this post was submitted on 23 Jul 2023
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Data Is Beautiful

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A place to share and discuss data visualizations. #dataviz


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[–] FrankFrankson@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago (4 children)

This is a weird ass pie chart using the US map as a base right? If I am correct then this is a terrible way to display this data.

[–] Neato@kbin.social 13 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Why? It gives people a relatable size and shape to compare to. Like saying the 100 richest landowners own equivalent to Florida.

[–] FrankFrankson@lemmy.world 0 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

I get that but it needs to be labeled some way to clarify this at least. A lot of people look at this and could easily think it is what each area has the most of and that the positions of the types of land have something to do with the states they are near or cover.

[–] n33rg@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 year ago

Agreed. I definitely thought that at first, thinking some of them seemed very off. Glad I read these comments. It’s especially confusing considering where some things are in the map that it seams almost believable for example that NY/NJ are made up mostly of mostly urban and commercial areas.

But it is a good chart (not map) for what it’s intended to show with some perspective provided in proper labeling.

[–] Misconduct@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

A lot of people sure keep saying "a lot of people" and getting mad at the graph instead of just laughing it off that they didn't get it at first. It's not the end of the world if you don't immediately understand something.

[–] Swedneck@discuss.tchncs.de 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

i really do not understand how anyone can be confused by this, obviously it's not a geographical map because new mexico does not contain the sum total of all american railways..

It's a fine graph that gives an intuitive sense for how much area is used for each thing.

[–] FrankFrankson@lemmy.world -1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yeah and Michigan doesn't contain all the idle/fallow land in the US but the problem is some people look at this and think that Michigan contains the most idle/fallow land in the US which is why it was used to represent that portion of the data.

I feel like there is a single sentence or phrase that could be written above the or near the graphic which would make it clear but I honestly don't know what it is.

[–] Misconduct@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

Why is some people's inability to use critical thinking anyone else's problem? Like, don't make assumptions then. Or, take a beat to understand what's in front of you. There's nothing wrong with this graph.

[–] Resonosity@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

I kind of like it tbh

[–] someguy3@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

I like seeing the area.