The Armchair Explorers of Google Maps

[Boyd]

"People have always filled empty parts of maps with their imaginations and debated over information gaps. The difference this time is that the explorers are amateurs on their home computers. For the most part, they’re having fun along the way."

MapLab: The Armchair Explorers of Google Maps

This month’s edition of MapLab was written by Corey Dickinson, a geographer and project manager who works at the intersection of humanitarian aid and geospatial sciences.

www.bloomberg.com

Note: This story is also available on Apple News if you're using a Mac, iPad or iPhone

https://apple.news/AOxOVLxpvTbKNF4OXXEqM5w

 

[Scroggy]

I joined a "LiDAR and Aerial Archaeology" group on Facebook and wound up having to mute it. You could post a grayscale picture of a Quarter Pounder meal there and some nimrods would claim in the comments that it was 1) WWII fortifications 2) an Indian mound 3) Civil War trenches 4) an abandoned mine 5) Roman ruins 6) a meteor crater.

It's a nice idea in theory, but I feel like you need to have some sort of thematic subdivision to enrich for people who either know something relevant, or want to know.

 

[bobpbx]

I joined a "LiDAR and Aerial Archaeology" group on Facebook and wound up having to mute it. You could post a grayscale picture of a Quarter Pounder meal there and some nimrods would claim in the comments that it was 1) WWII fortifications 2) an Indian mound 3) Civil War trenches 4) an abandoned mine 5) Roman ruins 6) a meteor crater.

It's a nice idea in theory, but I feel like you need to have some sort of thematic subdivision to enrich for people who either know something relevant, or want to know.

Some of the reactions to posts in Pine Barren Facebook Groups turn my stomach. It's not so much the wierdness, but the over the top emotions ejaculated:

PRECIOUS!, GORGEOUS!, LOVE THIS!, AWESOME!---complete with outsized graphics of clapping hands, dancing bears, Furry things, etc.

 

[GermanG]

I joined a "LiDAR and Aerial Archaeology" group on Facebook and wound up having to mute it. You could post a grayscale picture of a Quarter Pounder meal there and some nimrods would claim in the comments that it was 1) WWII fortifications 2) an Indian mound 3) Civil War trenches 4) an abandoned mine 5) Roman ruins 6) a meteor crater.

It's a nice idea in theory, but I feel like you need to have some sort of thematic subdivision to enrich for people who either know something relevant, or want to know.

This one is my personal favorite:

After I finished 10 minutes of laughing I posted a reply, explaining what mosquito ditches and impoundments were, and that these features were not present on aerials from the 30s, which anyone could look up. The reply was naturally deleted. Even more amazing than the video were the other replies, which consisted of other fools gulping down the koolaid.

 

[bobpbx]

What a joke. No indian would live in a place like that. Sloshing around in skeeter infested marshes. He called the places between the ditches 'lots'.

 

[pinelandpaddler]

This one is my personal favorite:

After I finished 10 minutes of laughing I posted a reply, explaining what mosquito ditches and impoundments were, and that these features were not present on aerials from the 30s, which anyone could look up. The reply was naturally deleted. Even more amazing than the video were the other replies, which consisted of other fools gulping down the koolaid.

That's f'n gold!

 

[pinelandpaddler]

WD40 William Dziekanowski - Comedian from NYC, United States

Comedian, Impersonator ,10 years experience ,As seen and heard on Last Comic Standing ,Joey Reynolds Radio Show ,WKIP 1450 AM Morning Show (Hudson Valley Focus) and Broadway Productions.

opencomedy.com

Same guy? Could be trolling?

 

[pinelandpaddler]

bwahaha. Damn it, Boyd. I have things to do!