Nah, exactly 50% "of the world" is closer to Georgia than Georgia because the dividing line forms two perfect hemispheres. It just doesn't seem like it because more of the world's land area is closer to Georgia.

[–] imgonnatrythis@lemm.ee 2 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Is it because of the Mercator projection?

[–] grue@lemmy.ml 11 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I'm just as annoyed by the overuse of the Mercator projection as the next guy, but no, I don't think we can blame it in this particular instance. Consider the similar case of a day/night map, which pretty clearly reads as 50/50 even when it's Mercator:

day/night map using Mercator projection

(Upon further scrutiny comparing these two maps, I think the missing Antarctica might be a factor too.)

Also, relevant XKCD.

[–] wandermind@sopuli.xyz 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

That day/night map is not Mercator though

(Nor is the map in OP)

[–] grue@lemmy.ml 6 points 1 year ago

My argument applies to any cylindrical projection.

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