Merged Mercator projection to be phased out?

[Helen]

@theprestige, I don't think schools have abandoned using msps to teach geography. Using a better projection seems, again, a good thing. I actually think that's important, bur feel free to disagree. You do it so well, after all.

 

[Dr.Sid]

@theprestige, I don't think schools have abandoned using msps to teach geography. Using a better projection seems, again, a good thing. I actually think that's important, bur feel free to disagree. You do it so well, after all.

Schools don't need UN to tell them what maps to use.

 

[Steve]

A good thing? Sure. An important thing? I'm unconvinced.


I'm fairly certain that almost everyone on this globe has no particular need to know whether the proportions on the Mercator are weird or not. I'm fairly certain that almost everyone on this globe can live long and prosper, without ever bothering to notice or care about the proportions on the Mercator.

Yup. Upon reflection it is really a minor thing, except apparently to a few Africans. The vast majority of people will live out their lives totally unaffected by this change. If it makes a few people happy then the UN has done good.

 

[Helen]

Schools don't need UN to tell them what maps to use.

No, but it might help.

 

[theprestige]

A correction and an apology:

This whole time I've been laboring under the illusion that the UN was looking at changing its own internal policies for representing the globe in two dimensions. After reading the cited article more (at all) closely, I realize that this is actually the UN's recommendation to the nations of the world.

I apologize for my inattention to this important detail, and for many posts in which I argued from a flawed understanding that could have been easily prevented or corrected.

---

Anyway, this is a resolution from the UN that people should not default to the Mercator. So I assume that yes, over the next few years, the Mercator Projection will indeed be phased out of common usage around the world. In fact I wouldn't surprised that even though the the official position of the US government is that it's unnecessary and a waste of time, many American school districts are already putting proposals together, to switch over to some other projection.

Hopefully it won't be Togo's preferred "Eastern Ukraine belongs to Russia now" version.

 

[Steve]

A correction and an apology:

This whole time I've been laboring under the illusion that the UN was looking at changing its own internal policies for representing the globe in two dimensions. After reading the cited article more (at all) closely, I realize that this is actually the UN's recommendation to the nations of the world.

I apologize for my inattention to this important detail, and for many posts in which I argued from a flawed understanding that could have been easily prevented or corrected.

---

Anyway, this is a resolution from the UN that people should not default to the Mercator. So I assume that yes, over the next few years, the Mercator Projection will indeed be phased out of common usage around the world. In fact I wouldn't surprised that even though the the official position of the US government is that it's unnecessary and a waste of time, many American school districts are already putting proposals together, to switch over to some other projection.

Hopefully it won't be Togo's preferred "Eastern Ukraine belongs to Russia now" version.

That global change may happen over time. I don't see many countries (or individual school districts) rushing to devote their time and money to make this a priority.

 

[theprestige]

@theprestige, I don't think schools have abandoned using msps to teach geography. Using a better projection seems, again, a good thing. I actually think that's important, bur feel free to disagree. You do it so well, after all.

If we're talking about teaching geography in the classroom, I'd argue that the Mercator is an excellent projection, probably one of the best. It's precisely because it so clearly demonstrates the tradeoffs inherent in any projection of a sphere onto a plane, that I think schools should continue to use it. Especially for teaching geography.

Why even bother teaching children about maps, if you're not going to bother teaching them about projections, scales, and how to read a map properly?

 

[theprestige]

That global change may happen over time. I don't see many countries (or individual school districts) rushing to devote their time and money to make this a priority.

You're begging the question that individual school districts will lampshade every single proposal they come up with.

 

[Steve]

That global change may happen over time. I don't see many countries (or individual school districts) rushing to devote their time and money to make this a priority.

ETA The obvious solution if accuracy is the primary goal is to do away with maps and use globes exclusively.

 

[Steve]

You're begging the question that individual school districts will lampshade every single proposal they come up with.

No I am not. Budget issues are a major concern among school boards almost everywhere. This is not an issue that will rise to the top of most board budget discussions.

 

[theprestige]

ETA The obvious solution if accuracy is the primary goal is to do away with maps and use globes exclusively.

The Mercator projection, like all other topologically correct projections, is absolutely accurate.

 

[theprestige]

No I am not. Budget issues are a major concern among school boards almost everywhere. This is not an issue that will rise to the top of most board budget discussions.

I didn't say it would rise to the top of budget discussions. I said I wouldn't be surprise if proposals were already being drafted.

 

[Steve]

I didn't say it would rise to the top of budget discussions. I said I wouldn't be surprise if proposals were already being drafted.

I would.

 

[Steve]

The Mercator projection, like all other topologically correct projections, is absolutely accurate.

But, but, but Africa is the "wrong size"!

 

[theprestige]

I would.

Honestly I wouldn't be surprised if such proposals had already been drafted years ago. The whole "all the maps are Eurocentric and/or racist" idea has been around for a long time, now. The Togolese didn't invent this complaint out of whole cloth all by themselves. Or if they did, it's a case of convergent evolution.

 

[Safe-Keeper]

A good thing? Sure. An important thing? I'm unconvinced.

Your participation in this thread over 7-8 pages tells me otherwise.

 

[theprestige]

Your participation in this thread over 7-8 pages tells me otherwise.

I have never pretended that the things I find personally interesting or engaging rise to the level of importance for the nations of the world.

 

[Planigale]

If we're talking about teaching geography in the classroom, I'd argue that the Mercator is an excellent projection, probably one of the best. It's precisely because it so clearly
demonstrates the tradeoffs inherent in any projection of a sphere onto a plane, that I think schools should continue to use it. Especially for teaching geography.

Why even bother teaching children about maps, if you're not going to bother teaching them about projections, scales, and how to read a map properly?

This is only true if there is a comparison. So teaching geography comparing a mercator projection with an equal earth projection and teaching about why the mercator projection was important in the age of mercantilism, and why equal earth projections have benefits when comparing nations is a learning opportunity. The mercator projection isn't wrong, it did an important job. Equal earth projections also distort, but are necessary for social geography.

 

[Steve]

This is only true if there is a comparison. So teaching geography comparing a mercator projection with an equal earth projection and teaching about why the mercator projection was important in the age of mercantilism, and why equal earth projections have benefits when comparing nations is a learning opportunity. The mercator projection isn't wrong, it did an important job. Equal earth projections also distort, but are necessary for social geography.

"Social geography"? Sounds like something invented to pacify a particular population.

 

[Orphia Nay]

That global change may happen over time. I don't see many countries (or individual school districts) rushing to devote their time and money to make this a priority.

The USA, no. But I can see many countries that will introduce this projection.