Spyke
lemm.ee

Crazy how much more of the world is closer to Georgia than Georgia

51
gruereply
lemmy.ml

Nah, exactly 50% "of the world" is closer to Georgia than Georgia because the dividing line forms two perfect hemispheres. It just doesn't seem like it because more of the world's land area is closer to Georgia.

The fact that the map fails to color in the oceans doesn't help, of course.

35

Well no, Georgia is bigger than Georgia so slightly more of the world is closer to Georgia than Georgia. If we were to shrink both Georgia and Georgia, the two regions would approach perfect hemispheres as Georgia and Georgia both approach a single point.

27
gruereply
lemmy.ml

I'm just as annoyed by the overuse of the Mercator projection as the next guy, but no, I don't think we can blame it in this particular instance. Consider the similar case of a day/night map, which pretty clearly reads as 50/50 even when it's Mercator:

(Upon further scrutiny comparing these two maps, I think the missing Antarctica might be a factor too.)

Also, relevant XKCD.

12
wandermindreply
sopuli.xyz

That day/night map is not Mercator though

(Nor is the map in OP)

3
gruereply

My argument applies to any cylindrical projection.

7

Are we formin' an escape line?

I'm willing to help, so long as once I'm out, the only reason you ask me to return involves fire.

I have a very strong "Flight or Sherman" response.

3
lemmy.ml

Damn, I never realized that Georgia is actually bigger than Georgia

28

Georgia: 93,191 sq. mi (149,976 sq. km)

Georgia: 69.700 sq. km

Apparently well more than twice the size Population-wise too

Georgia: 10.7m

Georgia: 3,6m

19

I got really confused about the shape of the boundary until I remembered about map projections all being terrible

20

Part of the former USSR were closer to Georgia than Georgia.

14
lemm.ee

I was thinking this may have confused people following the trump indictments, but then I realized most people don't know a Georgia exists outside of the US and I got sad because I couldn't be witty to strangers on the interwebs.

13

Bruh, he’s talking about Canada and Mexico! I think Georgia is one of the Canadian states.

5

I mean, lots of those strangers on the interwebs come from Europe and such, who may very well be aware of Georgia...

2
gruereply
lemmy.ml

The name of that island is "South Georgia," not just "Georgia."

6

You reached the end

Georgia. | Spyke