Overheard in the office:

Celles · February 2010

"So, is Europe a country?"

...

Anyone else have any good ones?

betrothed123 · February 2010

"I didn't steal from you because I'm addicted to Heroine. I did it because I'm addicted to pain killers." Yeah, I think you're missing the point, bud.

SwedishChick2011 · February 2010

"Well, that throws a monkey into the wrench."

AlexiaANDRobert · February 2010

What's Einstein's last name? <- No joke... someone asked this.

And my most favorite:

A few hours after discussing that someone's Audi was from Canada, I saw a sticker on the back of the car that said 'Audi North America.' I then proceeded to look at my friend and say: "Wait, I thought you said the car was from Canada..."

After the are-you-joking look, I realized my mistake.

Stackeye210 · February 2010

Executive Director walks by my office this morning while talking to someone on the phone and says, "I'm getting out of the office here in between bowel blowouts, hopefully I can make it home"

evabee · February 2010

Eyeing some bagels and that veggie cream cheese from Panera, with disappointment:

"Aww man, who puts veggie dip on their donuts?"

pumpkinpumpkin · February 2010

Our head office is in Atlanta, GA. One time I was asked where Manitoba was (we were referring to another dealer), I reminded her that I don't live there, but basically it's straight north of North Dakota. She responded by saying, "is that North or South of South Dakota". NO JOKE.

Do you Americans get taught geography at all?

betrothed123 · February 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_overheard-office?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:874b6976-0237-4741-a3e9-92521575cb6aPost:cb78f141-589a-4950-9f10-524992b7c801">Re: Overheard in the office:</a>:
[QUOTE]Our head office is in Atlanta, GA. One time I was asked where Manitoba was (we were referring to another dealer), I reminded her that I don't live there, but basically it's straight north of North Dakota. She responded by saying, "is that North or South of South Dakota". NO JOKE. Do you Americans get taught geography at all?
Posted by pumpkinpumpkin[/QUOTE]
Please don't lump us all into this category because of one moron.

AlexiaANDRobert · February 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_overheard-office?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:874b6976-0237-4741-a3e9-92521575cb6aPost:cb78f141-589a-4950-9f10-524992b7c801">Re: Overheard in the office:</a>:
[QUOTE]Our head office is in Atlanta, GA. One time I was asked where Manitoba was (we were referring to another dealer), I reminded her that I don't live there, but basically it's straight north of North Dakota. She responded by saying, "is that North or South of South Dakota". NO JOKE. <strong>Do you Americans get taught geography at all?</strong>
Posted by pumpkinpumpkin[/QUOTE]

I know my example doesn't show it, but I promise we're not all idiots.

evabee · February 2010

My FI refers to Africa as if it's one country... it drives me absolutely insane. NO EXCUSE.

FutureMrsTR · February 2010

No stupid ones come to mind (although I know they happen every day) but I get a lot of gross ones. My cube neighbor telling her doctor how she has thrush and the inside of her mouth is all white and gross...a lady a few cubes over recommending a suppository to another woman I work with...I usually want to vomit at least once a day.

pumpkinpumpkin · February 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_overheard-office?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:874b6976-0237-4741-a3e9-92521575cb6aPost:6edd279a-1f20-4aac-8310-6e41daa16c06">Re: Overheard in the office:</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Overheard in the office: : Please don't lump us all into this category because of one moron.
Posted by betrothed123[/QUOTE]

Oh don't worry, it's not only this one moron. I find, in general, most Americans I meet have NO idea about geography, not their own or anywhere else in the world. It's a genuine thing I've always wondered...what kind of geography gets taught.

When I was in grade 8, I had to learn all 50 states and be able to place them on a map.

mandysmear · February 2010

I have only met one american (aside from those in Montana, because they're directly below us) who has known where my city is. And it was because they went to Banff which is an hour from my city.

I know that there aren't many ignorant Americans who ask really really really dumb questions like the one that Pumpkin mentioned. But, in general a lot of AMericans have no idea where things are located.

punkyb2b · February 2010

"Do you speak Francian?" Um, no idiot. I can speak French.

vallyhoo · February 2010

Canadians are Americans, too. So are people from South America. C'mon guys!

SwedishChick2011 · February 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_overheard-office?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:874b6976-0237-4741-a3e9-92521575cb6aPost:b8c448c9-1881-4902-9347-838d4fbd3b8d">Re: Overheard in the office:</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Overheard in the office: : Oh don't worry, it's not only this one moron. I find, in general, most Americans I meet have NO idea about geography, not their own or anywhere else in the world. It's a genuine thing I've always wondered...what kind of geography gets taught. When I was in grade 8, I had to learn all 50 states and be able to place them on a map.
Posted by pumpkinpumpkin[/QUOTE]
How many Americans have you actually talked to about geography? I had plenty of geography in school and definitely know the basics.

klovesd · February 2010

A conversation I had with a girl I work with:

Her: Where is Haiti?

Me: It's near Cuba, and South America

Her: Where is South America?

Me: Ugh....you know, South of North America, duh!

Her: North America?

Me: Yea, North America- Canda, Mexico, the United States?!

Her: Ooohh I've never heard the U.S. called that before

Yikes!

klovesd · February 2010

Please refer to my post. Taught geography? Apparently not!

mandysmear · February 2010

Not pumpkin, but I have spoken to well over 50 people. In fact I probably spoke to AT LEAST 20 in vegas 2 weeks ago. Here's what happens:

"Where you from?"
"Calgary, Canada."
"Where is that again? On the coast?" (or something equal to that)
"No, in the prairies but only 45 minutes to the mountains."
"Oh."

I had one say, "ooh stampede!" I was impressed to say the least. I may or may not have highfived him.

I may not know all the states' locations but, I can place a lot of them in the right general area. I do believe Amoro posted a map trivia thing months and months ago and I did very well.

punkyb2b · February 2010

I don't think the geography thing is specific to North Americans. I doubt someone in Germany or Fiji could tell you where exactly in Canada Toronto is.

I went to an Ivy league school. A girl in my dorm thought that New Orleans was a state. She was actually from California but had lived outside of Vancouver since the age of 3.

mandysmear · February 2010

And to be fair/honest. I'm not judging or mad, just stating a fact. a) if you're not taught it, how are you supposed to know? i don't know many who will pick up an atlas and start quizzing themselves. and 2) if you were taught it and don't really care what is where, then you won't retain it.

Brie2010 · February 2010

We had a meeting the other day and one of the coffee carafes was labeled "This is half-calf." Mmm, veal coffee.

evabee · February 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_overheard-office?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:874b6976-0237-4741-a3e9-92521575cb6aPost:71620f6a-e551-499b-b4cf-5e8c22825278">Re: Overheard in the office:</a>:
[QUOTE]I have only met one american (aside from those in Montana, because they're directly below us) who has known where my city is. And it was because they went to Banff which is an hour from my city. I know that there aren't many ignorant Americans who ask really really really dumb questions like the one that Pumpkin mentioned. But, in general a lot of AMericans have no idea where things are located.
Posted by mandysmear[/QUOTE]

<div><span style="color:#000000;font-family:Verdana;font-size:medium;line-height:normal;" class="Apple-style-span"><div style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10px;background-color:initial;background-image:none;background-repeat:initial;background-attachment:initial;-webkit-background-clip:initial;-webkit-background-origin:initial;color:#1f1f1f;font:normal normal normal 11px/14px Arial, sans-serif;text-align:left;">As an American, I wonder about that all the time. I feel ridiculous when I don't know where a whole country is.. there are only like 200-something, it's not that hard to memorize. I love maps, too, but I still don't take the time to teach myself. Infuriating!</div><div style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10px;background-color:initial;background-image:none;background-repeat:initial;background-attachment:initial;-webkit-background-clip:initial;-webkit-background-origin:initial;color:#1f1f1f;font:normal normal normal 11px/14px Arial, sans-serif;text-align:left;">
</div><div style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:10px;background-color:initial;background-image:none;background-repeat:initial;background-attachment:initial;-webkit-background-clip:initial;-webkit-background-origin:initial;color:#1f1f1f;font:normal normal normal 11px/14px Arial, sans-serif;text-align:left;">I never had a class that was strictly geography after about the 3rd grade. I think they were all History or Social Studies with geography intertwined. Seems like it's too important of a subject for us to be skimping on.</div></span></div>

mandysmear · February 2010

Very true punky.

And there are idiots everywhere. I knew a girl in college who had no idea that the twin towers were in new york. I can't remember where she thought they were, but it wasn't new york.

There are also rude people everywhere. Kind of going off topic here, but: I hate when people get pissed and call americans asssholes. I have many american friends, and let me tell you, I'm not friends with asssholes. There are canadian assssholes. It happens.

goheels05 · February 2010

I wouldn't expect anyone outside the US to know where Charlotte is.

Anyway, overheard in my office: "Well, you're the one married to a sex-pervert. He's not welcome in my home, even if it is Christmas."

SarahPLiz · February 2010

My HS World Geography teacher was a football coach. All we did was copy from the overhead projector while he designed plays at his desk. I don't think we ever looked at a map.

We did have to learn all 50 states and their capitals several times in elementary school, and be able to place them on a map.

And its true, that even if you learn it, if you don't use it you lose it.

jesi_nickles · February 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_overheard-office?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:874b6976-0237-4741-a3e9-92521575cb6aPost:71620f6a-e551-499b-b4cf-5e8c22825278">Re: Overheard in the office:</a>:
[QUOTE] And it was because they went to Banff which is an hour from my city.
Posted by mandysmear[/QUOTE]

Are you by chance from Calgary?

mandysmear · February 2010

We didn't take geography in school. It was included in the social studies curriculum. I have learned a lot just from the news, travelling, meeting people IRL, the knot boards even...

punkyb2b · February 2010

I had a patient's father ( i posted about it a few months ago) say it was against Muslim people's religion to wear deoderant. He had just seen an immunologist who was Hindu,not Muslim, and had some BO. I informed him that no, it wasn't. He said, "Oh really? thats what I had heard."

I have come across many ignorant people at work. A lot of it is not knowing about other cultures, but some of it is not excusable.

jesi_nickles · February 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_overheard-office?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:874b6976-0237-4741-a3e9-92521575cb6aPost:47f10b44-e14a-49ab-b454-eb72e2a16c91">Re: Overheard in the office:</a>:
[QUOTE]I wouldn't expect anyone outside the US to know where Charlotte is.
Posted by goheels05[/QUOTE]

I know where Charlotte is!! But thats because my father is a NASCAR freak, and watches it 4 of the 7 days of the week. If he could, he would watch it every day!

Jesi

alixzafiris · February 2010

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_overheard-office?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:874b6976-0237-4741-a3e9-92521575cb6aPost:9d5bdc45-1765-4ed9-9f2b-83675e26d915">Re: Overheard in the office:</a>:
[QUOTE]I don't think the geography thing is specific to North Americans. I doubt someone in Germany or Fiji could tell you where exactly in Canada Toronto is.
Posted by punkyb2b[/QUOTE]

I'd be really surprised if they couldn't considering it's one of the largest cities in the world.

I'm sorry, I'm with Mandy and P2 on this. For the most part, it doesn't seem that Americans (and this is just my opinion, based on public figures and Americans I've chatted with over the years) know all that much, geography-wise, if it isn't within their borders. The most commonly asked question I get from Americans when they ask where I'm from goes as follows:

"So you're from South Africa?"
Me: Yep
"But which country:
Me: Erm... South Africa
"Yes, but WHICH country in South Africa"
Me: Um. It is a country doofus.
"No. no, not the region, which country in South Africa"
Me: kicks idiot in the shins.

Seriously, I can't even keep count of how many of those I've had.

Overheard in the office:

Re: Overheard in the office:

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