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I appreciate the clarity of the BBC maps. Having said that, the entire point of a map is to artificially represent something that cannot be perceived naturally
by 7952 7y ago
I appreciate the clarity of the BBC maps. Having said that, the entire point of a map is to artificially represent something that cannot be perceived naturally. All maps are a simplification of reality. And a graphically misleading map can be better because it helps people understand the truth. It is like a metaphor or analogy.
- TeMPOraL 7y ago> And a graphically misleading map can be better because it helps people understand the truth. Not if the reader doesn't understand the exact extent to which the map doesn't correspond to the territory. Just like with a metaphor or analogy.
- big_chungus 7y agoSo it's okay to spread a graphic that exaggerates the data as long as it's "helping to understand the truth"? Is not your perception of the magnitude of the truth subjective? This is another way of saying that it's okay to mislead as long as the issue is sufficiently important and/or people aren't taking it seriously enough (in your judgement). Metaphors and analogies are supposed to make a concept clearer, not to show scale. A gif with each frame showing the data from each day would have a similar impact but be clearer.