Monday, February 04, 2008

The Fictional Churchill

It’s nice to see that it’s not just America that’s full of ignorant boobs. 

Britons are losing their grip on reality, according to a poll out Monday which showed that nearly a quarter think Winston Churchill was a myth while the majority reckon Sherlock Holmes was real.

The survey found that 47 percent thought the 12th century English king Richard the Lionheart was a myth.

And 23 percent thought World War II prime minister Churchill was made up. The same percentage thought Crimean War nurse Florence Nightingale did not actually exist.

Three percent thought Charles Dickens, one of Britain’s most famous writers, is a work of fiction himself.

Indian political leader Mahatma Gandhi and Battle of Waterloo victor the Duke of Wellington also appeared in the top 10 of people thought to be myths.

Meanwhile, 58 percent thought Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s fictional detective Holmes actually existed; 33 percent thought the same of W. E. Johns’ fictional pilot and adventurer Biggles.

(5) Comments
Posted by Owen at 2102 hrs
Culture + Foreign Affairs

  1. Aside from being hilarious, what does this survey result mean? Although respondents were randomly selected, it says a lot about the Britons of today. Their own history is not very important to them anymore. And that’s sad news.

    Posted by gina on February 04, 2008 at 2155 hrs


  2. Reminds me ofa a Jay Leno Jaywalking spot where an elementary school teacher was asked which continent we live on.  She said she should know this because last week one of her 3rd grade geography studuents corrected her - it’s either South America or North America, she thinks.  She did not get it right, again.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on February 05, 2008 at 0508 hrs


  3. That’s as silly as believing that Jack Bauer has a model for foreign policy or that Reagan was a small-government Conservative.

    Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on February 05, 2008 at 0645 hrs


  4. I have heard of this before. It is hilarious! Talk about living in your own time! People have been misinformed all these years! Think about that!

    Posted by Tim on February 05, 2008 at 0944 hrs


  5. Clearly, the Brits aren’t spending enough on their education.

    Posted by Calvin Freiburger on February 05, 2008 at 1516 hrs


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