Yeah reminds me of conversation between an Englishman and an Americanman
"Are you a tourist?"
"Yes I'm an Englishman"
"But where are you from?"
"England"
"Well yes you speak English but
where are you from?"
*Groan*
Or those schoolkids who thought England was in China... come on seriously... surely every American should know the difference (language, race, culture and the fact we don't make 99% of the world's plastic toys and socks!).
I think there is a difference culturally, in the days of Empire every year on Empire Day schoolchildren were shown the globe and they had to name all the pink parts. Not only that but most goods were labelled with country of origin from across the Empire. Even then many ordinary folk didn't take much notice and most didn't really know where foreign countries were. While America tends to be more insular, being more concerned with teaching its kids about America, how great America's constitution and institutions are, singing the anthem every day and generally having the Stars and Stripes in every office, schoolroom, window, house etc. That generally is alien to Britain, we don't show many national flags except for the Cross of St.George on Church of England churches and the Union Jack atop a few town halls. France goes in for more flags but then other European nations don't tend to. I think generally its the perceived insular nature that makes the rest of the world pick up on these jokes when really I guess the majority of people acorss the world have poor geographical knowledge.
Afterall isn't the Capital of the USA New York?