I asked where people who don't understand the reference come from. That was my question, so I can understand better what places haven't heard the rhyme before.
I didn't know that this one specifically was centered on the United States and Canada before looking it up.
There are over one billion English speakers on this planet and only 1/3 of them are American, where the rhyme originates. So an American asking someone who has never heard the song before where they're from is a valid question for the other 700,000 English speaking humans from the 8+ countries where English is the most common language.
Well maybe he wanted to know if this was a thing in for example the UK, NZ, Australia, South Africa, India, etc. That's a valid question. Also, maybe give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he meant 700,000,000.
"Over one billion" - the current number is around 1.1 billion, so if my napkin math is correct that's 1,100,000 x 0.66 = 726,000. Close enough for the girls I go with.
If you've ever learned a foreign language, especially in primary school, one of the first things you learn are nursery rhymes. I remember my French professor singing Frère Jacques to the class on day one of college.
Pretty much every country in Central and South America and a few islands in the Caribbean speak Spanish. They don't speak the same Spanish dialect as Spain, nor do they generally speak the same dialect as countries that border them. Languages evolve, and language alone doesn't typically inform things like nursery rhymes, culture does.
So congratulations, you're ignorant in three different languages.
Well maybe he wanted to know if this was a thing in for example the UK, NZ, Australia, South Africa, India, etc. That's a valid question. Also, maybe give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he meant 700,000,000.
Uh. There are plenty of things that tons of people know about, and plenty of things that only one country is aware of. You'll never know until you ask.
I think they're implying that English being the lingua-franca has made many monolingual English speakers forget that most of the world does not speak English as a first language, and those people are unlikely to be familiar with a children's rhyme written in English.
34 Comments
NateNate60@lemmy.world · 34 pts · 2y
I'm confused, someone explain the joke please
Bougie_Birdie@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 76 pts · 2y
Where I grew up, there was a children's song where the main refrain is: "John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt, his name is my name too"
The name John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt is quite unlikely and singular. And yet, this other guy has the exact same name as him
henfredemars@infosec.pub · 14 pts · 2y
Here's the reference:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Jacob_Jingleheimer_Schmidt
I'm curious. Where are you from? I didn't know the children's rhyme was uncommon.
Knusper@feddit.de · 79 pts · 2y
Lots of us are from non-English countries...
byroon@lemmy.world · 43 pts · 2y
Even English speaking countries outside north America. Never heard of this rhyme in the UK
OrteilGenou@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 2y
Never heard of it in Canada
kzhe@lemm.ee · 1 pts · 2y
Never in Florida, Indiana, New Jersey, Tennessee
Edit: Listened to song & tune sounds familiar.
elementalguy2@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 2y
I remember it from the Recess movie when it was on Nickelodeon.
henfredemars@infosec.pub · 14 pts · 2y
Right. Of course I understand that.
I asked where people who don't understand the reference come from. That was my question, so I can understand better what places haven't heard the rhyme before.
I didn't know that this one specifically was centered on the United States and Canada before looking it up.
drugo@sh.itjust.works · -18 pts · 2y
enki@lemm.ee · 19 pts · 2y
There are over one billion English speakers on this planet and only 1/3 of them are American, where the rhyme originates. So an American asking someone who has never heard the song before where they're from is a valid question for the other 700,000 English speaking humans from the 8+ countries where English is the most common language.
drugo@sh.itjust.works · -3 pts · 2y
Bumblefumble@lemm.ee · 4 pts · 2y
Well maybe he wanted to know if this was a thing in for example the UK, NZ, Australia, South Africa, India, etc. That's a valid question. Also, maybe give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he meant 700,000,000.
enki@lemm.ee · 1 pts · 2y
"Over one billion" - the current number is around 1.1 billion, so if my napkin math is correct that's 1,100,000 x 0.66 = 726,000. Close enough for the girls I go with.
If you've ever learned a foreign language, especially in primary school, one of the first things you learn are nursery rhymes. I remember my French professor singing Frère Jacques to the class on day one of college.
Pretty much every country in Central and South America and a few islands in the Caribbean speak Spanish. They don't speak the same Spanish dialect as Spain, nor do they generally speak the same dialect as countries that border them. Languages evolve, and language alone doesn't typically inform things like nursery rhymes, culture does.
So congratulations, you're ignorant in three different languages.
Bumblefumble@lemm.ee · -1 pts · 2y
Well maybe he wanted to know if this was a thing in for example the UK, NZ, Australia, South Africa, India, etc. That's a valid question. Also, maybe give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he meant 700,000,000.
mriormro@lemmy.world · 15 pts · 2y
And being multi-lingual, seemingly, makes you respond like a smug asshole to a genuine question.
drugo@sh.itjust.works · -3 pts · 2y
Stumblinbear@pawb.social · 3 pts · 2y
Uh. There are plenty of things that tons of people know about, and plenty of things that only one country is aware of. You'll never know until you ask.
Quit being a cunt, dude.
ieatpillowtags@lemm.ee · 8 pts · 2y
Are you implying that America is the only place where people speak English? Because that would be pretty stupid of you.
byroon@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 2y
I think they're implying that English being the lingua-franca has made many monolingual English speakers forget that most of the world does not speak English as a first language, and those people are unlikely to be familiar with a children's rhyme written in English.
drugo@sh.itjust.works · -1 pts · 2y
crycry@lemmy.ml · 13 pts · 2y
Australian here, Never heard of it. Seems its mainly an America and Canada thing according to your link?
Shadow@lemmy.ca · 5 pts · 2y
Canadian here, never heard this.
can@sh.itjust.works · 6 pts · 2y
Canadian here, have heard of this.
BeardedGingerWonder@feddit.uk · 3 pts · 2y
Kids + YouTube is spreading its popularity. I hadn't heard it in the UK until 4-5 years ago.
OPHanma@lemm.ee · 2 pts · 2y
The Wiggles sing this song/rhyme all the time
friend_of_satan@lemmy.world · 10 pts · 2y
NegativeInf@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 2y
Obviously never watched Barney.
can@sh.itjust.works · 4 pts · 2y
Welp, thank you for letting me know why I couldn't remember where I first heard it.
I wonder what else I could unlock if I watched through those old shows.
GreyEyedGhost@lemmy.ca · 4 pts · 2y
The lucky bastard.
vardogor@mander.xyz · 1 pts · 2y
ForestOrca@kbin.social · 9 pts · 2y
You really need this to get the effect: https://yewtu.be/watch?v=CVZHk0nt5j4
The full effect requires at least 100+ little kids merrily singing this nonsense song at the top of their lungs.
byroon@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 2y
ladicius@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 2y
I don't get it, too.
FlyingSquid@lemmy.world · 15 pts · 2y
"Do people yell your name at you when you're outside too?"
tpihkal@lemmy.world · 11 pts · 2y
Nah, they shout bruh.
RagingRobot@lemmy.world · 12 pts · 2y
That's such a cool name. My mom named me Rumpelstiltskin for some reason.
Mr_Blott@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 2y
Son, it was actually Crumpledforeskin but the registrar was dyslexic
TokenBoomer@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 2y
That’s so funny. Thank you for brightening my day.
The_Picard_Maneuver@startrek.website · 4 pts · 2y
You are very welcome. Stay tuned for equally dumb memes.