The Internet Is Obsessed With Maps — Here’s Why It’s Gone Too Far by Mike Nudelman and Christina Sterbenz.
From the post:
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“There’s something about maps that’s really authoritative and hard to question — we’re so used to seeing them …. But the more popular something becomes, the more people try to duplicate it without the expertise,” Fanning explained.Condensing complex data into an easily and quickly digestible package often leads to oversimplification or, worse, misinformation. That becomes especially problematic when the map is viewed and shared far from its original context.
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Of course, the maps in question are all visual but you could easily represent some topic maps as visual maps and capture that same sense of authority.
Have you faced issues of “oversimplification” or “misinformation” from use of a topic map? Any impact from a map being removed from its original context?
BTW, correction to the first map in the post. Tulane isn’t the “most desirable” college in Louisiana. LSU Baton Rouge is the “most desirable” college in Louisiana. 😉