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] 54 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago

Ninessee pronounced Nanci

[–] [email protected] 18 points 1 year ago

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

[–] [email protected] 15 points 1 year 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

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 year 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 1 year 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] 10 points 1 year ago

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

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

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

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

Even Washington is mostly "S Seattle". C'mon Cascadia! Fuck these Orecan't posers, let's go hang with Hawaii. 🤙🏼

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago (2 children)

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

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

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

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

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

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago

Glad Jefferson got included.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago

I like Central Carolina and Kennesaw.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago

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

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago

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

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago

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

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

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

[–] criticon 5 points 1 year ago

How many states are in New Mexico?

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

East Maine is so much better than West Maine.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago

Is that west maine? I thought it was old hampshire

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

The United States of America

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

United Stateses

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Most forget to put both New and Old Hampshire

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

Old Hampshire is surprisingly close to the original Zealand.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

NW, NE, SW, & SE Colorado

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year 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] 11 points 1 year 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] 3 points 1 year 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 1 year ago (1 children)

Why are you giving Christianity a monopoly on faith?

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago

I think in this country, Christianity does have a monopoly on faith. And monopoly is a good word to use, because religion is really just big business and those who make the most money hold all the cards.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year 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 1 year 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] 2 points 1 year ago
[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

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

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

LoL, New Mexico A & B

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 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

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

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

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

LoL, New Mexico A & B

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

The chef is intact but is holding 2 plates now.