These Maps are Lying (if you let them)

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[vlogbrothers]

I did not realize this video was going to "pop off" so a little addendum here:

1. I don't want people to watch this and think "Oh, so Trump didn't do as well as everyone is saying?" No, Trump got way more votes than in 2020, and Kamala Harris got way fewer than Joe Biden. The swing was decisive and national and not something to be ignored.

2. I don't think these maps are trying to mislead anyone intentionally, but as a person who communicates for a living, I am very aware of times when someone might walk away with the wrong idea in their heads.

3. Alaska does have county-like things, but they don't report the vote by them so it just gets one arrow.

[LegalEagle]

Thank you! I've been shouting this from the rooftops.

[ajdamronfamily]

When my husband was getting his Geography degree, he read a book called How To Lie With Maps, and that idea has always stuck with me.

[Nick-pblc]

Thank you, I did not realize that half of votes in California were not yet counted.

[JollyGreenWizard]

To quote from a great book, "when you don't know what to do, do what's right, and do what's in front of you - but not necessarily what's right in front of you." I'm putting my phone away except for music today. Time to go for a hike.

[juliet__o_O]

4:25 Alaska doesn’t have counties because we have boroughs! So it’s not like all 750, 00 people are in one big county; there are still divisions

[DawnBurn]

First thing I do for every map: CHECK THE AXIS SCALES. It makes me unbelievably cranky.

[jiggatwang]

Thank you for expressing your, "I don't know how to feel or what to do" moment at the end. I think so many of us can relate.

[MrGannon]

I work with Maps and one of the top books for GIS nerds and Cartographers is called "How to Lie with Maps". It's a good read and explains the bad use an manipulation of the data. Great video Hank!

[skylerwitherspoon]

I took the tea quiz. pelicans are the kind of cat I am, how did you know

[juliaxchung]

Hank, I don’t know what to do or think this week, but thank you for being here with us ❤

[kggoddess]

As a geography teacher, I absolutely love this! My students often think coming into class that maps are just factual but there are so many limitations to what maps can tell you and if you aren’t looking carefully you can draw the wrong conclusions. That’s how maps are used to manipulate people.

[hammyskyblu]

John and Hank, thanks for being here through these tough times and continuing to make videos. Seeing a new vlogbrothers video get posted is incredibly comforting.

[justinhammer]

Thank you for this, Hank. This community continues to be a good place to be even during times of complete and total bewilderment and frustration.

One of the proudest moments I had recently was when my son was watching a YouTube video with us where information was being presented as fact, and he blurted out, "She's not saying any evidence!" He was picking up on a perceived lack of cited sources, and we were able to have a discussion about how that particular channel does do a lot of research and posts the sources in the video descriptions, but that he was correct in being skeptical even though the things in the video sounded good.

Hank and John, your videos all across YouTube have been an invaluable tool for helping my wife and I teach our kids how to be curious, skeptical, and empathetic. For us at the very least, the world is a better place because of everything you do. Thank you so much.

[thenordicspirit]

Thank you for doing this video Hank. You have a very calming voice and your words are comforting. We love you.

[Stoneworks]

On point with your Tucker Carlson impression 1:15

[phoebemelchor]

thank u hank. as a scared 19 yr old who watched crash course throughout high school. thank u for getting it, and breaking it down. hope you get some R&R. this whole country needs it right now.

[HPFireYT]

As someone who voted blue in a red area, I’m also incredibly annoyed when my (and many others!) existence is ignored in a lot of the maps being shown.

[CorwinFound]

Totally not having to do with this video but here it is anyways.

I feel like a lot of people have forgotten how to human. I saw a woman in a comment section say how scared she is of losing healthcare due to chronic illness. And a person responded some version of "ha ha, lib tears, move or die." And it just kinda shocked me.

I know this is the internet but when did it get where people are comfortable laughing at truly scared folks? I feel like I'm in a daycare watching a handful of 4 year olds running around biting people and laughing. And at least one teacher is egging them on, laughing along, and giving them gold stars for doing it.

I'm not talking about ethics or morals. Literally just being human. Holding doors for people, not tripping old ladies crossing the street, feeling sad when you see a sad person. These are just _human_ things and I don't know when being human became something to question in a significant part of the population.

I don't know. Just thoughts.

[dem]

"America is weird" is the most charitable criticism of the country I've heard this week.