Having lived and traveled both “places” (and speaking in jest):
America’s cities are vastly more uniform than European ones, especially the mid-size ones. The approach goes big box stores > strip malls > suburbs > trendy strip malls > abandoned downtown > highrise downtown complex. In Europe, it’s more quaint medieval village > commercial area > medium density living > high density living > medieval city core
America’s landscapes are vastly more uniform than European ones, outside of a few highlights. Driving cross-country is city > farm land > more farm land > desert > National Park (yay!) > desert > farmland > city. Europe is more city > shrubs > border wait > mountains > border wait > lake > valley > border wait > city
Europeans think of any European country as an equivalent to America as a whole. That’s simply stupid. America as a whole is equivalent to Europe as a whole, and American states roughly equivalent to European countries. States are on average half as big as countries in Europe, but America as a whole is roughly equivalent to the EU. So, yes, a European should know what the capital city of Florida is if they expect an American to know the capital of Poland. (Only Germans and people from Montana can reliably tell you the state capital of Montana, though.)
American regional cultures are almost as diverse as European ones. Europeans seem to think that it is the language barrier that keeps regional cultures intact and diverse, but an American from California and an American from Texas use the same language but might as well be from different universes. People from Utah think drinking coffee is sinful and drown their uncaffeinated selves in thinly diluted sugar while next door in Colorado climbing 14ers (4300 meter mountains) is a social event that requires crowd control and permitting.
The second to last point makes no sense, since the capital of Montana plays no role in international geopolitics, so it’s useless information. Poland is not the biggest international player either, but at least it’s not just part of a federation
If you mean the point above that, then the comparison is between Poland and Florida. Florida’s large Cuban community has been a driver of the support of Republicans in Congress. It is both a reason why the President is a Republican right now, and why America is thinking of invading Cuba. So, yes, Florida is very important to international geopolitics.
if you meant Montana, then let me point out that the population of Montana is somewhere between Cyprus and Luxembourg and has the geopolitical clout of either.
But their point still stands that your state capitals have no real geopolitical influence. Outside of a few big cities there is absolutely no need to know the individual American cities on a global scale.
Leipzig has a really strong scene of zionists which is one of the reasons that the left party of Germany has a problem recognising the need to stop weapon shipments to Israel, but I don’t expect a random american to know that Leipzig exists.
It’s as a European that I say Europeans have to get over internal differences and stop thinking European countries are equivalent to the big players in the world.
The UK thought it was super special and better than the rest, and it got exactly what it deserves. We Europeans are probably better off forgetting the “geopolitical clout of Poland” and considering it embedded in that of Europe as a whole. It’s no coincidence that Europe’s enemies fan the flames of nationalism in European countries.
If you ever need to drive the point home, half of our states are only important to the people who live in them. Sure, California or New York is comparable to say, France or Germany, and impact the world stage; but our deep South or Midwest is probably more comparable to the Balkans or the Baltics, etc. I’m sure they’re lovely, of course, but… they aren’t exactly a focus.
I say that, given an American can probably pick correctly where Spain, France or Germany are, roughly, but fuck us to know where Latvia or Albania are. Europeans are forgiven if they can’t figure out which of our fucking rectangles is Wyoming.
Europeans think of any European country as an equivalent to America as a whole. That’s simply stupid. America as a whole is equivalent to Europe as a whole, and American states roughly equivalent to European countries. States are on average half as big as countries in Europe, but America as a whole is roughly equivalent to the EU. So, yes, a European should know what the capital city of Florida is if they expect an American to know the capital of Poland. (Only Germans and people from Montana can reliably tell you the state capital of Montana, though.)
I tried to make a very similar point in one of the European communities on Lemmy earlier this year (in response to a post about Americans being bad at European geography) and basically the whole community jumped on me for it. Watch your back. They’re rabid over there if you dare suggest that a US state is comparable to a European country. :P
They’re like states, if the states each spoke their own separate languages and had spent the bigger part of the last 2,000 years constantly at war with each other.
Appreciate the warning! I think the real problem is that Europeans never accepted they are becoming a single political entity and still don’t necessarily consider themselves European. I think that’s sad, as Europeans are extensively closer to each other than to nations outside of Europe. Also, the EU is a decent model for how smaller entities can work with larger ones without being suffocated or absorbed.
Having lived and traveled both “places” (and speaking in jest):
America’s cities are vastly more uniform than European ones, especially the mid-size ones. The approach goes big box stores > strip malls > suburbs > trendy strip malls > abandoned downtown > highrise downtown complex. In Europe, it’s more quaint medieval village > commercial area > medium density living > high density living > medieval city core
America’s landscapes are vastly more uniform than European ones, outside of a few highlights. Driving cross-country is city > farm land > more farm land > desert > National Park (yay!) > desert > farmland > city. Europe is more city > shrubs > border wait > mountains > border wait > lake > valley > border wait > city
Europeans think of any European country as an equivalent to America as a whole. That’s simply stupid. America as a whole is equivalent to Europe as a whole, and American states roughly equivalent to European countries. States are on average half as big as countries in Europe, but America as a whole is roughly equivalent to the EU. So, yes, a European should know what the capital city of Florida is if they expect an American to know the capital of Poland. (Only Germans and people from Montana can reliably tell you the state capital of Montana, though.)
American regional cultures are almost as diverse as European ones. Europeans seem to think that it is the language barrier that keeps regional cultures intact and diverse, but an American from California and an American from Texas use the same language but might as well be from different universes. People from Utah think drinking coffee is sinful and drown their uncaffeinated selves in thinly diluted sugar while next door in Colorado climbing 14ers (4300 meter mountains) is a social event that requires crowd control and permitting.
I’m no german, not american either (pheeew) and even I can tell you the capital of Montana is Hannah
it has its show, it has its Linux distro. it’s basically common knowledge by this point
YOU CRIMINAL are the reason the neighbors complain about my crazy laughing! 😀
my pleasure, kind sir / maam
The second to last point makes no sense, since the capital of Montana plays no role in international geopolitics, so it’s useless information. Poland is not the biggest international player either, but at least it’s not just part of a federation
The Montana mention was a joke. The capital is Bismarck.
The last point does not mention Montana?
If you mean the point above that, then the comparison is between Poland and Florida. Florida’s large Cuban community has been a driver of the support of Republicans in Congress. It is both a reason why the President is a Republican right now, and why America is thinking of invading Cuba. So, yes, Florida is very important to international geopolitics.
if you meant Montana, then let me point out that the population of Montana is somewhere between Cyprus and Luxembourg and has the geopolitical clout of either.
But their point still stands that your state capitals have no real geopolitical influence. Outside of a few big cities there is absolutely no need to know the individual American cities on a global scale.
Leipzig has a really strong scene of zionists which is one of the reasons that the left party of Germany has a problem recognising the need to stop weapon shipments to Israel, but I don’t expect a random american to know that Leipzig exists.
Whose state capitals? I am European.
It’s as a European that I say Europeans have to get over internal differences and stop thinking European countries are equivalent to the big players in the world.
The UK thought it was super special and better than the rest, and it got exactly what it deserves. We Europeans are probably better off forgetting the “geopolitical clout of Poland” and considering it embedded in that of Europe as a whole. It’s no coincidence that Europe’s enemies fan the flames of nationalism in European countries.
If you ever need to drive the point home, half of our states are only important to the people who live in them. Sure, California or New York is comparable to say, France or Germany, and impact the world stage; but our deep South or Midwest is probably more comparable to the Balkans or the Baltics, etc. I’m sure they’re lovely, of course, but… they aren’t exactly a focus.
I say that, given an American can probably pick correctly where Spain, France or Germany are, roughly, but fuck us to know where Latvia or Albania are. Europeans are forgiven if they can’t figure out which of our fucking rectangles is Wyoming.
Why, it’s easy! Wyoming is the rectangle above the Best Rectangle!
I tried to make a very similar point in one of the European communities on Lemmy earlier this year (in response to a post about Americans being bad at European geography) and basically the whole community jumped on me for it. Watch your back. They’re rabid over there if you dare suggest that a US state is comparable to a European country. :P
They’re like states, if the states each spoke their own separate languages and had spent the bigger part of the last 2,000 years constantly at war with each other.
I’ll explain. People get annoyed because you are proudly ignorant of 2000 years of history and tons of cultural differences.
Appreciate the warning! I think the real problem is that Europeans never accepted they are becoming a single political entity and still don’t necessarily consider themselves European. I think that’s sad, as Europeans are extensively closer to each other than to nations outside of Europe. Also, the EU is a decent model for how smaller entities can work with larger ones without being suffocated or absorbed.
My mother was from Montana which is why I know. I know Billings more though.