Just out of interest

[Windigo]

Judging by the countless hundreads of American movies I have seen over the years I have often wondered why, when a person is giving someone directions, they mostely always use the points of a compass.

Question....Do all Americans carry a compass around with them?

Personally, I wouldn't know which direction is which without one

I just wondered, I would hate to go to my grave not knowing....lol.:bigblue:

[MaidenMotherWitch]

no we don't all. Some of us do while camping, but not daily

[Greybird]

I generally always know the cardinal points, no matter where I am, so compass directions are great for me.

[Carickah]

Well, many times you know by the street names in many cities and towns, at least. Less so in the country. But if you know you live on South Main street, then you know that town is north of you. for instance.



k

[Xentor]

Don't forget that these are movies, which don't necessarily have all feet firmly planted in reality.

[GEBS]

I generally always know the cardinal points, no matter where I am, so compass directions are great for me.
It works for me too. If the person giving me directions doesn't give directions that way I always ask for them.

[ravenmyst]

I always know my directions, in the woods, city doesnt matter, just a knack from growing up in the woods I guess. Never owned a compass

[John_Mischief]

If you know where the sun sets/rises, you can usually figure out the directions. I've had to sit at street corners figuring that out while following directions :bigredblu

[Old Witch]

I know where north south east and west are and I assume everyone else does too...

[Bix]

If you know where the sun sets/rises, you can usually figure out the directions. I've had to sit at street corners figuring that out while following directions :bigredblu
Yeah, that's what I was going to say. Just look at the sun! :hehehehe:

[BelovedDru]

LOL! No. But it would be nice if we did. Maybe I wouldn't get lost all the time...

[Karma Chameleon]

No, I don't have a compass, I just use the sun.

[Chibi-Fallon]

I hate that whole bit. I like left and right myself. It's just faster, less thinking, less of a chance to f it up.
I really wish MapQuest wouldn't give the east and west bit too me.

[Luminessence]

I don't usually hear people give directions using cardinal points... maybe it's just a movie thing.

[BrigidMoon]

Cannot find my way out of a paper bag. It's horrible. I find being lost is an adventure most cases for me!

[Élistariel]

I'm like BrigidMoon. Not all those who wander are lost! Really :lol:
Taking from BM's example...
If you stuck two of me in a paper bag and shook it up. Then, set the two of me running in opposing directions, I'd run into myself.
"We're not lost, we're trailblazing!" :D
I don't know South from Northeast, and if you spun me around, I still wouldn't.
You can give me a printed out set of directions, complete with images and I'd still get lost.
I don't know road names.
My friends just love getting stuck with me on my... excursions.
The only way I can learn to get somewhere is having someone drive me, while I sit in the passenger seat. If I sit in the back it's a TOTALLY different perspective. Then, I'll have to drive there. And again and again. Until I'm comfortable going alone. I KNOW how to get to many many places, I just can't tell you. Once I know a route, I KNOW it. -- to the point where I can sit in the back seat, almost alseep, with my eyes closed, listening to my headphones, and sense when we're near a certain house.
I didn't learn left from right until I was in high school :bigredblu
I still look at my hands sometimes to figure it out. I'm like... okay, Right.... now which hand do I write with... *makes pencil holding gestures with each hand* THIS one....
:collapse: Yep.. I'm a near hopeless case.

This one time, I was looking for a post office, and wound up at a marina. I didn't even know our county had a lake! :foh:

ooh forgot to answer the compass question. The only compass I ever owned came from a happy meal.

[VioletPuddle]

We don't but I would if I had one...

[Pandoras]

I don't own a compass. I tried to use one once and couldn't figure it out. I just use the sun. I have a terrific sense of direction and hardly ever get lost, but I'm not a landmark person. Don't tell me to take a left at the drugstore, pass the gas station, and a right at the blue house; I'll never make it. Give me the address -- names and numbers. That's it.

[sarabethv]

Yeah, here in the southwest (note the direction) we do use the cardinal directions a lot. It is just easier than trying to give exact turn right/left sort of directions. Plus you may not know which way a person is coming from so to give the directions is much easier. Plus like everyone has said - the sun gives you the basis for directions. :)

[Élistariel]

The Sun method doesn't work for all of us. Now, I know the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. Now what about all that time in between? I don't always know what time it is. And then there's noon... what then?
So unless it's the butt crack of dawn or dusk, Mr. Sun is a no-go for me.
Not to mention you don't always face the sun. I can't always see the sun when I'm driving. Not to mention my eyes are VERY light senstive. I have to wear shades when it's cloudy, and at sunset... :spinner:

[Angelus_Errare]

Compass? I had one, until it magneticly stuck to my little robot. And I had just made it too, from some garbage! (At least the compass likes him!) ;) j/k

Okay, for real.. I haven't seen too many people around here running around with them.. maybe one or two on rare sights, but then the compass was a part of their wristwatch. Most people I know use the sun here, *shrugs* Or I just missed them.

[materra]

When I was growing up they taught us to give directions to folks using the compass points or left and right on the correct streets etc. We could never use our arms for gestures or to point. I give compass directions if they person can follow them. Otherwise I use left/right street names and landmarks if I know them.

Personally I can tell which direction is north most of the time anywhere. Just a knack. No compass.