Ignorance is Brits
More Brit teens believe in Sherlock Holmes and Eleanor Rigby than Winston Churchill and Florence Nightingale. Robin Hood and King Arthur get higher reality points than King Richard the Lionhearted. Telegraph:
A fifth of British teenagers believe Sir Winston Churchill was a fictional character, while many think Sherlock Holmes, King Arthur and Eleanor Rigby were real, a survey shows.
The canvass of 3,000 under-twenties uncovered an extraordinary paucity of basic historical knowledge that older generations take for granted.
Despite his celebrated military reputation, 47 per cent of respondents dismissed the 12th-century crusading English king Richard the Lionheart as fictional.
More than a quarter (27 per cent) thought Florence Nightingale, the pioneering nurse who coaxed injured soldiers back to health in the Crimean War, was a mythical figure.
In contrast, a series of fictitious characters that have featured in British films and literature over the past few centuries were awarded real-life status.
King Arthur is the mythical figure most commonly mistaken for fact - almost two thirds of teens (65 per cent) believe that he existed and led a round table of knights at Camelot.
Sherlock Holmes, the detective, was so convincingly brought to life in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s novels, their film versions and television series, that 58 per cent of respondents believe that the sleuth really lived at 221B Baker Street.
Fifty-one per cent of respondents believed that Robin Hood lived in Sherwood Forest, robbing the rich to give to the poor, while 47 per cent believed Eleanor Rigby was a real person rather than a creation of The Beatles.
More than three-quarters of those polled (77 per cent) admitted they did not read history books, and 61 per cent said that they changed channels rather than watch historical programmes on television.
Paul Moreton, the channel head of UKTV Gold, which commissioned the poll, said that while there was no excuse for demoting real historical figures such as Churchill, the elevation of mythical figures to real life showed the impact good films could have in shaping the public consciousness.
Yeah, sounds good in theory. It should count for something that Robin Hood and King Arthur may have been loosely based on real people, and that Richard the Lionhearted actually has a cameo in the Hood tale. Sure goes a long way to explaining this guy.
Meanwhile, before any Yanks sneer, remember this 1998 survey? “More Teens Can Name Three Stooges Than Can Name Three Branches of Government.” Millions of them could be voting today. I’m guessing for hope … and change!
Topics: moronocy
Posted by Jules Crittenden at 12:59 am on Tuesday, February 5, 2008
7 Responses to “Ignorance is Brits”
Leave a Reply
Trackback URLYou must be logged in to post a comment.
February 5th, 2008 at 2:09 am
“More than three-quarters of those polled (77 per cent) admitted they did not read history books, and 61 per cent said that they changed channels rather than watch historical programmes on television.”
But the pollsters will still be asking them what they think of the war in Iraq…and we’re supposed to respect their opinions.
Not.
February 5th, 2008 at 7:08 am
But Dave, war and history are icky. Everybody knows that, like, duh…
February 5th, 2008 at 7:50 am
Another report about this survey mentioned that many people also thought that Dickens was a fictional character.
I’m beginning to believe those who argue that we are reverting to a quasi-medieval society where there are pockets of learning surrounded by ignorance.
February 5th, 2008 at 7:53 am
Of course, when I was talking about people being clueless about matters military, I wasn’t speaking of people like Fatty Bolger, who was captured by the minions of Saruman during the War of the Ring and subsequently imprisoned until his release by Frodo & Co. He has first hand knowledge of war, and his opinions must be treated with respect.
February 5th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
I thought it was only Americans who were supposed to be ignorant about their country and every other place in the world. I don’t know whether to be relieved or just horrified.
February 6th, 2008 at 12:23 am
I’ll bet the same percentages believe in magic and witchcraft too.
“She turned me into a newt.”
“Into a newt?”
(sheepishly) “I got better.”
February 6th, 2008 at 10:07 am
“She turned me into a newt.”
Obvious solution…burn her!!!