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Since the last time we wrote about Terrible Maps, a project that is dedicated to sharing maps no one asked for or needs, they've kept themselves rather busy. So it's only natural we created a follow-up article about the cartographers who are so bad, they're actually good. After all, what is the Internet for if not to poke fun at politics and our geographical illiteracy?
From hilarious guides on how to find the state of Kentucky to showing how many Switzerlands fit in Brazil, continue scrolling and check out these gems and tell us which one would you hang on your office wall!
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OK. We can clearly see these are bad maps. But how to know you're looking at a good one? Brant Scheidecker, a sales engineer at Cartegraph, highlighted some of the main essentials for accurate and easily interpretable map use.
"Every map should have a title. It allows the user to assess the purpose of the map quickly; allowing them to determine if it meets their needs," Scheidecker wrote.
Next, origin. A fancy name for a compass or the North arrow. "This allows the user to determine the maps reference to the earth. While most maps these days have North being straight up, occasionally you will encounter a map that has a skewed orientation, perhaps to better fit it on the physical medium it's presented on (i.e. paper), or simply because it’s easier to interact with the map in that orientation."
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When it comes to the source, it's a two-fold element. "It allows the map maker to provide the map viewer an idea where the data the map is representing is from; a necessity in determining the accuracy of a map. It also allows the map maker a way to cite the source of their data, avoiding all those pesky cries of plagiarism and the ensuing lawsuits," Scheidecker explained. "You have better uses for your time, like ensuring the rest of the T.O.S.S.L.A.D. elements are on your maps."
Let's not forget the legend (the area where a user can determine what a particular color or symbol represents on the map). "Without a legend, a user cannot successfully interpret what your map is trying to represent, 'Does the red skull and crossbones over my favorite restaurant mean what I think it means?'"
#3
You should also know when was the map that you're analyzing made. If it was created in 1962 and shows commuter levels in Chicago—it might not be such a valid source for the traffic data you are looking for today, unless you are feeling nostalgic, Scheidecker joked.
There you have it. You may now have become a cartographic genius, but you should be able to tell if you're looking at a terrible map or not!
#9
Christophe Beunens 4 years ago
I don't understand why Iceland is not green, but Spitsbergen is
#17
karla Meixnerová 4 years ago
No surprise, if the person with this opinion is a believer, that the Earth is flat...
#21
Rabbit Carrot 4 years ago
Nah. We see a giant a*s bible for most of those middle states. Oh and guns. Lots and lots of guns.
Nora H. 4 years ago
That's right! The tales of Florida Man are widely spread.
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Tabitha L 4 years ago
Right now, there is a lot of talk about the swing states in the election. So states like Michigan, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Virginia are getting a fair amount of attention in their own right.
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Martti Laurson 4 years ago
Europeans are not so dumb in geography. They actually know one or two things about other countries.
Just JoLynn 4 years ago
Most people in the US don't think it's the only country ffs. Just because idiocracy runs rampant on the internet doesn't mean it's an accurate representation of any group of people. Get off your high horse and find the humor in these which is what they're meant for.
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Sancho Cruz 4 years ago
Lol bout' right.. I was in California and folks were like "oh cool Kansas! You guys are still riding horses and fighting Indians?" For a minute I thought it was a joke thinking they were getting giggles at my expense" then one asked if all of towns had electricity and plumbing.. they were young and quite serious. Some people are really that ignorant. I want to say stupid but it wouldn't be correct in terms that they still have no idea how the world actually works .
Kieran Markham Mccarty 4 years ago
They must not have heard that song, “Everything’s Up To Date In Kansas City”
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The Hufflepuff Bookworm 4 years ago
I, being British, see Florida as Disneyland and California as Hollywood
The Hufflepuff Bookworm 4 years ago
I know this isnt true but generally, that is how we think of it as
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Gary Townshend 4 years ago
America as seen by Texans, if you count California and New York as foreign states, as in different countries.
meepmeep 4 years ago
I don't think the map is a joke on Europeans, I think it's a joke on America that our craziness just meshes altogether into a giant "Texas"
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Annette Cerreta 4 years ago
I hate to say it, but after living in California for the past five years, we might have to lump it in with the red states now.
John Baker 4 years ago (edited)
California has always leaned heavily red in small towns and rural areas, to the point where it was considered newsworthy when Orange County went blue in the midterms. Face it, no honest to God blue state would have ever elected Ronald Reagan governor.
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Hedwig Thuilot 4 years ago
Exactly! "Flipper"was my favorite show in the sixties!
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Freya_is_bored 4 years ago
I mean we know there are others places. I had to do a test on US states in year 8!
Sill Marien 4 years ago
I'm fairly certain I would name more states than most muricans could name countries ;p
Nikos Papakonstandinou 4 years ago
No, you see many of us know where Florida is and also that "Florida man" is considered a sort of insult, so you need to add that too.
Marcia Cash 4 years ago
In the past, if being an American wasn't cool, we could always say we were Texans. But no more.
Johnny 4 years ago
And Europeans see the USA as a much smaller country, I worked at a car rental agency on the east coast, and rented a car for a week to some European Tourists, and they planned to go visit California. When I said it would take them a week just to drive there, then they said "Well Florida is on this coast and is much closer, right? We'll just go there", and were astounded when I told them it would take them nearly 20 hours of driving. They were used to crossing several country borders in a half day's drive.
Kelly 4 years ago
Europe is a Continent. It's more correct to compare America, not only the USA, with Europe.
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Raphael Biock 4 years ago
No, were not that silly. We know that florida exists, too and together it is four states. Easy to know.
Gibberint Dark 4 years ago
Nope... Americans try to brag to Europeans that the size California, Texas and New York are that big...!!
Just another bot 4 years ago (edited)
If the said Europeans never went to school....or studied geography, or read any American-based literature, or watched any movies set in USA... maybe?
Red Hair Blue Soul 4 years ago
Oh, don't be fooled. The guns are almost everywhere here. I'm ashamed of my country.
Katherine Heasley 4 years ago
Oh, California wishes! (Texas, too, for that matter. NY doesn't see anything wrong with their part of the map.)
Laugh or not 4 years ago
Excuse me? My generation had to learn about US geography, as one of the leading countries in the world (along with geography of the EU countries and Soviet Union/Russia). I guess now it has changed to China.
meepmeep 4 years ago
I'm sorry you had to learn US geography. In the US, we were barely taught US geography, let alone the geography of any other country
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Julie BT 120 4 years ago
How the world really sees a map of America: cowboys(Texas and other texas), alligators(Florida), corn(the middle), cheese(the other middle), Hollywood (left side), NY Yankees (the right side)
Tiny Dynamine 4 years ago
Considering we never stop hearing about everything that goes on there, this is far from true.
Nothanks L. Walk 4 years ago
Naaaaaaah new york's not that big. Plus there's queertown with that breakout-proof prison three people broke out of sometime after your unsinkable ship sank.
#22
Sadie Shapiro 4 years ago
i don't even want to try saying that one. you know which one I'm talking about.
#28
Jayne Kyra 4 years ago (edited)
According to my dots in MS Paint over each: 132. Might be wrong, but I am not doing it again. EDIT: Did it again and Beto River is right, I missed 10 at some point. Thank you Beto!
#29
Oathbraker 4 years ago
I understand mistaking it with Iraq or Afghanistan, but how the f**k did they go to Africa and the Balkans? A couple are even in the UK, for crying out loud.
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What do you think ?
Ivo H 4 years ago
The main reason almost all of these maps are so terrible are the emoji, which (apart from they're extremely annoying) sometimes cover text.
Craig Silberman 4 years ago
I can now recognize Rokas Laurinavičius' posts after the first three entries.
Jozef Becker 4 years ago
Many of these maps would only be considered terrible from a geological point of view. A lot of them are demographic which, I find fascinating.
Jace 4 years ago
Found the anti-intellectual, liberal-hating conservative crusader who’s going to change us all by mocking us...
Load More Replies... Ivo H 4 years ago
The main reason almost all of these maps are so terrible are the emoji, which (apart from they're extremely annoying) sometimes cover text.
Craig Silberman 4 years ago
I can now recognize Rokas Laurinavičius' posts after the first three entries.
Jozef Becker 4 years ago
Many of these maps would only be considered terrible from a geological point of view. A lot of them are demographic which, I find fascinating.
Jace 4 years ago
Found the anti-intellectual, liberal-hating conservative crusader who’s going to change us all by mocking us...
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