" Where is the Ocean?" LOL

[ricktib]

Also, my next-door neighbor is a civil war historian who works for the National Park Service. He says he's heard the question, "Why were so many battles fought on national parks?"

 

[MyGoofy26]

What I hate is that when you say you are from NY, everyone assumes that you are from the city. Hello, NY is a huge state! When I lived in Orlando, I had to convince people that I didn't live anywhere near NYC. I finally got to the point where I would draw people pictures to show where we live in relation to the city.

People always ask me why, if I'm from West Virginia, don't I have a southern accent. I always answer, "I'm ABOVE the Mason-Dixon line" or "I'm just outside of Pittsburgh, in the very north of the state" Luckily there's an easy, albiet slightly offensive, way to illustrate the state of WV. Take your left hand and give someone the middle finger, with your thumb sticking out. There you have it - the only state that can be illustrated on one hand! LOL! Then I point out, "See I'm right above your knuckle. . . we're 'north'"

 

[Mandabella]

Also, my next-door neighbor is a civil war historian who works for the National Park Service. He says he's heard the question, "Why were so many battles fought on national parks?"

How does he reply to that? I think I'd just say it's more convenient since the national parks are easier to find for all sides in the battle.

 

[pouncingpluto]

There you have it - the only state that can be illustrated on one hand!

Don't forget about Michigan! Michiganders (I'm married to one) like to illustrate their state the same way (well... with a different gesture).

 

[pperfectmom]

This thread is so great I have to tell some more stories. At one time or another I have worked all over the country. No matter where I go, everyone thinks Kentuckians are all either horse farm owners or the Beverly Hillbillies. Once, while in Arizona, driving through a reservation with some co-workers, a girl asked where all the teepees were. She was serious,too. When I went to work in NM, my own grandma had a fit. She said "You never know what could happen in these foreign countries." She would hear no arguments about how NM is part of the US. I finally just gave up. OK. Maybe now that I think about it I do understand why people might think we're all a bunch of hillbillies!!

 

[Nancyg56]

On my first job as a Library Assistant, a young girl came in to get some research material for a report she had to write. She asked me where the books on South Africa were. I told her there was no such thing as "South Africa" but we had some books on Africa. Imagine my surprise to find a whole shelf of books on the country of South Africa. Bless her heart, she just looked at me like, 'You are such a moron, how did you get a job here?" I mumbled something, can't remember what it was, and hoped I never had to wait on her again!!!

In my defense, I was only 22 and hadn't had geography since elementary school. This was well before South Africa was in the news on a regular basis, but still...I sure did learn a lot about basic geography after that!!!

OMG, I'm a little embarrassed to tell you I had the same conversation with my young son many years ago. He had a report on South Africa, and I asked him which country. He said, "South Africa" I did not know that an 11 yo could look at his Mom like she was a notwit and have the grace not to say it.

 

[Kimber1963]

I have another good one--

A pharamacist I work with (in Iowa) was travelling thru a remote part of Arkansas. He stopped for gas and the gentleman behind the counter asked where he was from. Bob replied, "Iowa". The gentleman behind the counter said, "Iowa??? Hmmm... Oh! Down here we pronounce it O-HI-O!"

 

[Raevyn_Wolfe]

ok, Disney related.

Last night I watched the Disney trip planning DVD with my son, and a friend we are trying to convince to go to Disney with us.

There is a scene were the lazy guy (can't think of his name) is standing in Dinoland in front of the large replica of the famous t-rex skeleton (I think it's called Sue, not 100% sure).

He makes the comment/joke, "why do dinosaurs always die running?"

Me and my son laugh, like we always do, when my friend turns to us with thie bewildered look on her face and says, "what's so funny? That's a very good question!"

 

[Raevyn_Wolfe]

ok, you know the sad part? amidst my laughing I was thinking about this thread.

 

[Squirlz]

Don't forget about Michigan! Michiganders (I'm married to one) like to illustrate their state the same way (well... with a different gesture).

Ah, but it takes TWO hands to do Michigan. You're forgetting the U.P. eh?

 

[Disney Fool]

This is geography-related,...bear with me.
A university stident had returned to his home in Taiwan, so his diploma was mailed to him as is usual practice. On the envelope, it was the usual stamp "After 5 days return to sender" About a week after graduation, there's a student sitting in my office with a big smile on his face. I asked him what he wanted. His reply: "Here I am!" and he hands me his diploma in the envelope. I looked at it --it looked fine. So I asked him what the problem was. He said " Nothing's wrong with it. I'm returning it because you told me to bring it back." I told him that I said no such thing. Getting angry now , he busiily points to the return address and says, "see? It says 'after 5 days return to sender' and here I am!" That poor guy hopped on a plane and flew back from Taiwan!!! Needless to say, I had to excuse myself and go into a back office while I laughed my head off!!!

 

[HollisterSweetie]

This is geography-related,...bear with me.
A university stident had returned to his home in Taiwan, so his diploma was mailed to him as is usual practice. On the envelope, it was the usual stamp "After 5 days return to sender" About a week after graduation, there's a student sitting in my office with a big smile on his face. I asked him what he wanted. His reply: "Here I am!" and he hands me his diploma in the envelope. I looked at it --it looked fine. So I asked him what the problem was. He said " Nothing's wrong with it. I'm returning it because you told me to bring it back." I told him that I said no such thing. Getting angry now , he busiily points to the return address and says, "see? It says 'after 5 days return to sender' and here I am!" That poor guy hopped on a plane and flew back from Taiwan!!! Needless to say, I had to excuse myself and go into a back office while I laughed my head off!!!

Poor guy!

 

[KEH]

When we were in the water at Castaway Cay next to but not in the snorkelling lagoon which is marked off by ropes, my DD who was then about 14 asked why there were fish in there because they should stay in the snorkelling area. We suggested Maybe because fish can't read?

 

[KEH]

Just thought of another one. We have a TV "celebrity" here in the Uk called Jade Goody who thought that Rio de Janeiro was a Brazilian footballer.

 

[Goof-abulous]

O.K. I have to tell on myself, though I warn you it is only mildly humorous.
I was asking a friend the other night if a friend of his was married. He said yes. I then had the gall to ask if his friend had a wife. go figure!

 

[chrissybear]

These are all too funny, but I can't believe how stupid people are. It is really scarry.

 

[Corryn]

I have a sister who was shocked to be told (in her mid-20s, after high school and junior college mind you) that Mount Rushmore was carved, and not (as she had thought) a natural phenomenon. "You mean they carved it? Well that's no big deal! I always thought it was pretty neat that it came out looking like the presidents so much, just from erosion!"

Your sister isn't the only one! Me, my DH (boyfriend at the time), his best friend and his wife were playing Trival Pursuit. It was the first time I met these people and I was getting to know the wife. The question came up about Natural Wonders. When she blurted that baby out, I looked at her like she was an idiot (I can't hold back, it's not in my physiology) and I said, What?! she said, yeah, the wind blew it away like that. I said, are you kidding me?! and we realized, she was not.....Well, after me and DH married he tried to get me to hang out with this woman for years, but she was such a dim bulb, I felt stupid whenever I was around her so I refused....

I bet you if there were a poll taken, half the American public would agree that, Yes, by golly, Mount Rushmore is a Natural Wonder!!!

 

[DVCLiz]

OMG, I'm a little embarrassed to tell you I had the same conversation with my young son many years ago. He had a report on South Africa, and I asked him which country. He said, "South Africa" I did not know that an 11 yo could look at his Mom like she was a notwit and have the grace not to say it.

Ah, Nancy, thank God for you!!! I was beginning to think I was the only one!!!!!

You have to remember that this was more than 25 years ago, well before the current 24 hour news stations feeding us live reports from every corner of the globe. If you'd been taught geography in elementary school, and had no exposure to it since, it's probably very likely that you'd forget more than one foreign country 10 or 15 years later. I expect my 1960s suburban grade school education probably taught "Africa" very broadly, and focused on the animals instead of the separate countries. I'd be very surprised if they dealt with any political issues at all.

Surely someone else will be brave enough to tell a story on themselves. Nancy and I can't be the only ones to stand bravely under the South African flag!!!

 

[Philadisney]

funny thread! i am reminded of a family reunion i attended a few years ago, where i met a distant cousin (not blood related, thankfully) who was about sixteen years old, from St. Mary's PA (kudos to you if you have any idea where that is - my mother's entire family has spawned from there). we were chatting and she mentioned she took a french class in high school, i told her i took japanese. she laughed. "japanese!" i wasn't sure what was so funny, then she giggled again and said "WHAT is a JAPANESE??"

 

[2xcited2slp]

Geez, some people. OK, I have to tell one on my mother. Thank goodness she is not a member of the DIS boards. Here in the south, and a lot of other areas in the country that have a heavy deer population, there will be signs on the roadside warning you about deer crossing the road. Well, we are going to the beach for vacation one year and my mom spots one of those signs. She asked my dad what that sign meant. He said it was a deer crossing sign. My mom, without missing a beat, asked him how the deer knew where to cross the road at. I thought my dad was going to crash the car from laughing so hard. Even today, if she is riding with me and we pass one of those signs, she'll look at me and say, "Shut up Chuck".

o.k. I have to admit that back in high school (waaaay back ) I used to think the same thing. I thought it was funny that deer knew to cross at that exact spot. Then, however, someone told me that they do cross in and around the same spots because of scent and this is why the signs are up.
?????????? don't know if this is true. I wonder if the deer have crossing guards.


I do have a funny one not related to geography though. When my parents were pretty young they were getting a quote on a burglar alarm for their house. Keep in mind that this is when alarms were the "new" thing. Anyway, the salesman said in his salesman voice that they can do a combination burglar/smoke alarm for the same price. My mother, a bit confused, looked at my father and said "but all burglars don't smoke". My father and the salesman were speechless.
Hi mom, if you are reading this. Couldn't pass it up. Love ya

o.k. thought of another--this time my sister (can't just pick on my mom).
Again early high school, freshman I believe, were were taking a trip to Florida (disney-who knew) and this time we were driving. We were making our way through the mountains and she said, "wow, do those trees really grow that tall?" I thought my dad was going to lose it. He is the only male out of two daughters and his wife. Poor guy. We really are a smart family though.