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Thread: What makes North North? o.o

  1. #16
    Dinner is served. Unbreakable Will's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by McLovin' View Post
    It's all part of the communist agenda.
    This.
    And Im afriad I have to disagree with Bunny. Asking questions like this shows intelligence, well I think so anyway, keep pondering the secrets of the universe (or communists) Mogi.

    Because I'm one hell of a butler.

  2. #17
    Your Prime Minister Timekeeper's Avatar
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    Well according to some random guy I found on the internet:

    "The notion that north should always be up and east at the right was established by the Egyptian astronomer Ptolemy (90-168 AD). "Perhaps this was because the better-known places in his world were in the northern hemisphere, and on a flat map these were most convenient for study if they were in the upper right-hand corner," historian Daniel Boorstin opines. Mapmakers haven't always followed Ptolemy; during the Middle Ages, Boorstin notes, maps often had east on top--whence the expression "to orient." But north prevailed over the long haul. By the time Southern Hemispheroids had become numerically significant enough to bitch, the north-side-up convention was too well established to change."

    Yea Ptolemy!


  3. #18

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    Ptolemy wasn't Egyptian.

  4. #19
    Mr. Encyclopedia Kirobaito's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bunny View Post
    Ptolemy wasn't Egyptian.
    That's unnecessarily splitting hairs and you know it. He was born, lived in, and died in Egypt.

  5. #20
    Draw the Drapes Recognized Member rubah's Avatar
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    as long as he practiced egyptian astronomy, the grammar stands 8)

  6. #21
    Lord of Me Rodarian's Avatar
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    Lets say East is UP....Would this thread still exist.....Hmmmmm


    HOTROD
    "Lets go for a spin you and I"

  7. #22

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    Yeah, I definitely wasn't posting this thread to sound smart. If you knew me at all, you'd realize that. I was genuinely curious as to why maps were designed that way and, since a lot of my questions like this in the past have been answered without my asking at all, I figured I'd ask all of you here on EoFF. The only reason I hesitated at all and didn't post it hours before was because I knew there would be at least a few people who'd give me replies like that.

    Anyway, thanks for those of you who helped. Timekeeper, that was very interesting and helped a lot.

    EDIT: Srsly, it's just a smurfing question.

    EDITRA: If East was up, this thread would instead question why it was chosen to be up.

    So, Timekeeper, East was initially up? That's interesting! A search for Ptolemy didn't quite find what I was looking for. Do you have any idea how I can find other information on the topic?
    Last edited by Mogi; 10-21-2009 at 08:56 PM.

  8. #23
    Crocodylus Pontifex The Space Pope's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mogi View Post
    The only reason I hesitated at all and didn't post it hours before was because I knew there would be at least a few people who'd give me replies like that.
    Does it really matter, like, at all, what other people post at you?

    Seriously I never understood that way of thinking.
    derp

  9. #24

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    I also find the upside down map to be very interesting.
    X3

    Quote Originally Posted by The Space Pope
    Seriously I never understood that way of thinking.
    Well, I'd really appreciate actual answers to the question, rather than snide remarks about how my question is pointless or whatever, but I guess you're right. Since I did get actual answers and not everything was absolute bull , I guess we're good. Thanks for helping me see that, Space Pope.
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  10. #25
    Crocodylus Pontifex The Space Pope's Avatar
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    You're welcome, I'm here to serve humanity.

    Well not really but that's my cover story.
    derp

  11. #26
    Quack Shlup's Avatar
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    What if my blue is your orange and your red is my manilla? What if we all really have the same favorite color but it's a different name to us?

    WHAT IF?

    I smurfing hate philosophizing.

  12. #27

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    Quote Originally Posted by ShlupQuack View Post
    What if my blue is your orange and your red is my manilla? What if we all really have the same favorite color but it's a different name to us?

    WHAT IF?

    I smurfing hate philosophizing.
    That's all neat and stuff, and I think that's a very interesting thought, but I'm being serious.
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  13. #28
    Recognized Member Jessweeee♪'s Avatar
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    I think the coffee was full of mean beans today

  14. #29
    That's me! blackmage_nuke's Avatar
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    I think someone once told my that the compasses in ancient china use to point south but that might just be a filthy lie.
    Kefka's coming, look intimidating!
    Have a nice day!!

  15. #30
    Draw the Drapes Recognized Member rubah's Avatar
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    it would depend on when the last pole reversal was and the way they manufactured compasses in ancient china.

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