It's funny because I had the exact same thoughts when I saw the flag! I guess it's the usual denial followed by grudging acceptance of one's inevitable ignorance :D
I remember it by K, then Y, then R, then G, followed by another Y, a cool little Z, an S, a big ol’ T and then I panic for a few seconds trying to remember the last two.
The Myanmar flag threw me for a while, it looks a lot like a number of African flags. It's interesting to see the shared regional characteristics of flags, such as the proliferation of red-white-and-blue flags in Europe, or flags in Africa and Asia with Islamic characteristics.
I found it interesting that the 3 I didnt get were the 3 least guessed. Since to me they are all nearly as obscure (besides a few perhaps) so somehow the same flags are equally difficult for others, fascinating.
For instance why is kygyzstan so much lower than kazakhstan. As countries they are equally obscure, yet both have rather distinctive flags (not 3 colored stripes, with or without a star/crescent) but kyrgyzstan is quite a lot lower. (and I doubt it is spelling, they are rather lenient on that, and kyr gyz, is not harder than ka zakh
kyrgyz is much harder for my fingers to type than kazakh. I have to stop and type it one letter at a time. No idea why. I remember the latter's flag easily because it's one of my favorite colors and the same shade of blue I used as my wedding color. I had no idea about the former's flag but after this discussion I will maybe remember it next time. :)
I think Kazakhstan's flag is much more distinct because of that unusual blue. I've seen it enough times that I always think it's a Caribbean or Oceanian flag, and have been surprised enough up seeing that it's Kazakhstan's that it has finally stuck.
I don't think Kazakhstan is as obscure as the other stans. It's the largest one and the "one on the top" (meaning north). Before I learned them all, I always had it like this. Pakistan and Afghanistan are at the bottom, Kazakhstan at the top and between them is unknown mess. And I guess a lot of people have it similar, so if they don't make the extra step to learn them all, they would know Kazakhstan way better than the rest.
The Myanmar flag was just so un-myanmarish... So couldn't get it right away. I didn't know Tajikistan but guessed it off anyway. 26 seconds left only... Guess I'm just only a beginner
In case someone is curious, it's actually quite a cool flag. It represents the top of a traditional nomadic home, a Yurt. The rays represent the 40 tribes that unified Kyrgyzstan.
Why in the world would you use the Taliban's flag? It's just adding to their power. I know it sounds silly to be mad on JetPunk but it's these little signs of recognition they live off of.
Not sure why QM changed flag. It isn't technically official within international communities. The Republic flag was used at the Paralympics after the Fall of Kabul. So I'm not sure where the international community stands with Afghanistan atm. I can see your point on the use of the flag but I don't want to revert the quiz back only to have it changed again a few days/weeks later.
Problem is, whichever one is used, someone will say it’s wrong. This one is probably the most accurate one, since it is the one used by the current government (no matter what one might think of them). No one particularly likes the government of the DPRK but we nonetheless tend to use the flag that is used by their government, whether diplomatic relations/recognition exists or not. I think it’s a fair call.
Afghanistan has changed its flag way too many times I don't mind this current one, however I did prefer the 1997 to 2022 flag, or the 1709 to 1738 flag.
For instance why is kygyzstan so much lower than kazakhstan. As countries they are equally obscure, yet both have rather distinctive flags (not 3 colored stripes, with or without a star/crescent) but kyrgyzstan is quite a lot lower. (and I doubt it is spelling, they are rather lenient on that, and kyr gyz, is not harder than ka zakh
)