to think --some-- Americans are just stupid!

[Ithinkitsjustme]

Have just heard that during the Olympic opening ceremony, when Sir Tim Berners-Lee was revealed, NBC commentators came out with "Who's he?" and told viewers that they would have to Google him to find out who he was! Which, ironically would have been impossible without his invention, .

[AmazingBouncingFerret]

Pretty fucking clever if you ask me. Everyone will google him and then facepalm. that's funny. and I didnt know who he was either

[FallenCaryatid]

Unfair. How many English people were confused by many of the images and references in the opening ceremony because they didn't know their own history?
If you stopped a thousand people in the street and said 'Sir Tim Berners-Lee' how many of them do you think would be able to tell you why he's famous?

[fortyeighthourdancemarathon]

I don't know who he is either, and I'm not American.

[dreamingbohemian]

YABU

The announcers were stupid for not doing their homework beforehand.

But it's not really a household name, I would not call anyone stupid for not knowing who he was.

The 'Americans are ignorant and stupid' meme is just lazy (even when qualified with 'some')

[catus]

You could make the same point about any other nationality, as you well know. But I guess poking fun at the americans gives you more pleasure?
YABU.

[MadCap]

Offensive much.

[TheBigJessie]

Who's Tim Berners-Lee?

Your thread is pointless ooh-let's-have-a-double-standard-for-Americans. Maybe the NBC commentator is foolish; maybe it was an attempt at wit that went over your head.

Regardless, you cannot judge an entire country by one bloke on the telly!

Secondly, there are stupid people from every country on earth. If you don't believe me, study a couple of languages, and then go on the localised Yahoo answers sites in those languages. Idiocy knows no nationality.

[Ithinkitsjustme]

The trhead was a bit tongue in cheek, but I did find it amusing, sorry if I'm the only one!

[DontEatTheVolesKids]

When BBC presenters stop calling LA "Las Angeloleeze" then I will try to take you seriously.

[Feminine]

YABU.

I am surprised you dared start a post like this.

[LurkeyLurkerson]

I don't know who he is and I'm English.

I also haven't heard of many many famous Americans.

I love MN but I really hate the American bashing that goes on here.

[Trills]

Some people of all nationalities are stupid.

The NBC commentators are not an example of stupidity, they are an example of not having good enough preparation - they should have had people behind the scenes finding out stuff like this and telling them down the little earphones that they wear.

[WilsonFrickett]

Well his name came up with a caption saying he invented the web, so you are not BU to suggest the commentator should have known that. But it's a pretty big stretch from there to your OP, to be honest.

[manicbmc]

He is the reason we are able to have this discussion on MN. Without there would be no days wasted typing away at virtual others.

I don't think Americans are stupid (except Mitt Romney) but I do see the irony.

[ZacharyQuack]

So who is he?

[JennerOSity]

I would expect commentators of any event to have done as much homework as possible or have a back up team to plug any gaps to avoid the trap of not being able to commentate.

I read the an American review of the opening ceremony based on the NBC coverage and they had totally missed the point of most of it and were very derogatory about the whole thing, contrary to most reviews including other American ones.

Maybe NBC are just not the guys for the job.

[DontEatTheVolesKids]

I know a lot of Geeks who wouldn't have known who TBL was until 2000 or so, he didn't really go around seeking acclaim. WWW was thought of as more of a CERN-idea than a TBL invention for a long time.

[ivykaty44]

OP can you - without using a search engine - name the men who found DNA?

[TroublesomeEx]

I've never heard of him either.

[bowerbird]

Ivykaty, DNA: Crick & Watson. Oh and a WOMAN (Roz Franklin).

[PicklesThePottyMouthedParrot]

I didn't know, and I don't think I'm stupid.

Can't see what's so funny about it though, we all know different bits and bobs of general knowledge.

You must be a proper smart arse!

[ivykaty44]

bowerbird lets see if the op knows

[onetiredmummy]

Rude