Partner said he wishes I were more curious about the world

[Bzzzzzzz]

I am educated to Master's level, have lived in a couple of different countries and speak other Languages so I did think I was curious to some level at least. I read the news daily.
My partner doesn't have the qualifications and has mostly worked in 'menial' roles but he certainly reads a lot, has a lot of general knowledge and knows a lot about music.
I'd say I read more non fiction, I do occasionally read fiction but sometimes feel a bit embarrassed that I should have read a lot of the famous novels that I haven't.

Anyway I can occasionally be ditzy.
I was chatting to him yesterday and I said something about the topic of indigenous people. Looking back it was clumsily worded really, but I know what I meant.
He reacted as if I'd asked him to spell my own name. He said, "Omg seriously!!" "Like come on!!" "How on earth can you not know that!!" "What the hell!"
He was clearly annoyed, and I told him that I didn't think it had warranted such an angry reaction, I hadn't said anything controversial or offensive.
Later on we got into a discussion about it and I asked him if he'd have reacted like that if someone else had said it, i.e. a colleague or family member. I couldn't imagine him doing so. He said, "No, as I don't think they'd say something like that." He then calmly explained the mistake I'd made about indigenous people and I told him that's all that had been required.

His elderly aunt said she couldn't picture where NYC was on a map and he didn't say anything to her, but told me later on that he was frustrated at her 'lack of knowledge and curiosity."

Anyway during our discussion he did apologise for overreacting and then told me that I'm great but he "wishes I had more curiosity about the world."

I told him that I understood but I suppose now I'm second guessing. I like to travel, I watch a lot of travel documentaries, I'm interested in current affairs and happy to try new things. It's not the same as saying " You're great but I wish you did the dishes more." For instance.
Just interested to see what others think. I don't want someone to feel intellectually superior to me, though I'm probably just being too sensitive. Not sure what to do.

I'm not sure why "what I meant" is in bold lol

He reacted as if I'd asked him to spell my own name. He said, "Omg seriously!!" "Like come on!!" "How on earth can you not know that!!" "What the hell!"
He was clearly annoyed, and I told him that I didn't think it had warranted such an angry reaction, I hadn't said anything controversial or offensive.

what did you say?

From what you wrote, sounds like he is a dick, but without knowing the details it's impossible to say

Was what you said offensive to indigenous people? Maybe that’s why he reacted so badly

It doesn’t seem like you’re not curious or interested in the world generally though

Do you wish your do had qualifications and had wanted to study ?

I don't want to say but it was just something related to British history. I know what I meant I just worded it incorrectly

It sounds like you said something offensive then if you don’t want to say what it was

No it wasn't offensive in any shape or form

And no it makes zero difference to me that he doesn't have qualifications, I'd rather somebody is a good person

No, it definitely wasn't offensive. It's something about where people came from, anyway it's not really relevant I feel, I'm sure he would have said if it had been offensive

It does sound like it might have been offensively phrased, which would warrant that kind of response.

I don't think it was at all. It just came across as a bit dim. So you'd be happy if your partner shouted at you for it?

You told him you understood but it doesn't sound like you do understand. I would ask him to explain more about what he meant. I think he may have worded it badly too.

It can be a jolt when a partner doesn't know about or understand something that's really important to you, or more often something that was part of your upbringing but you didn't know that not everyone knows about. You're going to have different knowledge and views from him because you're a different person.

Is he overreacting because he normally feels, or perhaps is made to feel by others, that you are more educated than him? To find that he knows something you don't (in his view) might be a weapon on something he half feels as a battle he lost.

No OP, I wouldn't expect my partner to yell at me or be angry or biting if I'd made a mistake. And I wouldn't expect him to make me feel small or unworthy either.

I don't think that anyone has knowingly made him feel inferior in any way and I certainly haven't.
I asked him to explain but he said he didn't have the words. Just seems a big jump from that to that.
I'll read up more on the topic

And no it makes zero difference to me that he doesn't have qualifications, I'd rather somebody is a good person

So why start off by telling us that you are educated to Master's level, have lived in a couple of different countries and speak other Languages?

I think it sounds rather patronising of him to say 'I wish you had more curiosity about the world' as if he is more knowledgeable and superior to you. I wouldn't feel comfortable in a relationship like that. What is he like in other ways?

Agreed. Patronising and insecure to boot.

Because it’s relevant to set the scene that OP is educated and has experience of travel of course.

He sounds like a man who is overcompensating OP.

It sounds to me that he has good knowledge but little intelligence. I know people who are incredibly bright, but haven’t read widely in literature or are poor at geography - but are creative, quick at problem-solving, or have in-depth knowledge in their own field. With a Masters and several languages, you’re obviously not lacking intelligence. It sounds like your partner is just interested in someone who can parrot a list of facts, boast about books they have read or pull their weight on a pub quiz team.
He’s a dick who is needlessly belittling you.

Sounds like he feels threatened by you and has seized on your 'mistake' to pne-up you.

Be confident in who you are, you're clearly not an idiot. The problem is him.

• one-up

As PP said I mentioned those things because it was relevant in demonstrating that I do hopefully have some level of curiosity.
He failed his Degree, I think he was at the wrong uni and didn't receive the right support, I really couldn't care less if someone is educated or not though. I always said that if he ever did another Degree I'd support him as much as I could.

I suppose I do feel a little uncomfortable now. I see threads on here where the OP is frustrated about her partner being 'less intelligent'. I don't want that to be the case, he says it isn't but..

I perceived that was to show that the accusation couldn’t be generally founded.

I do think it’s interesting that both his grandmother and you get the “lacking curiosity” slur. Does he use it as an attack word on men too?

Is he able to think deeply, or just a gatherer of facts? Does he have an awareness of the limits of his knowledge?

If you don’t want to say what you said, could you say what you meant to say? To give us an idea of the discussion.

It does sound patronising and unkind from what you’ve said especially if it’s not normally you.

I really wouldn't care if my 80 year old relative couldn't pinpoint somewhere in the US. If he's also frustrated by her perceived lack of curiosity then I suppose it's not just me, it may be a few of us

FFS - because the op is setting put their context before explaining the issue.

Stop nitpicking.