Like why do I feel like I’m supposed to be able to name the seven boroughs? I can’t tell you anything about L.A., Chicago, Boston, etc.

Edit: to clarify: I mean that everyone in America are expected to know NYC. Not just New Yorkers. Obviously everyone should know the layout of where they live.

  • diegantobass@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    39
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    edit-2
    9 months ago

    Wait a minute, what?

    I’ve been to a few cities all over Europe, lived in a couple of them for years, and I feel like having a general knowledge of the geography of where you live is a basic requirement of life.

    Didn’t you play the “capital city game” with friends as a kid?

    I mean, it’s cool with me if you or anyone has no idea of the layout of your local map, but that’s a surprise for sure.

    • ch00f@lemmy.worldOP
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      5
      arrow-down
      15
      ·
      9 months ago

      My point is that people in the US are kind of expected to understand the layout of a city that they may never have been to or maybe only visited as a tourist.

      It’s only the “local map” for like 8 million of us.

      • palebluethought@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        19
        ·
        9 months ago

        Where are you getting this impression? I’ve never gotten any sense that anyone outside the city is “expected” to know its geography. “Expected” how?

        Also there are only 5 boroughs

          • diegantobass@lemmy.world
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            4
            ·
            9 months ago

            Oooowkay! So sorry for my surprised comment. I totally get, and agree with, what you actually said.

            Being from not-the-capital-city of my country but living there, I struggled with the uttermost self-centeredness of its inhabitants.

            I do think knowing topology and geography of things and places is much more than basic general information. For me it relates to “feeling” a place, and belonging somewhere. But what do I care where the upper east whatever is…

            Also, culture production might have something to do with all of this : An open letter to NYC - The Beastie Boys

      • BearOfaTime@lemm.ee
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        3
        ·
        edit-2
        9 months ago

        Only New Yorkers think this way.

        How do you know someone’s from New York?

        Don’t worry, they’ll tell you.