Have you ever known anyone who hated to ask directions? Is it even much of a problem nowadays with GPS devices and online maps that let us get directions for ourselves?
September 8, 2015
Asking Directions, or Not
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Is it really true that people hate to ask for directions? When I’m out walking, I’m often stopped by motorists asking for directions to somewhere. They don’t seem at all awkward about it. But maybe I’m not aware of all the other people who whizz straight past me because they’re direction-phobic?
Certainly Jenny and I are happy to ask for directions if we need them. Better that than wandering round in confusion for 20 minutes.
I don’t have any trouble asking for directions, but I’ve known people (guys) who did.
I have no problem with asking for directions and no, I have not come across anyone who has.
Maybe it’s a Western phenomenon.
Oh, I can verify that it’s true that some people will not ask for directions! One time very early in our marriage, rather than stopping to ask directions, my husband decided to follow another car “because they look like they know where they’re going”! I haven’t let him forget that one. They did know where they were going: back to their apartment, apparently, and not to the football high school game where my younger sister was performing at halftime. That didn’t cure him of not asking for directions, however. GPS has helped, but he has apparently passed his gene for not wanting to ask for directions to our oldest daughter, who also is an absolute Luddite and refuses to use the Garmin we gave her and who doesn’t have a smartphone. Me? I have zero sense of direction, so before GPS systems–one of the greatest inventions as far as I’m concerned–I always asked for directions. Lots of times. On the other hand, my sibs and I, who all share my lack of ability in finding our way around, have made some interesting discoveries and shared lots of laughs while lost back in the old days before GPS.
Thank you for the laugh. 🙂 In our family I was the one who had to chart our course before we left the house. I used Microsoft Streets and Trips for years — Andy drove and I navigated.
I don’t mind asking directions. And do prefer old fashioned maps (you know the ones, paper) to Sat Nav.
However, and it makes me cringe as I write, I do not like people asking me (of all people) for directions. And they do. Too trusting of me by half. I do give them directions like “follow your nose for the next x minutes (that street goes on forever)- after having done so do ask someone else, please”. But when it comes to “take a left turn at the next traffic lights, then turn right, then turn …” I confuse myself never mind the person asking for directions. Mortifies me afterwards – wondering where on earth they’ll end up on my account.
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Thanks for the smile. I remember asking for directions when walking and hearing something like, “Go left …, then go right…, then go straight…, then ask.” It struck me as great advice. It got me in the general direction with only as much information as I could remember.
my ex- he would say “turn left next street” and as I was turning in he would say “no left!” and point to the Right! In the end, I would look at the map before we set out and ignore his “lefty ideas” – his sister had the same problem…
I often have people stopping in my street and say “I thought Mitre 10 was in this street” – “yep it was but it’s in Clark St now & it’s a Mega Mitre 10” – “where is that?” – me pointing where to turn and why…
or do you know WINZ is? “yep, turn around and go back to roundabout and to the end of Hugh Brown” – “are you sure, that looks like no exit?” – “yep, it is but WINZ is right at the end on the left”
It’s best to have a sense of humor. I’m afraid I’m as bad as your ex. I know my left from my right but often I’ll think one thing and say another. Not sure why my inner communication is so bad. 🙂