this post was submitted on 26 Apr 2024
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Science Memes

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submitted 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) by fossilesque@mander.xyz to c/science_memes@mander.xyz
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[–] disguy_ovahea@lemmy.world 20 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (3 children)

Mercator maps are lies.

https://www.thetruesize.com/#?borders=1~!MTY2MDE2NDA.NDc5Njc5NwMjE1MTM3Mjc(MzM1MDIwMDg~!AQMTczNjE5MDg.MTI2ODc2MjY)MA

[–] Kalothar@lemmy.ca 19 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Yeah, they certainly are:

[–] disguy_ovahea@lemmy.world 20 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (1 children)

That is inaccurate. The correct way to use the tool is to lay the continent over the US. It skews the size and scale appropriately in order to provide an accurate measurement.

Antarctica vs US

It’s also larger in area than the US, including Alaska and all territories.

The total area of the US and its territories is just over 3.8 million square miles. Antarctica's area of 5.4 million square miles makes it 1.5x the size of the US.

[–] NeatNit@discuss.tchncs.de 10 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (1 children)

The correct way to use the tool is to lay the continent over the US.

Typical American, declaring that the US is the default country to compare every other country to!

On a more serious note, putting things side by side is the same as putting them over each other. Difference in height are not the same though, as closer to the equator size shrinks. The best way to compare is take two things and put them side by side on the equator - that's where there's least distortion.

[–] disguy_ovahea@lemmy.world -2 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (1 children)

How very nationalist of you to assume America-centrism where it is completely irrelevant. The comparison that was in dispute was the size of Antarctica vs the size of the US. I was clarifying how to use the tool. You’re still using it wrong, and now you’re being a tool. lol

[–] NeatNit@discuss.tchncs.de 5 points 6 months ago (1 children)

First sentence was a joke - hence "on a more serious note" for the next sentence. And if you think I'm using it wrong then, well, best of luck to you.

[–] disguy_ovahea@lemmy.world -1 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

Why do you think the static grey map is in the background? The entire point of the tool is to overlay one nation upon one of the nations on the static map for accurate size comparison. It’s demonstrated clearly in the pop-up instructional video displayed when you first open the website.

[–] SkybreakerEngineer@lemmy.world 2 points 6 months ago

Join the Organization of Cartographers for Social Equality today!

[–] jonasw@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 6 months ago

Kalothar is right

https://www.thetruesize.com/#?borders=1~!MTY4NDk1MDM.NTE5OTU2MTc5NjM3NzY(MjAyMDQxNw~!CONTIGUOUS_USMTMzNTM3.MTE1MDkwMTA)MA~!AQ*MTY1OTExMjU.MTE1NjAxMjQ)MQ