# The Mapping Stereotypes Project: How Countries View their Neighbours **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 16, 2011, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mapping-stereotypes-project-how-countries-view-their-neighbours/596562 "2011-09-16T22:38:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hypnagogic_jerk/32/4252_2.png) [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypnagogic_Jerk)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mapping-stereotypes-project-how-countries-view-their-neighbours/596562/1 "2011-09-16T22:38:18Z")
For those who don’t know the [Strange Maps](http://bigthink.com/blogs/strange-maps) website, it’s a very interesting blog whose author finds maps of every type, be them world maps, country maps, or sometimes even invented maps, that tell an interesting story, and then analyses them. It can be quite instructive sometimes, but always interesting for fans of maps. Back in October of last year he made [this post](http://bigthink.com/ideas/24357), about the maps of a London-based Bulgarian graphic designer named Yanko Tsvetkov, featuring how the citizens of several countries view other countries. See the [Mapping Stereotypes Project here](http://alphadesigner.com/project-mapping-stereotypes.html). It’s largely about Europe (you have maps of Europe as seen by the French, British, Italians, Poles, Russians, etc., and even as seen by the Vatican), but he also has the world according to Americans and some other maps. It’s really funny stuff, especially for those who are interested in political geography and who know a bit about international relations. So I’d like to share it with all of you. I’m thinking of buying a mug with his maps “Europe/Italy as seen by Italians” as a gift for my Italian teacher. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mapping-stereotypes-project-how-countries-view-their-neighbours/596562/2 "2011-09-16T23:33:41Z")
Cool. But would it kill them to make it even larger, or in vector (.svg) format? I can’t read what Uruguay is supposed to say, for example, let alone the Falklands. ---
**Author:** ![Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hypnagogic_jerk/32/4252_2.png) [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypnagogic_Jerk)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mapping-stereotypes-project-how-countries-view-their-neighbours/596562/3 "2011-09-16T23:46:14Z")
Some countries are hard to read on the “World According to Americans” map, but they’re the exact same on the “\ According to USA” maps. The Falklands is “British Riviera” while Uruguay is “Tupamaros”. (I just checked what that means.) He probably makes them as vector images, but then publishes them in other formats. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2011, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mapping-stereotypes-project-how-countries-view-their-neighbours/596562/4 "2011-09-16T23:58:44Z")
Yeah saw that, just took some time scrolling down to that section. I don’t think most Americans know what a Tupamaro is. I would’ve called it “Argentina Junior.” ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2011, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mapping-stereotypes-project-how-countries-view-their-neighbours/596562/5 "2011-09-17T00:01:23Z")
I love that blog, I submitted a map that they ended up posting a while back. ---
**Author:** ![kushiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@kushiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kushiel)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2011, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mapping-stereotypes-project-how-countries-view-their-neighbours/596562/6 "2011-09-18T02:18:49Z")
Waitaminute, Americans think of Canada as vegetarians? I would have thought they’d say ‘giant igloo’. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2011, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mapping-stereotypes-project-how-countries-view-their-neighbours/596562/7 "2011-09-18T02:34:13Z")
Or “Hockey Players.” Or “The Only People Who Understand Curling.” Or “Those Folks Who Don’t Play REAL Football.” 😃 Actually, I’m wondering what The World According To Canada would look like: The UK: Our Former Mother Country But No Longer Australia: Kind Of Like Us, But Warmer Greece: Like the Danforth in Toronto, But Bigger Cuba: Vacationland without Americans and with Cheap Rum and Cigars Florida: Our Escape from Winter Arizona/California: Our Other Escape from Winter ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2011, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mapping-stereotypes-project-how-countries-view-their-neighbours/596562/8 "2011-09-18T04:26:31Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > Or “Hockey Players.” Or “The Only People Who Understand Curling.” Or “Those Folks Who Don’t Play REAL Football.” 😃 > > Actually, I’m wondering what The World According To Canada would look like: > > The UK: Our Former Mother Country But No Longer > Australia: Kind Of Like Us, But Warmer > Greece: Like the Danforth in Toronto, But Bigger > Cuba: Vacationland without Americans and with Cheap Rum and Cigars > Florida: Our Escape from Winter > Arizona/California: Our Other Escape from Winter Canada is American Junior according to Homer Simpson. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2011, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mapping-stereotypes-project-how-countries-view-their-neighbours/596562/9 "2011-09-18T04:48:33Z")
More according to Canada: America: United States Dammit! Canada: Also America (Why yes I did manage to get into that dumb argument again why do you ask.) ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2011, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mapping-stereotypes-project-how-countries-view-their-neighbours/596562/10 "2011-09-18T04:51:07Z")
> [@LavenderBlue](#): > > Canada is American Junior according to Homer Simpson. I’ve heard the USA referred to as “Canada’s Pants”: they cover our butts, but are far from brains. Just something I’ve heard locally. Don’t shoot the messenger, folks! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2011, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mapping-stereotypes-project-how-countries-view-their-neighbours/596562/11 "2011-09-18T04:57:37Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > I’ve heard the USA referred to as “Canada’s Pants”: they cover our butts, but are far from brains. > > Just something I’ve heard locally. Don’t shoot the messenger, folks! 🙂 America: Canada’s Diaper ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2011, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mapping-stereotypes-project-how-countries-view-their-neighbours/596562/12 "2011-09-18T05:34:05Z")
USA as seen from Canada - “Here there be guns and religious fanatics.” ---
**Author:** ![Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hypnagogic_jerk/32/4252_2.png) [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypnagogic_Jerk)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2011, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mapping-stereotypes-project-how-countries-view-their-neighbours/596562/13 "2011-09-18T16:43:41Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > I don’t think most Americans know what a Tupamaro is. I would’ve called it “Argentina Junior.” Many tags in that map seem to deal with the US’s fear of left-wing movements gaining ground and eventually power in South America. See the “Evil Empire of Venzenweelah”, as well as Bolivia’s “Cuba del Sur” and Paraguay’s “Catholic Socialists”, not to mention the “Liberal Commies (allied with Iran)”. Uruguay’s tag is in the same vein. (Though I will admit that “Argentina Junior” is a good description of how I see them. ;)) > [@kushiel](#): > > Waitaminute, Americans think of Canada as vegetarians? I would have thought they’d say ‘giant igloo’. I think “Vegetarians” is kind of synonymous with “Like Us, Only Wimpier”, which isn’t far from how Americans view Canada. > [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > USA as seen from Canada - “Here there be guns and religious fanatics.” See Texas on the map of the US. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2011, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mapping-stereotypes-project-how-countries-view-their-neighbours/596562/14 "2011-09-18T16:50:34Z")
I think of Canada as “America’s Hat.” And of Mexico as “America’s Beard.” ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2011, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mapping-stereotypes-project-how-countries-view-their-neighbours/596562/15 "2011-09-18T18:10:11Z")
My friend calls Canada “America Lite” For Australia, “England’s dumb nephew” Europe would be “Europussies” ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mapping-stereotypes-project-how-countries-view-their-neighbours/596562/16 "2011-09-19T03:55:50Z")
> [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](#): > > (Though I will admit that “Argentina Junior” is a good description of how I see them. ;)) I could’ve also gone with “Argentina’s Canada.” You know, indistinguishable in most ways, but generally calmer than their neighbor. And as mentioned above, I was sorta making a Homer reference. > [@cochrane](#): > > I think of Canada as “America’s Hat.” And of Mexico as “America’s Beard.” Canada would like to remind you that they are a separate country with their own opinions. They are not _merely_ America’s hat. Canada feels that it is America’s tuque. ---
**Author:** ![LonghornDave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a87d85/32.png) [@LonghornDave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonghornDave)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mapping-stereotypes-project-how-countries-view-their-neighbours/596562/17 "2011-09-19T16:43:51Z")
I’ve always liked this: [A Texan’s Map of the United States](http://bigthink.com/ideas/21224) ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mapping-stereotypes-project-how-countries-view-their-neighbours/596562/18 "2011-09-19T20:06:30Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > I think of Canada as “America’s Hat.” And of Mexico as “America’s Beard.” > **[Awesome Hats - Scandinavia and the World](https://satwcomic.com/awesome-hats)** > > Webcomic: Yes, Norway, Sweden and Denmark are wearing the hats from Hetalia. ;) > **[Denmark's Gaydar - Scandinavia and the World](https://satwcomic.com/denmark-s-gaydar)** > > Webcomic: After posting the comic about Canada being America’s hat, I got a lot of comments asking, “What about Mexico? They’re Americ ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mapping-stereotypes-project-how-countries-view-their-neighbours/596562/19 "2011-09-19T20:31:15Z")
> [@kushiel](#): > > Waitaminute, Americans think of Canada as vegetarians? I would have thought they’d say ‘giant igloo’. Also: That Place With The Beavers and Moose That Place Where People Are Quiet/Law-Abiding/Boring And yes, ‘giant igloo’ is up there too. That Boring Left-Wing Socialist Vegetarian Igloo Overrun By Hockey Players, Beavers, And Moose. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2011, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mapping-stereotypes-project-how-countries-view-their-neighbours/596562/20 "2011-09-19T21:21:48Z")
> [@LonghornDave](#): > > I’ve always liked this: [A Texan’s Map of the United States](http://bigthink.com/ideas/21224) Dear Texas, the “Largest” State: We could move the entirety of Texas up north and lay it on top of Alaska, and there would still be room for almost 1.5 more Texases to visit.