The ARC GIS experience is a unique one. Different from Photoshop and simple Paint ARC GIS allows the user to make maps as detailed as they want it to be. This also allows the user to give the user the ability to create maps to their own discretion. What is most important in my experience is that I was able to get my feet in and understand what are the basic controls users need to use to make the maps. But a few experiences that I have found are as follows:
Say you have a question. You decide to answer it with GIS. You open Arc, load in files, do some analysis, and hit print. BUT, where did those files come from? What are they? You are constrained by the nature of the data. It might be wrong, and since GIS is a spatial MODEL (aka just a REPRESENTATION of reality), you may be missing crucial pieces of information. Also, GIS restricts you to think in a purely spatial manner. Not everything in the world is spatial. Like religion, psychology, institutions- all of which can dramatically impact space. Therefore, when doing a GIS, it is crucial to understand what you are working with and what is still there. Maps are not God or the law, they are merely a representation some person made of something somewhere.
Furthermore, because a map is constrained in this way every map is only important to the user itself, or to the intended audience. Yes, it is possible to make map that is intended for everyone, but because GIS restrict purely in spatial manner this fully ignores other factors that are needed on the map.
Last, as stated before, the map as I see it is just a representation of reality it is the what is true making it difficult as it does not allow for the truth to actually be represented. It is need to be seen this way as it allows for the users to know that the map is not reality it is just a small representation the truth.
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