Not only the yanks that have numbtards...

[Neko Bazu]

LONDON (AFP) - Britons are losing their grip on reality, according to a poll out Monday which showed that nearly a quarter think Winston Churchill was a myth while the majority reckon Sherlock Holmes was real.

The survey found that 47 percent thought the 12th century English king Richard the Lionheart was a myth.

And 23 percent thought World War II prime minister Churchill was made up. The same percentage thought Crimean War nurse Florence Nightingale did not actually exist.

Three percent thought Charles Dickens, one of Britain's most famous writers, is a work of fiction himself.

Indian political leader Mahatma Gandhi and Battle of Waterloo victor the Duke of Wellington also appeared in the top 10 of people thought to be myths.

Meanwhile, 58 percent thought Sir Arthur Conan Doyle'sfictional detective Holmes actually existed; 33 percent thought thesame of W. E. Johns' fictional pilot and adventurer Biggles.

UKTV Gold television surveyed 3,000 people.

I really, really wish I could say that surprised me Maybe the stat regarding Churchill is higher than I thought, but otherwise?

Good grief...

[CHOPPER READ]

Modern teaching methods.

[CmonYouSpurs]

9 out of 10 people polled were Poles

[Neko Bazu]

markbrandonread said:

Modern teaching methods.

That's what I put it down to too.

I can only hope that in ten years' time, people will be able to look back on this kind of thing in utter disbelief - doesn't seem too likely though, does it?

(That said, ten years ago, I don't suppose it looked too likely that this'd be the case now either!)

[HURLOCK]

Point is ignorant people have always existed, but to think Churchill was fictional is just staggering really!

Still I dare say Conan-Doyle is chuffed

[Neko Bazu]

hurlock said:

Point is ignorant people have always existed, but to think Churchill was fictional is just staggering really!

Still I dare say Conan-Doyle is chuffed

I know - there's always people who're way out of touch, but 23% of those surveyed?! And 58% didn't know Holmes was fictional...

It makes me wonder who they asked though - I asked my brother and sister whether they thought those named were real or fictional, and they both scored 100% despite (if I'm brutally honest) not being the sharpest knives in the drawer. They're far from stupid in themselves, but they didn't take to education too well.

I'd have expected those kinds of figures from children, maybe (say, 10 years old) - but it was UKTV Gold; hardly CBeebies, is it?

[HURLOCK]

Point is I suppose the mainstream don't really mix with these types as lets be honest it would make for pretty boring exchanges. Therefore it's only when we see these types of surveys do the issues hit home.

However as I parents where both teachers, I know that they complained about the general awareness of some kids, and that their parents failed to instill any culture in the m besides 'Germans are twats and hate the French'

It's about parents giving a shit, and then education

[Teesside White]

markbrandonread said:

Modern teaching methods.

i reckon so


on a train to London last summer, the party i was with overheard a group of teenage girls talking, 1 of them mentioned Winston Churchill, another asked 'Who's He?'

cue funny looks betwen myself and over members of my party

3rd girl answers the question with another question 'Wasn't he the German leader during World War 2?'

cue member of my party turning to them and giving them a lecture on stupidity, history and ignorance



it was funny

[Neko Bazu]

Apparently, the survey was 3000 teenagers.

So yes, I'd say between worsening education and increasingly apathetic youth, we've probably found the main part of the problem...

[jh1980]

I blame this fella:

[Teesside White]

jh1980 said:

I blame this fella:

it was said in the daily mail yesterday that he is partly to blame lol

[jh1980]

theteessidewhite said:

it was said in the daily mail yesterday that he is partly to blame lol

Ah, well the Daily Mail is certainly the guardian of UK intellectual life!

Glad a powerful and influential rag agrees with me though! ;D

[thales]

next they'll be saying jesus didn't exist

[CmonYouSpurs]

28allirelandslufc said:

next they'll be saying jesus didn't exist

not the bloke who walked on water!!!!!!!!!!

it must be true

[mortontheblade]

neko said:

LONDON (AFP) - Britons are losing their grip on reality, according to a poll out Monday which showed that nearly a quarter think Winston Churchill was a myth while the majority reckon Sherlock Holmes was real.

The survey found that 47 percent thought the 12th century English king Richard the Lionheart was a myth.

And 23 percent thought World War II prime minister Churchill was made up. The same percentage thought Crimean War nurse Florence Nightingale did not actually exist.

Three percent thought Charles Dickens, one of Britain's most famous writers, is a work of fiction himself.

Indian political leader Mahatma Gandhi and Battle of Waterloo victor the Duke of Wellington also appeared in the top 10 of people thought to be myths.

Meanwhile, 58 percent thought Sir Arthur Conan Doyle'sfictional detective Holmes actually existed; 33 percent thought thesame of W. E. Johns' fictional pilot and adventurer Biggles.

UKTV Gold television surveyed 3,000 people.

I really, really wish I could say that surprised me Maybe the stat regarding Churchill is higher than I thought, but otherwise?

Good grief...

i bet alot of people didn't understand that myth, meant fictional, unlike say legend...

*vaguely tries to defend 'tards everywhere*

[officergroyman]

cmonyouspurs said:

28allirelandslufc said:

next they'll be saying jesus didn't exist

not the bloke who walked on water!!!!!!!!!!

it must be true

Of course it's TRUE you numbtard, he own's a gym in Southern California!!!!

[officergroyman]

You Have NOT because you benchpress NOT. ;D