Google Maps: the flood of gulfs and quality of other entries

I see the the "Gulf of America" is now a thing on Google Maps. Google has to keep certain people happy.

For every wanna-be geographer out there, MapQuest (yeah, MapQuest - remember them?) comes to the rescue...

https://gulfof.mapquest.com/

Try it, you'll like it.

(and it's exactly as "safe-for-work" as you want it to be)

For travelers this is a reminder that Google Maps is a tool which is
not professionally edited.

And who would the "professionals" be? I'm sure there is room for improvement, but seems to do it's job very well.

David, that is hilarious. Thank you for sharing !

And who would the "professionals" be? I'm sure there is room for improvement, but seems to do it's job very well.

Well, that's a matter of opinion. Google Maps started as a useful tool but has been gradually degraded over the years by Google's ardent insistence on commercialization until it is now a bloated, fairly useless "tool" that is far more interested in selling advertising and having pop-ups tell you where you can buy a drink or eat a meal (all paid for by the businesses being highlighted, of course) rather than provide an objective tool that could be used to explore an area, plot a route, understand hydrographic or topographic features, or simply present the geography of an area.

I understand commercial products have to generate enough revenue to earn their keep. That's how businesses operate. But Google Maps is like a perverse example of how unbridled greed can destroy a once-useful tool and change it from something useful into what is essentially a joke.

Well, I'm with Mr. E on this. I agree that Google has gotten much more commercialized over the years, and I doubt that they still have the "do no evil" motto hanging up. But it's still a very good mapping service and I will continue to use it.

I'm not happy about the Gulf of Mexico but really, that's the least of my worries with this administration. As long as we can all call the gulf whatever we want, I'll be happy.

If we have to have a name change, I like Jimmy Buffet's idea.
Gulf of Margaritaville

Yes, that Jimmy Buffet. Apparently he is speaking from the other side.

Yay for Jimmy Buffett! Seriously, I do agree with the sentiment I've seen here that trying to reduce my Google reliance is a good thing. And this dumb Gulf stuff is enough for me to try Mapquest again. Actually, I learned about Organic Maps on this forum, and have been happily using it for a year now, pretty happy with it. But I have great respect for Mapquest not caving in to the bully, and will give them a try.

i find google maps to be the essential tool for my travels. the directions and live-view features even in venice have proven to be 95% accurate. i use it to tag the sites i want to visit in a city/town and rearrange them for the most efficient route. beyond that it is indispensable for finding restaurants, supermarkets, etc-their opening hours, and reviews. current politics and business practices notwithstanding i would be hopelessly lost and frustrated without it.