Yep. The concept that there’s a symmetry between countries is a few degrees of separation away from many Americans, I guess. It’s not weirder to have an Australian Idol than an American one. I’ve also had conversation where they assume people in other countries are patriotic for America. Like, even in the first world we all sit around wishing we were American.
Famously, many (most?) of them can’t even identify the continents on a map. I’d be interested to see Chinese tested the same way, since I’ve heard they’re on the same level of insularity, being another massive superpower.
I had a friend that that looked like they were offended when they found out Australian Idol was a thing and it wasn’t just in America.
It wasn’t even originally an American thing, it’s from the UK.
Exactly. Hence the name distinguishing it as the “American” one… People (Americans?) are so dumb.
Wait, is it just called “Idol” there?
Pop Idol.
Yep. The concept that there’s a symmetry between countries is a few degrees of separation away from many Americans, I guess. It’s not weirder to have an Australian Idol than an American one. I’ve also had conversation where they assume people in other countries are patriotic for America. Like, even in the first world we all sit around wishing we were American.
Famously, many (most?) of them can’t even identify the continents on a map. I’d be interested to see Chinese tested the same way, since I’ve heard they’re on the same level of insularity, being another massive superpower.