I know for a fact that the following examples of idiocy are true, because I myself was witness to their occurance.
In 1989, I was working in a state office in Kansas. It was right after the 1988 George Bush Presidential campaign.
Well, one day we had been talking about pork rinds (if youll remember, George Bush was a great fan of the greasy snack food at the time), and our supervisor brought in a big bag.
My deskmate was chowing into them like there was no tomorrow. I said, Gee, I guess you really like Bushs favorite snack!
She responded, Bush who?
I said, *George* Bush, Gina!
She said, Whos he? Does he work here? (rolling eyes) Of course, George Bush was the President of the United States by this time…
Same office, a few months later.
There was an article in the newspaper during the summer of 1989 decrying the fact that United States high school seniors had a very poor knowledge of geography. I was reading the newspaper in the break room, in the presence of another co-worker of mine. The column in the paper stated that some huge percent (60%?? 80%??) of graduating seniors couldnt name the two countries that bordered the United States.
I turned to my co-worker and said, Oh, this is ludicrous! *You* know which countries border the United States, dont you?
My co-worker responded, Well, *yah*, duh! To the north its Canada, and to the south, its the *ocean*! (rolling eyes)
Okay, the last straw before I finally quit the job to stay home and raise babies and hang out with *intelligent* and *educated* people… (grin)
In the fall of 1989, 1960s US protestor and political activist Abbie Hoffmann killed himself. I was listening to National Public Radio on my headset when I heard the news, and I said aloud, and a little sadly, Aw. Abbie Hoffmann is dead.
My deskmate chittered, Oh really?? Whos she?
(bonk)