The other thing about directions...
Discussion
...is I hate them!
Whenever I'm going somewhere new I always ask for the address, as the problem with directions is if you deviate from them you're usually stuffed, but I find very often people insist on trying to give me directions instead, so the conversation goes something like this:
Me: "Whats your address?"
Them: "Well you want to start on the M4, come off at junction 12 for the A1234..."
Me: "No, sorry, whats your [i]address[/i]?"
Them: "Yes, well, like I said, start on the M4..."
Me: "NO, SORRY, WHATS YOUR [i]ADDRESS[/i]?"
Them: "I'M TRYING TO TELL YOU, START ON THE..."
Me: "NO, YOU'RE TRYING TO GIVE ME DIRECTIONS, ALL I NEED IS YOUR ADDRESS, I'M PERFECTLY CAPABLE OF READING A MAP [i]AND[/i] HAVE SAT NAV..." :banghead:
It is a source of constant amazement how many people seem to do this; it is just people who are incapable of reading maps not appreciating that maybe other people can? Is this just me or do other people find this too?
Whenever I'm going somewhere new I always ask for the address, as the problem with directions is if you deviate from them you're usually stuffed, but I find very often people insist on trying to give me directions instead, so the conversation goes something like this:
Me: "Whats your address?"
Them: "Well you want to start on the M4, come off at junction 12 for the A1234..."
Me: "No, sorry, whats your [i]address[/i]?"
Them: "Yes, well, like I said, start on the M4..."
Me: "NO, SORRY, WHATS YOUR [i]ADDRESS[/i]?"
Them: "I'M TRYING TO TELL YOU, START ON THE..."
Me: "NO, YOU'RE TRYING TO GIVE ME DIRECTIONS, ALL I NEED IS YOUR ADDRESS, I'M PERFECTLY CAPABLE OF READING A MAP [i]AND[/i] HAVE SAT NAV..." :banghead:
It is a source of constant amazement how many people seem to do this; it is just people who are incapable of reading maps not appreciating that maybe other people can? Is this just me or do other people find this too?
indeed. 
I think people just like trying to direct you because they can show off their local knowledge. It too drives me insane.
But then again, the amount of times multimap (and the like) have let me down is unbelievable.
Sometimes the human touch is just a bit helpful, especially when you are as bad at navigation as me!
I think people just like trying to direct you because they can show off their local knowledge. It too drives me insane.
But then again, the amount of times multimap (and the like) have let me down is unbelievable.
Sometimes the human touch is just a bit helpful, especially when you are as bad at navigation as me!
I need all the directions I can get - I still get lost going to the supermarket 
Not just in cars either - I once walked out of a nightclub and had absolutely no idea whatsoever what part of London I was in. Admittedly it had been a rather heavy evening, but I stunned myself with that one. My only salvation was receiving a phone call from my mate saying that he was completely lost and asking if I could I walk around until I found him. Luckily I could hear him and found him round the corner looking a little vulnerable.
Not just in cars either - I once walked out of a nightclub and had absolutely no idea whatsoever what part of London I was in. Admittedly it had been a rather heavy evening, but I stunned myself with that one. My only salvation was receiving a phone call from my mate saying that he was completely lost and asking if I could I walk around until I found him. Luckily I could hear him and found him round the corner looking a little vulnerable.
kerfuffle said:
I need all the directions I can get -
Come on Gang, let's see if we can't help kerfuffle out. [Saint Bob]
Let's organise a direction-raising event. We need a song. One of you work on the lyrics, someone else on the tune, TwinCam - you can work on the Sax solo.
We need a catchy name - how about DV8? (deviate)
People - I can't stress this enough... please send in your directions. Anything will do. A starting point, end points, via's, whatever - just send in the bloody directions....
[/Saint Bob]
I'm not sure they do it to show off their local knowledge, but because the majority of numpty motorists can't read a map, assume people can't read a map, and tell you how to get to them the most inefficient way - which is unfortunately how they think.
I often get the idea that a lot of bad driving is actually down to people not being 100% sure as to where they're going.
When I plan a journey, I get the map out, find out where I'm going, plan the most direct route and write all the directions down on a post-it note to shove on the back of the sun visor. After that, it's just concentrating on the road.
I'm sure that a lot of accidents are due to confused drivers who don't know where they are distracting themselves by checking a map on the passenger seat or squabbling with their passengers.
I think map-reading should actually be a part of the (practical) driving test.
I often get the idea that a lot of bad driving is actually down to people not being 100% sure as to where they're going.
When I plan a journey, I get the map out, find out where I'm going, plan the most direct route and write all the directions down on a post-it note to shove on the back of the sun visor. After that, it's just concentrating on the road.
I'm sure that a lot of accidents are due to confused drivers who don't know where they are distracting themselves by checking a map on the passenger seat or squabbling with their passengers.
I think map-reading should actually be a part of the (practical) driving test.
AlexH said:
...is I hate them!
Whenever I'm going somewhere new I always ask for the address, as the problem with directions is if you deviate from them you're usually stuffed, but I find very often people insist on trying to give me directions instead, so the conversation goes something like this:
Me: "Whats your address?"
Them: "Well you want to start on the M4, come off at junction 12 for the A1234..."
Me: "No, sorry, whats your address?"
Them: "Yes, well, like I said, start on the M4..."
Me: "NO, SORRY, WHATS YOUR ADDRESS?"
Them: "I'M TRYING TO TELL YOU, START ON THE..."
Me: "NO, YOU'RE TRYING TO GIVE ME DIRECTIONS, ALL I NEED IS YOUR ADDRESS, I'M PERFECTLY CAPABLE OF READING A MAP AND HAVE SAT NAV..."
It is a source of constant amazement how many people seem to do this; it is just people who are incapable of reading maps not appreciating that maybe other people can? Is this just me or do other people find this too?
and breathe - it will all be okay tomorrow.
yeah, i get it all the time. like someone said earlier, if I'm going somewhere I don't know then I prepare by "taking a map". I don't need to know where the "Cock and Bull" on the left hand side of the road is in relation to the turning for your house. I have a perfectly good map and these cunning things called street names help me.....
I've cracked it though - throw map at bird and demand directions. First wrong direction - a tongue lashing. Every subsequent directional infraction is punished by an increasingly hard slap on the thigh.
Alright so I got as far as stage one last time before I got scared and asked a passer-by for directions. The scars will heal on day...
Alright so I got as far as stage one last time before I got scared and asked a passer-by for directions. The scars will heal on day...
Gassing Station | The Pie & Piston Archive | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff