I love this West Wing clip .
I've always been a Peters projection gal - for scientific and humanistic reasons -, even though I love looking at old (Mercator) maps. And at old old old maps even more, and they are ridiculously wonky. But if I want to look at a geopolitical map of today, I want to look at an accurate one. I want my kids to know what the world looks like when mapped out. There is enough crap around to covertly influence them on economics, race, power, gender, etc. without the basic maps they'll encounter in primary and high school adding to the tally.
I understand and love historical value. And I also understand the practical implications of actually changing the type of map we use as standard around the world.
That said, I keep thinking that if it were Europe or North America who were on the receiving end of subtly entrenching negative economic and cultural stereotypes, they would have amended the standard maps years ago already! And while I realise that there are millions of maps out there, you have to start somewhere, and at some point, right?
So: why are we still producing Mercator maps? Why don't we just bite the bullet and start a long-term replacement programme?
Please or to access all these features
Please
or
to access all these features
AIBU?
to want to change the maps.
35 replies
moxon · 22/10/2014 16:47
OP posts:
TravelinColour ·
22/10/2014 20:41
This reply has been deleted
Message withdrawn at poster's request.
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