this post was submitted on 17 Aug 2025
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[–] theherk@lemmy.world 38 points 4 days ago (4 children)

This is such a garbage take. There is no way to “show our world as it truly is” in two dimensions. I’m all about showing other projects and orientations. Classrooms should have “upside down” maps and Albert maps for example. But we should also teach that each projection has benefits and drawbacks. I was taught that decades ago. Have we stopped?

[–] Blackmist@feddit.uk 12 points 4 days ago (2 children)

The way the world's going, the next accepted projection will be depicted on the backs of four elephants atop a turtle.

[–] rumba@lemmy.zip 10 points 4 days ago

Bring on the Wizzards

I do hope we get the luggage....

Wait a minute. I have seen this exact visual somewhere

[–] BehavioralClam@lemmy.ml 2 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Its the same take that's applied to any party seen as a "status quo". Your boss, the CEO, police, the state, movies, everything is "projected" to show something that it isn't to subtly manipulate the basis of your decisions.

[–] theherk@lemmy.world 1 points 3 days ago (1 children)

What? Map projections are not projected to manipulate you psychologically. They are projected to manipulate a three dimensional object onto a two dimensional surface.

[–] BehavioralClam@lemmy.ml 1 points 3 days ago

I didn't say they were made for that. They are used for it tho.

[–] rumba@lemmy.zip -5 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Africans: You know, 14th century mercator maps are horribly disproportionate over 1/2 the map and are the maps of reference for most online apps, software and textbooks. There are better projections that balance location for actual land mass, we should probably use those.

lemmy: garbage take.

[–] theherk@lemmy.world 8 points 4 days ago (2 children)

There aren’t better maps. Only maps with different tradeoffs. ALL 2d maps of spheres are disproportionate.

[–] Alcoholicorn@mander.xyz 6 points 4 days ago (1 children)

There absolutely are better maps for specific purposes. Or do you think this map would be no better or worse for the purpose of teaching school children?

[–] theherk@lemmy.world -3 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Oh boy! Are you serious? Let me be more precise, in case. There aren’t actual projections that are better in all cases than the Mercator projection. There are maps that are better in given cases. ALL maps have trade offs. The one you shared, included. It certainly benefits from the humor of pointing out why this is an issue in the first place.

https://xkcd.com/977/

[–] rumba@lemmy.zip 3 points 4 days ago

in all cases I think the part tripping you up

We can do better with teaching, news and infographics than a map that is just designed for ship navigation.

It's like you'd run over a dozen kids in the trolly problem rather than a geriatric because there's no perfect solution.

[–] rumba@lemmy.zip 3 points 4 days ago

No, there aren't perfect maps. There ARE better maps.

Mercator's one trick is north is always straight up, so it's great for navigation with a compass. If you're navigating the oceans on a ship, or even using GPS in your car, Mercator is GOAT because you don't have to twist it as your drive to keep north up. Unfortunately, we default to Mercator just about everywhere in places where it really has disadvantages.

If you're just looking at the map to locate things, or compare countries there are dozens of better maps and our decision to default to mercator for most uses us