Where's Waldo

Here is a real conversation that was overheard in my place of employment the other day:

L and J are talking at L's desk...

L: So where is Vermont? Is Vermont in Connecticut?

J: Um, no, Vermont is Vermont.

L: Huh?

J: It's its own state.

L: Oh, yeah.

Now, it is hard to read a tone of voice, so let me tell you that the last comment of "Oh, yeah" was said in a way that made it quite clear that L had no clue what J was talking about.

No, I do not work at an elementary school. These are professional or semi-professional people in an office setting. And they have an education and degrees! Scary, isn't it? I will be the first to admit that my geography skills have been lacking since I studied the maps, states and capitals in grade school, but I am pretty sure that I would never mistake an entire state for a city! Then again, New York is both a city and a state. I wonder if L knows this.

Perhaps that is where the confusion lies.