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."
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?'"
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!
Anyone who is Hispanic or Latinx is from a "Mexican Country" to a Fake Snooze viewer.
Load More Replies...Fact checkers Punditfact have checked and found that 60% of Fox News statements are either mostly false or a complete lie.
So crazy! They would be taken off air and fined huge amounts in Britain. Tv News must be impartial and facts only, and God help them if they break the rules!!
Load More Replies...I'm from "Cocaine México" and this is so funny and sad at the same time lol
"Damned Mexicans, hoarding all those countries... How selfish! At least Africa and Europe each keep to only one..." ;-P
Guyane, the yellow part of "Poor Mexico" is actually the most prosperous part of South America, because it's a part of France.
French Guiana is a French territory (and it's different than just Guiana), and hardly is more prosperous than the big neighbor. (Kinda trying to compare Puerto Rico, which is a US territory)
Load More Replies...Love the label 'Dispropaganda.' I think these people misunderestimated their geography skills.
Really pathetic! Did any of these people graduate from high school? Love WTF Mexico!
Actually, it's North America & South America... some say Central America, but that isn't a continent.
Well, yes, and "Latin America" is everything from the Rio Grande to Tierra Del Fuego plus parts of Spain and Portugal.
So freakin' funny! Even to a person of partial Hispanic ancestry like me.
I'm so confused by Uruguay being "West Mexico". This is going to keep me up at night wondering if it was a mistake or intentional silliness.
the whole thing is intentional silliness. In reply to fox news's unintentional stupidity.
Load More Replies...I'm a regular Fox viewer and I know for a fact that Trump DID NOT say this, Fox DID NOT have that on their screen and we are NOT STUPID!! It's been photoshopped (huge eye roll)
On March 31, 2019 Fox News fill in host Ed Henry issued an apology on air for Fox's error in referring to "3 Mexican Countries".
Load More Replies...Well, I've never seen so many Mexicans before moving to US, so I guess to be more accurate US' states are the ones that should be Mexican this mexican that. I live in the Mexican cheese state now
Load More Replies...I don't understand why Iceland is not green, but Spitsbergen is
No surprise, if the person with this opinion is a believer, that the Earth is flat...
Nah. We see a giant a*s bible for most of those middle states. Oh and guns. Lots and lots of guns.
i don't even want to try saying that one. you know which one I'm talking about.
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!
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.
Note: this post originally had 150 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.
The main reason almost all of these maps are so terrible are the emoji, which (apart from they're extremely annoying) sometimes cover text.
I can now recognize Rokas Laurinavičius' posts after the first three entries.
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.
Found the anti-intellectual, liberal-hating conservative crusader who’s going to change us all by mocking us...
Load More Replies...The main reason almost all of these maps are so terrible are the emoji, which (apart from they're extremely annoying) sometimes cover text.
I can now recognize Rokas Laurinavičius' posts after the first three entries.
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.
Found the anti-intellectual, liberal-hating conservative crusader who’s going to change us all by mocking us...
Load More Replies...