O.
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that should be groan at oz

Mind your own business Talbot! ;-)
Wouldn't be the first time Mrs. O. Nor the last I suspect.

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