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General Knowledge

  • 28-03-2014 07:53PM
    #1
    Pici
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 9 ✭


    What sort of things should people know about in your opinion so that you consider them to have good general knowledge?

    In terms of History I think knowing a fair bit about world war 2, the Renaissance, famous figures whose lives shaped the world such as Newton, Stalin, Christopher Columbus etc

    In terms of geography you should have a good knowledge of the lay out of the world an the names of regions, cities etc

    Those are two topics off the top of my head.


«1345

Comments

  • #2
    Brego888
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,330 ✭✭✭Brego888


    The translation from elvish to English of the words on the inside of the one ring.


  • #3
    The Backwards Man
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,299 ✭✭✭✭The Backwards Man


    A general awareness, or even acknowledgement, of the world around them would do me.

    It's infuriating the amount of people that don't know (and don't want to know) about the simplest of things. All they care about is Emmerdale, Top Gear and facebook likes.


  • #4
    BMJD
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,637 ✭✭✭BMJD


    One Direction r awesum


  • #5
    orangesoda
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,223 ✭✭✭orangesoda


    history - irish history beyond the basic level, it will cut out a lot of the ignorant nonsense


  • #6
    kowloon
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 14,186 ✭✭✭✭kowloon


    If pub quizzes are anything to go by, anything that isn't sport or chart music counts as general knowledge.


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  • #7
    Lawrence1895
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,627 ✭✭✭Lawrence1895


    Sports and the animal kingdom always turn up at some stage :)


  • #8
    Donkey Oaty
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,533 ✭✭✭Donkey Oaty


    Pici wrote: »
    yhe names of regions, cities etc

    Well, I've learnt something from this thread.

    YHE is the International Air Transportation Association code for Hope, British Columbia, Canada.

    Read the Wiki article on Hope, and it'll give you some insight into smallpox, Japanese internment and what a bonspiel is.

    That's where general knowledge comes from - curiosity. Follow what you are interested in, and forget about trying to come across as educated or clever.


  • #9
    The Backwards Man
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,299 ✭✭✭✭The Backwards Man


    orangesoda wrote: »
    history - irish history beyond the basic level, it will cut out a lot of the ignorant nonsense
    Not generally something you would expect someone from Tajikistan to know though, is it?


  • #10
    wazky
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,516 ✭✭✭wazky


    How to clean blood from a car boot is essential.


  • #11
    D1stant
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,806 ✭✭✭D1stant


    Donkey Oaty wrote: »
    Well, I've learnt something from this thread.

    YHE is the International Air Transportation Association code for Hope, British Columbia, Canada.

    Read the Wiki article on Hope, and it'll give you some insight into smallpox, Japanese internment and what a bonspiel is.

    That's where general knowledge comes from - curiosity. Follow what you are interested in, and forget about trying to come across as educated or clever.

    And Hope is where Rambo was filmed. This thread is a trail of discovery


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  • #12
    DEFTLEFTHAND
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,499 ✭✭✭✭DEFTLEFTHAND


    The Backwards Man wrote: »
    Not generally something you would expect someone from Tajikistan to know though, is it?

    What's the capital of Tajikistan?


  • #13
    corner of hells
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,439 ✭✭✭corner of hells


    Onions , I'm an expert on them from the Belgian Giant to the Swedish Princess .Its been a hobby of mine for years .



    I'm also an expert at talking utter bollix .


  • #14
    Donkey Oaty
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,533 ✭✭✭Donkey Oaty


    DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »
    What's the capital of Tajikistan?

    Monday.


  • #15
    The Backwards Man
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,299 ✭✭✭✭The Backwards Man


    Donkey Oaty wrote: »
    Well, I've learnt something from this thread.

    YHE is the International Air Transportation Association code for Hope, British Columbia, Canada.

    Read the Wiki article on Hope, and it'll give you some insight into smallpox, Japanese internment and what a bonspiel is.

    That's where general knowledge comes from - curiosity. Follow what you are interested in, and forget about trying to come across as educated or clever.
    All the Canadian airports have funny airport codes
    YYZ
    YYC
    YVR

    There doesn't seem to be a reason either, they just do.


  • #16
    The Backwards Man
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,299 ✭✭✭✭The Backwards Man


    DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »
    What's the capital of Tajikistan?
    Dushanbe

    No google needed either.


  • #17
    orangesoda
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,223 ✭✭✭orangesoda


    The Backwards Man wrote: »
    Not generally something you would expect someone from Tajikistan to know though, is it?

    is that in Cavan?


  • #18
    Donkey Oaty
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,533 ✭✭✭Donkey Oaty


    DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »
    What's the capital of Tajikistan?

    Did you know that it was called Stalinabad from 1929 to 1961?


  • #19
    Jonny Blaze
    Closed Accounts Posts: 753 ✭✭✭Jonny Blaze


    I'm gonna go ahead that in this day and age, people should have at least a broad understanding of science and technology.

    Things like how the internet and mobile phones work.

    Other than that, the OP covered most of the bases (history & geography).

    Would like to say art and literature too but they are kind non essential to having good 'general knowledge' in my opinion.

    Also, people should understand more about how their own bodies work!


  • #20
    DEFTLEFTHAND
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,499 ✭✭✭✭DEFTLEFTHAND


    Very impressive TBM and Donkey Oaty, now ask me something? :pac:


  • #21
    Donkey Oaty
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,533 ✭✭✭Donkey Oaty


    The Backwards Man wrote: »
    Dushanbe

    No google needed either.

    You sound like you know your capitals, Backwards Man.

    Nigeria, Kazhakhstan and Canada are also good ones.

    Know them off the top of your head? No cheating!


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  • #22
    WilyCoyote
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,059 ✭✭✭WilyCoyote


    The Backwards Man wrote: »
    Dushanbe

    No google needed either.

    Cripes! I skim-read that as Drumshanbo


  • #23
    DEFTLEFTHAND
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,499 ✭✭✭✭DEFTLEFTHAND


    Donkey Oaty wrote: »
    You sound like you know your capitals, Backwards Man.

    Nigeria, Kazhakhstan and Canada are also good ones.

    Know them off the top of your head? No cheating!

    Astana for Kaz, Ottawa for Can, Lagos for Nigeria?


  • #24
    Donkey Oaty
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,533 ✭✭✭Donkey Oaty


    DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »
    Astana for Kaz, Ottawa for Can, Lagos for Nigeria?

    2/3 - well above average.


  • #25
    Fratton Fred
    Closed Accounts Posts: 26,566 ✭✭✭✭Fratton Fred


    Anyone who can order a beer in six different languages knows all they need to know.


  • #26
    Too Tough To Die
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,056 ✭✭✭Too Tough To Die


    Know your sport, pop music, tv and films and you're set for life.


  • #27
    Curly Judge
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,708 ✭✭✭Curly Judge


    A basic knowledge of the laws of thermodynamics is essential if you want to pursue things of an engineering bent.
    They are very good too when it comes to making social judgements.
    Basically, in life, if a thing seems too good to be true then - generally - it is too good to be true.


  • #28
    Ghost Buster
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 5,172 ✭✭✭Ghost Buster


    The Backwards Man wrote: »
    A general awareness, or even acknowledgement, of the world around them would do me.

    It's infuriating the amount of people that don't know (and don't want to know) about the simplest of things. All they care about is Emmerdale, Top Gear and facebook likes.

    I have a store of general anecdotal examples I have come across that kinda illustrate this.
    The bar maid who, when I ordered Guinness asked me did I want Beamish Guinness, Murphys Guinness or Usual Guinness. Yes it was her first hour on the job but seriously!!!?
    The cleaner in my work who returned a bottle of wine because it was out of date "Last year it was!!"
    The "thats before my time" excuse for not knowing about legendary bands and musicians. As if music is locked away out of reach unless you are in a particular demographic.
    A neighbour who had never tried nor even heard of chutney (She has travelled extensively but only ever eats carvery and European food)


  • #29
    Donkey Oaty
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,533 ✭✭✭Donkey Oaty


    Fratton Fred wrote: »
    Anyone who can order a beer in six different languages knows all they need to know.

    I generally just wave an empty glass and grunt.


  • #30
    The Backwards Man
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,299 ✭✭✭✭The Backwards Man


    DEFTLEFTHAND wrote: »
    Astana for Kaz, Ottawa for Can, Lagos for Nigeria?
    Alma Aty? for Kaz, though I think Astana is the biggest city.


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  • #31
    Frank Lee Midere
    Closed Accounts Posts: 3,780 ✭✭✭Frank Lee Midere


    Ghost Buster wrote: »
    I have a store of general anecdotal examples I have come across that kinda illustrate this.
    The bar maid who, when I ordered Guinness asked me did I want Beamish Guinness, Murphys Guinness or Usual Guinness. Yes it was her first hour on the job but seriously!!!?
    The cleaner in my work who returned a bottle of wine because it was out of date "Last year it was!!"
    The "thats before my time" excuse for not knowing about legendary bands and musicians. As if music is locked away out of reach unless you are in a particular demographic.
    A neighbour who had never tried nor even heard of chutney (She has travelled extensively but only ever eats carvery and European food)

    That's basically stuff you know. And therefore stuff you think other people should know.


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