3 ms·

So would you object to a map like this[1] because Alaska and Hawaii are not geographically to scale with the other states? (Or in the correct geographic positio

So would you object to a map like this[1] because Alaska and Hawaii are not geographically to scale with the other states? (Or in the correct geographic position for that matter) Clearly distorting those 2 states does not distort the information the map conveys. So too with the other 48. >...they always show the total votes bar chart next to the map... I'm afraid not. Indeed the map I cited does not. Anyone glancing at it could fairly likely think Red won when in fact Blue won by very large margin. Actually it's hard to imagine a more confusing graphic. [1]https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/44/ElectoralCollege2012.svg https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/44/Electora...

brandonmenc 11y ago
The full Wikipedia article you conveniently snipped the map from does in fact show the popular vote in a bar chart: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election,_2012 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_ele... My point is the claim that these maps are being used to trick people, is exaggerated. Why? Because it's rare that the popular vote tally is not shown, and most people are aware of population density. I think that having as many different views as possible on the data is a great thing, and the maps in this article are excellent. However, because of the Electoral College, the standard map is not useless, and in fact shows you something no other map can - where a state is located along with how it voted in the election, projection distortions notwithstanding.
- whybroke 11y ago
  >most people are aware of population density Half of Americans can not find New York on a map. Half can not find Mississippi. Most believe Alaska is more populous than any New England state etc. >...they always show the total votes bar chart next to the map... That image is used in at least 4000 places on the web[1]. Very few include the the vote bar you claim is always there. Even MIT omits it [2] >I don't recall encountering sour grapes from even the least educated Republicans over the amount of the map colored red And I have encountered quite a bit. Seems the people we happen to bump into at random are different. >My point is the claim that these maps are being used to trick people, is exaggerated Claiming that it is intentionally tricking people would be exaggerated. Claiming that it is incidental misleading people is spot on. >the standard map is not useless It is not completely useless. But is so nearly so that it clearly should not be the default means of presenting the information to the public. [1]http://tineye.com/search/cdf0747ebb6fe87c0cc0f1dc1f21a35502b6007f/ http://tineye.com/search/cdf0747ebb6fe87c0cc0f1dc1f21a35502b... [2]http://news.mit.edu/2012/presidential-election-conference-1023 http://news.mit.edu/2012/presidential-election-conference-10...
  - brandonmenc 11y ago
    I don't necessarily disagree with you. Burning karma here but, imo, if someone can't find New York on a map they probably shouldn't even be allowed to vote for the President.
    - whybroke 11y ago
      Quit possibly. But pushing the hypothetical further: simply depriving ignorant people of the vote, aside from possible justice issues, would certainly result in social instability. (not to mention the undoubtable drag on the economy that ignorance represents) Better would be to see to it that everyone knows where New York is. And better still that everyone were indeed well informed enough not to be deluded by the map style we're talking about. Given, unfortunately, that we do live in a world with a fair level of ignorance, we should probably take that into account when presenting information. Certainly there are cynical people who are all too aware of how to do so for negative ends. Or, as I think in this case, designers quickly putting together a pretty graphic for TV simply by following a graphic formula that isn't remotely the best.

brandonmenc 11y ago

The full Wikipedia article you conveniently snipped the map from does in fact show the popular vote in a bar chart: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election,_2012 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_ele... My point is the claim that these maps are being used to trick people, is exaggerated. Why? Because it's rare that the popular vote tally is not shown, and most people are aware of population density. I think that having as many different views as possible on the data is a great thing, and the maps in this article are excellent. However, because of the Electoral College, the standard map is not useless, and in fact shows you something no other map can - where a state is located along with how it voted in the election, projection distortions notwithstanding.

whybroke 11y ago
>most people are aware of population density Half of Americans can not find New York on a map. Half can not find Mississippi. Most believe Alaska is more populous than any New England state etc. >...they always show the total votes bar chart next to the map... That image is used in at least 4000 places on the web[1]. Very few include the the vote bar you claim is always there. Even MIT omits it [2] >I don't recall encountering sour grapes from even the least educated Republicans over the amount of the map colored red And I have encountered quite a bit. Seems the people we happen to bump into at random are different. >My point is the claim that these maps are being used to trick people, is exaggerated Claiming that it is intentionally tricking people would be exaggerated. Claiming that it is incidental misleading people is spot on. >the standard map is not useless It is not completely useless. But is so nearly so that it clearly should not be the default means of presenting the information to the public. [1]http://tineye.com/search/cdf0747ebb6fe87c0cc0f1dc1f21a35502b6007f/ http://tineye.com/search/cdf0747ebb6fe87c0cc0f1dc1f21a35502b... [2]http://news.mit.edu/2012/presidential-election-conference-1023 http://news.mit.edu/2012/presidential-election-conference-10...
- brandonmenc 11y ago
  I don't necessarily disagree with you. Burning karma here but, imo, if someone can't find New York on a map they probably shouldn't even be allowed to vote for the President.
  - whybroke 11y ago
    Quit possibly. But pushing the hypothetical further: simply depriving ignorant people of the vote, aside from possible justice issues, would certainly result in social instability. (not to mention the undoubtable drag on the economy that ignorance represents) Better would be to see to it that everyone knows where New York is. And better still that everyone were indeed well informed enough not to be deluded by the map style we're talking about. Given, unfortunately, that we do live in a world with a fair level of ignorance, we should probably take that into account when presenting information. Certainly there are cynical people who are all too aware of how to do so for negative ends. Or, as I think in this case, designers quickly putting together a pretty graphic for TV simply by following a graphic formula that isn't remotely the best.