this post was submitted on 15 Dec 2023
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xkcd

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Alt text: Even with a blank map, a lot of people can only name 45-50 of the 64 states.

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[–] [email protected] 47 points 11 months ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

Ninessee pronounced Nanci

[–] [email protected] 24 points 11 months ago (4 children)

I was expecting this one to be interactive but then I noticed the alt text. I'm not a geography nerd who's going to explain this one

[–] brown567 37 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

The map looks correct at first glance, but he's added another 14 states by drawing the borders wrong XD

[–] pomodoro_longbreak 17 points 11 months ago (4 children)

Not American, but I assume it's wrong in some subtle and hilarious way?

[–] [email protected] 8 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (3 children)

Yeah, he's got Minnesota in there but totally left out Megasota

Two Tennessees, but no nineessee

Texoklahoma is up by Midsouthdakota?

North-West Virginia isn't even a thing no matter what those weirdos say

The weird strip of land in the Great Lake

Removed Whodaho and added "Idaho"? WTF is Idaho?

It's got the state we all agreed doesn't exist?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

And where is Mickeysota?

[–] ricecake 3 points 11 months ago

Bunch of extra states with similar shapes to existing states, so it messes with your eye and kinda blends in.

Might be harder to do with a map of Africa, Asia, Europe or south America because there aren't as many straight line borders and things are a bit more curvy.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Working from the bottom left... California, Arizona, New Mexico.... Wtf?

[–] [email protected] 13 points 11 months ago

California, Arizona, New Mexico, Old Mexico, Texas …

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

I see what you mean about this map being anomalous. Some of the states seem to be doubled, I wondered where they got that 64 states figure from!! My bad!

[–] [email protected] 15 points 11 months ago

Ah yes the great states of Arkansas and Arkan'tsas, of Kansas and Kan'tsas.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 11 months ago

I’ve got: Neo Hampshire, Middle Carolina, Outdianna, Tennetucky, Rkansas, Northwest Dakota, West South Dakota, Souther Dakota, The Real South Dakota, Coloradon’t, Becausoming, Ariz Oh No!, Udaho & Trail

[–] merc 11 points 11 months ago

What's interesting are the states you can't modify too much or it gives away the game.

Texas is a key example, people are pretty familiar with that shape, even many non-Americans will recognize it. Florida and California are also pretty well known. Also, many people have a rough idea of NY State, though you could probably tweak the north and west borders a bit and nobody would notice too much.

The ones it's easy to fiddle with are the rectangular ones in the mid-west. I think a lot of people only know them starting from another reference point, like "north of Texas" or "east of Nevada".

[–] [email protected] 10 points 11 months ago

Texas, California, Colorado, Wyoming, Colorado again-... wait a minute

[–] [email protected] 10 points 11 months ago

A couple of my friends had a go at this one:

Some notable quotes:

"Wrong. It goes washingyon, oregon, gravity falls, hotel california"

"pennywise AND ohio, rough spot for maine"

"New Hampsire is not a state. I haven’t heard shit from someone in New Hampshire"

[–] [email protected] 7 points 11 months ago (2 children)

I don't know if that's West Ohio or East Indiana, but either way, it is a crime against nature

[–] robotopera 2 points 11 months ago

An Ohio without Columbus is an Ohio I want to be a part of.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

We're always as war with East ~~Asia~~ Indiana.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 11 months ago

I like Central Carolina and Kennesaw.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 11 months ago

Finally Center Dakotans have their own state! Justice after all!

[–] [email protected] 6 points 11 months ago

Canadian here, from the outside it seems to just be 3 states. Almost crazy, crazy and don't come here if you want to exist.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Ah yes, Washington, Oregon, Orecan't, and California!

[–] [email protected] 6 points 11 months ago (1 children)

My favorite is asking people what the 51st state is, Hawaii or Alaska?

[–] [email protected] 5 points 11 months ago

How many states are in New Mexico?

[–] [email protected] 5 points 11 months ago

Glad Jefferson got included.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 11 months ago (1 children)

East Maine is so much better than West Maine.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 11 months ago

Is that west maine? I thought it was old hampshire

[–] [email protected] 4 points 11 months ago

Most forget to put both New and Old Hampshire

[–] [email protected] 4 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

The United States of America

[–] [email protected] 3 points 11 months ago

United Stateses

[–] [email protected] 4 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

NW, NE, SW, & SE Colorado

[–] [email protected] 4 points 11 months ago

North and South Dakota now have a Middle Dakota buffer zone.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 11 months ago (2 children)

Unless you're including all the minor islands and territories, the U.S. only has 50 states to speak of. I know I could identify my state, Texas, Hawaii, California and a couple others. If there are people who can name up to 50 states and where they are on a map, that's pretty damn impressive!

[–] [email protected] 9 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Look a little closer at the map.

I'm pretty sure you'll be able to do it. I have faith.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 11 months ago (1 children)

I did finally. My bad for not spotting the anomalies right off. See, your wonderful christian attitude was so helpful.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Why are you giving Christianity a monopoly on faith?

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Calm down. Yes, of course there are a few people who can, but fortunately most of them live in that small part of the world that is still outside the US.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

That's true. I doubt most U.S. citizens could actually name most of the states or their locations on a map of the U.S. All I'm saying is that if they can, that's pretty impressive - because so many young people today can't even name a country at random.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 11 months ago

I'm just tickled that this map shows MN's northwest angle as the (pseudo)exclave that it is.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 11 months ago

i got all the way to kentucky before i spotted the issue

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

LoL, New Mexico A & B

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago

The chef is intact but is holding 2 plates now.