this post was submitted on 24 Feb 2026
101 points (95.5% liked)
Map Enthusiasts
6025 readers
61 users here now
For the map enthused!
Rules:
-
post relevant content: interesting, informative, and/or pretty maps
-
be nice
founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
People from rural center states only see people like themselves and become xenophobic. People from coastal and metropolitan areas see all kinds of people and embrace them all. This doesn't explain everything but it's a decent start.
Or consider this map as comparison. Acquiring a $200 passport to go on a $2,000 per person international trip is a splurge for the average American.
Yes it's the church; lots of missionaries go international. Most lds teens get the document ahead of their call. And more will vacation abroad if a parent has an international mission.
Indeed, it is a good start. And how would people see those who don’t physically live near them? Is there some sort of magic psychic telepathy they could avail themselves of to better understand one another?
Edit: sorry for those who see this as confusing or impenetrable: I’m saying the corporate media have this role and do it poorly.
That's a bit of an oversimplification. The same corporate media functions in blue states - it's not like the red states don't have access to better sources. These places have the internet and libraries as well. Corporate media sucks, yes, but the blame in these deep red states lies with an active culture that intentionally discourages curiosity and acceptance, and builds that xenophobia and paranoia. It's not a philosophy they get FORCED on them - it's one they nurture through their education systems and local cultures.
They're not, as subcultures, innocent victims of a media machine.
I think we’re probably saying the same thing, just in reverse order.