While I think I might of seen map 2 a time or two, it was never used in my schooling.

Although I love on map #3 how Hawaii is "big island" - sadly though many people think Oahu is the main island. But I suppose its of no help that the state of Hawaii is constantly adding and removing Kahoolawe as a minor island depending on what the Navy is using it for at the time.

I think that's meant to be Australia ;)

No doubt it is, but its says "big island" which is what the island of Hawaii itself is refered to ;)

Ahh haha, I presumed you knew it was Australia after I posted it, damn this forum with no delete button!

No worries - Yeah I think that is the next thing Steve needs to make - either a delete or a way at the very least to edit your postings on the forums :-D Lord knows I have had many a times when I have hit the post reply and see something I want/need to change and thinkg *ahh hell*

Definitely! That's one of the ONLY things I hate about these forums, is that there is no edit/delete function.

Not to mention it says (Hawaii?)

When I was in school, world maps were generally contiguous rather than splitting Asia to center North America. We had separate maps to show the continents & countries in more detail, but generally the world map was centered on the prime meridian.

As for the last map, aren't the "Americans R Stoopid" jokes getting old? Everyone already knows, for the most part Americans aren't the most intelligent, well-informed citizens of the world. (That distinction belongs to South Koreans and the Japanese, respectively.) It's getting rather redundant at this point, don't you think?

Meh. Learn to laugh at yourself. Every country has its jokes.

*shrugs* I was amused by it.

HAVE YOU SEEN 'THE KING AND I', YO? THE KING'S CHILDREN ARE ALL FURIOUS WHEN ANNA SHOWS THEM A MAP OF THE WORLD, AND THEY SEE SIAM ISN'T HUGE AND IN THE CENTRE. THEY THINK SHE IS LYING AND DISRESPECTING THEIR COUNTRY, YO! I THINK PEOPLE NATURALLY PUT THEMSELVES IN THE CENTRE WHEN LOOKING AT THE REST OF THE WORLD - IN A GLOBAL SENSE AND IN SMALLER SENSES.

Yes, yo! I love that movie!

WHY IS CANADA CALLED 'MOUSE HEADS', YO? I DON'T GET THAT ONE. OR SHOULD IT BE MOOSE HEADS?

Yeah I think it is supposed to be moose heads.

I thought it was further pointing fun at Americans and their spelling? I'm not sure!! haha

Not sure if that last picture is pointing out Ireland or the UK as the 51st State... :P

i am american and more familiar with the first map honestly, though i think the third one is funny XD

hahahaha. I think the third one is the one a lot of Americans see when they close their eyes and try to think of a map :P
Honestly though, I went through one of the poorest public American school systems (Florida), and we never used the one where America is in the middle. I guess I probably saw it from time to time, since I knew it existed, but I've never used one in school. It doesn't make much sense like you said, splitting up Asia and disregarding latitude measures.

lol this map is pretty funny too. x]

http://www.passionateamerica.com/pictures/american-world-800x560.jpg