48
"The Midwest" (lemmy.world)
submitted 4 days ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
top 39 comments
sorted by: hot top new old
[-] [email protected] 7 points 3 days ago

You think this is BS?

West Virginia isn't even the furthest west Virginia... And there are only 2 of them.

[-] [email protected] 5 points 3 days ago

I'm not from the US and this thread is the first time I've understood why the phrase "the Midwest" never seemed to match up with where I thought "the Midwest" should be.

[-] [email protected] 7 points 3 days ago

Once upon a time the USA promised various tribes we would not start settling their lands to the west so the "midwestern USA" did match that space until we violated treaties and later seized CA.

Basically we had more land that wasn't ours to the west when the midwest got it's name.

[-] [email protected] 19 points 4 days ago

We should rename it the "middle east"

[-] [email protected] 5 points 4 days ago

Haliburton has entered the chat.

[-] [email protected] 2 points 4 days ago

Haliburton has rebuilt the chat.

[-] [email protected] 2 points 4 days ago

The "private security" company that Haliburton hired is allegedly doing sketchy things to the native chat members.

[-] [email protected] 1 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

This is because names are with relation to the center of power.

So to europeans, the middle east is well, middle east, from europe.

While to east coast americans, the midwest is well, the middle west, compared to the original colonies.

This is what happens when you use naming systems from the powerful instead of just using local names.

[-] [email protected] 3 points 3 days ago

So to europeans, the middle east is well, middle east, from europe.

Europe splits it into "near east" (Turkey, UAE, Iran), "middle east" (Afghanistan, India) and "far east" (China).

[-] [email protected] 1 points 3 days ago

Sort of? The fact is when the midwest got its name there was land to the west America had not claimed/seized/stolen.

[-] [email protected] 2 points 3 days ago

Sorry bud, this is CartographyAnarchy, not just plain Cartography. Please post such accurate maps there rather than this joke place :)

[-] [email protected] 6 points 4 days ago

Put the center of the compass in NY and it all works.

[-] [email protected] 3 points 4 days ago

This. Our country was originally established on the east coast. Anything off the coastline was considered "west." But knowing just how massive our country is now, we have the true west (left half of the country) and then the mid-west (anything not on the east coast, but not on the left half of the country).

Our basis for cardinal locations is centered around the concept of our nation slowly expanding "out west" from the east coast.

[-] [email protected] 7 points 4 days ago

I’m assuming it was named that way because “the west” was basically anything past Oklahoma from the perspective of the east coast, where most of the population existed.

[-] [email protected] 2 points 4 days ago

Everything past the Ohio Valley was considered the west.

[-] [email protected] 6 points 4 days ago
[-] [email protected] 3 points 4 days ago

Did Canada take back the top bit at some point?

[-] [email protected] 1 points 4 days ago
[-] [email protected] 3 points 4 days ago
[-] [email protected] 1 points 4 days ago

Yes, let Canada maintain the element of surprise.

[-] [email protected] 1 points 3 days ago

That’s upper/north MidEast.

[-] [email protected] 1 points 4 days ago

It was the west before the entire Continent was explored. For you youngsters there was a time when they didn't know where the other side of the landmass was.

[-] [email protected] -1 points 4 days ago

And by "they", we mean invaders from Europe, specifically.

[-] [email protected] 1 points 3 days ago

I highly doubt that Native Americans from the east coast knew where the west coast was, either.

[-] [email protected] -2 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

They were just a bunch of ignorant savages, after all. It's as absurd as a medieval society having heard about China!

/S because you apparently literally believe that

[-] [email protected] 2 points 3 days ago

Well you aren’t helpful. Quick google search says more than likely no. No complete maps of the continent exist prior to the colonial era, but trading between tribes close to each other did see some items travel across the continent and into mesoamerica. Certain artifacts from Florida tribes were found in California, and shells from California found in Alaska and Virginia.

[-] [email protected] -3 points 3 days ago

Great, you admit I'm right.

[-] [email protected] 1 points 3 days ago

I mean, maybe? You worded your response odd. Generally Native American tribes understood there was more West, but not how far or exactly what. If limited cartography makes them savages then I guess you are correct. The average European peasant would have similar knowledge of China, the main difference comes down to the upper echelon of society having direct communications and trade across the continents. Something not seen amongst Native Americans.

[-] [email protected] 1 points 3 days ago

I'm glad I don't live in a mind that immediately turns so hostile. Must be tiresome.

People on the east coast of what is now the United States did not have horses and were not very migratory. They probably did not travel far. I'm sure they had an understanding that there was a west coast due to interactions with other tribes. That doesn't mean they knew where it was.

Even if I'm wrong on any points, this is hardly a racist view.

[-] [email protected] 1 points 3 days ago

There were East-West trade routes before European settlers showed up.

The Inca people of South America famously built a 25,000 mile long road, and they didn't have horses, so access to horses is not a prerequisite for long distance travel.

[-] [email protected] -1 points 3 days ago

Fucking lol

[-] [email protected] 0 points 4 days ago

I didn't look up where Guam and American Samoa are. The centre could even be further west.

But new York is in the south.

[-] [email protected] 1 points 3 days ago

I’m from WA and NY is much warmer than WA, defy makes sense to me

[-] [email protected] 0 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

Remember how the Atlanta Braves and Cincinnati Reds were in the Western Division of the National League? I remember it sticking out like a sore thumb. Same division teams, ATL vs LA or SD or SF on opposite ends of four, count 'em, four timezones.

EDIT: Then the Chicago Cubs were on the Eastern Division of the National League, while the White Sox were on the Western Division of the American.

[-] [email protected] 1 points 4 days ago

It was really strange. Thankfully things were slightly better by the 90s when the central division was added, but that still had weird groupings like Houston/Pittsburgh (or Miami/Montreal).

[-] [email protected] 0 points 4 days ago

Yeah as a Kansan I always just assumed I was Midwest since… well… I’m as mid as it gets…

I recognize that I’m Central and not west though , feels like Midwest should really be Colorado/Nevada etc. Certainly doesn’t make any sense for those northeastern states to be called Midwest though.

[-] [email protected] 0 points 4 days ago

As a native Oklahoman, the term always confused hell out of me.

[-] [email protected] -1 points 4 days ago

It really shouldn't. It's a historical name. Most people lived in the east and came west.

this post was submitted on 06 Jun 2025
48 points (96.2% liked)

CartographyAnarchy

228 readers
6 users here now

A community for Cartographers with nothing left to lose.

Rules:

Don’t be awful Lemmy Guidelines Still Apply.

We are agents of chaos I’ve created this to be the alternative to the community I used to manage on the website that shalt not be named “mapporncirclejerk”

Live and let die Meme trends happen, so please don’t message mods asking to take down maps that are repetitive to a bit.

Reposts Vs. Covers Not all reposts are evil- if someone posts something that has been done years ago, it serves to bring old memes to the new users. I call these meme covers. However it can be done in excess which makes it a repost and spam. Mods will determine if a post is a cover or a repost.

No impersonating mods I can’t believe I had to make this rule.

No harassing mods on an appeal We can talk it out, and we will be acting in good faith when making decisions. If you disagree with a removal, you are free to message for clarification or to appeal by giving some added context.

Bans Bans will be set to a maximum of 365 days for humans, and a minimum of 365 years for bots. I believe people can change, so if you are banned for good reason, do know that it is not permanent, it is just a way to say “take time to grow and come back when you are ready”.

founded 5 days ago
MODERATORS