New study: “Red vs. Blue states” maps do this to your brain

[fronandough]

This is a data representation issue. Showing an all or nothing representation in a state leaves out the nuance of states that may be minutely close to the other party by percentage.

[caymuscairns]

People forget there are tons of democrats in Mississippi, and tons of Republicans in California.

[tphillips]

I felt such a rush of relief looking at the gradient map. It feels much less hopeless.

[PrinceOfDuval]

Still waiting on "One State, Two State, Red State, Blue State" to drop

[joaovitormatos]

Remember: the state with the largest number of Republicans is California

[Cattleclysmic]

If you get 50.01% of the vote in that state, you get all electoral college votes of that state.

People might not be polarized but election system is.

[kristenyarber]

Media outlets should (and sadly never will) be held accountable for their direct influence in political polarization.

[joeym]

"One State, Two State" could be a part on the history of solutions to Israel

[eggndle]

Love how it’s almost just a population density map

[Justsomeguyyuyu]

Gradient map: See? Your vote DOES matter

Residents of Massachusetts: LOL ok

[robster]

It still doesn’t work due to population density. You would also need a heat map

[MichealPeggins]

Government took blood v crips to a whole other level.

[webjoeking]

Also doesn’t accurately represent population density relative to the states physical land size.

[michelletoni]

Also makes it “appear, ” that the gop has more states, when in reality it’s far less, people in those states, rural areas, can’t compare to cities, Democrats own, highly populated areas, which explains why a republican hasn’t won the popular vote since I been alive & i am 46.

[jasonpatterson]

I love xkcd's comic about this (number 2399, if you care). It pointed out that in 2020 there were more Trump voters in California than there were in Texas, more Biden voters in Texas than in New York, etc. Additionally, votes are largely by population rather than area (the Senate and their electoral college contribution notwithstanding), so the shades of purple map still overstates the redness of the middle of the country.

[evilemperorzurg]

Funny enough in most countries red is the color of the Socialist/communist party and blue is the conservative color.

[MegaNinjaRyan]

Yeah tbh hearing colors for states ticks me off when I feel like I have an opinion and then hear I’m in a state that’s the opposite color, then I feel outcasted from my home, when in reality there are many people that are like me.

[WhiteLeper]

I like Red state/ blue states indicators to tell us what kind of Governor it has .

[Tonzoffun]

The fact that people think their vote matters is the real issue.

[GabrielOL]

The problem with that is it doesn’t take in population distribution, typically more rural areas vote republican and urban areas which are more condensed vote more democrat.