Why can't men ask for directions?

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My apologies to Wildman, JR, Joe, Kirk, and the rest of the men on this forum because I'm sure you're all perfect. :)

What was supposed to be a lovely evening out with friends was ruined last night because Keith was too stubborn to admit that he didn't know where he was going. We had all met in a parking lot after work and were going to drive our individual cars to Lowes to help Karen pick out a garage door opener. Keith made absolutely no mention of not knowing where the store was located. He let me pull out of the parking lot first, and somehow from that gesture I was magically supposed to know that he didn't know where Lowes was and would follow me. I had no idea that he was trying to follow me, traffic was heavy, we got separated and he got lost. Karen and I spent the next couple of hours driving around the city trying to find him. We also left a message on our answering machine asking him to call Karen on her cellphone.

Finally I just went home and he was there. Somehow it's all Karen and my fault that he got lost and now he's not speaking to either of us. It's not like we were driving around in the middle of nowhere. There were dozens of places where he could have stopped and asked directions or looked in the phonebook for an address. But instead he just got mad and went home, and then didn't even call to let us know that he was safely home and we could stop searching for him.

GRRRR MEN!!!!!! Sorry, just had to vent.

-- Anonymous, August 16, 2002

Answers

Its an enviromental control thing :>) Us smart ones use cell phone uplinks on mobile laptops, CB radio and directory assistance. :>)

-- Anonymous, August 16, 2002

Many men are a lot like children aren't they? Here's what I think--Keith is mad 'cause he got caught! He didn't want to admit he didn't know where the store was by telling you he was going to follow you. He was hoping to follow and then pretend he knew where it was all along. But since he got lost he got caught! He is mad because his male self esteem got a hole poked in it.

Don't feel alone. I've got a 42 year old man-child living here. Except for his ability to fix all manner of things that break down around here (rarely does it), I sometimes think I'd rather have a 10 year old living here. At least I could make them do something besides sit at the computer or watch TV.

-- Anonymous, August 16, 2002


I think you hit the nail on the head, Debra. He's such a sweet guy, I guess he's allowed to have a few faults. :) I, of course, am perfect......NOT!

-- Anonymous, August 16, 2002

I am nobody. Nobody is perfect. Therefore, I am perfect? :^)

Your husband will come around; like debra mentioned above, he just got caught. I hate it too when my feet of clay become evident.

You are right,we guys don't make it easy on you gals to get along.

-- Anonymous, August 16, 2002


But why would he not want to "admit" that he didn't know where a store is? I don't get it. Is not knowing the location of every store in Indianapolis some type of character fault or something? What does it have to do with anything? If someone doesn't know where something is, isnt it only logical to ask someone who does? This makes no sense to me.

Remember, anger always means fear. But fear of what here? Did someone tell him as a boy that he was supposed to carry around a road atlas and address directory in his head, always at the ready?

Seems to me that if most men have bought into the stereotypical empty bluster, which only serves to continually frustrate/separate themselves and those around them cuz of its futility, that the strongest men are the ones who "admit" that they frequently need help/advice/directions!, and know how we all need each other.

Anyway, you have my sympathies, Sherri. Sometimes Bren acts that way too, and I have no patience for it.

-- Anonymous, August 16, 2002



Oh Sherri. In your present state of mind I hesitate to even talk to you right now and I normally wouldn't, until you've calmed down a little, except that you did exhibit a little sanity by recognizing that those males on the forum are perfect. And of course, that begs the question as to why you haven't extended that observation to all males? We're all perfect! And whatever's wrong isn't our fault. We don't take blame which is why we have girlfriends and wives. Well, not at the same time, either girlfriend or wife. If I go out in the morning without my pants on, I blame my wife. If I eat too fast and get indigestion, I blame my wife for cooking too good. If I fall off the ladder, I blame my wife for not being out there and keeping me off the ladder. Do you see how this works? My wife always covers herself when possible. If we're out someplace and getting ready to come home she'll say something like, "Okay honey, we're going home now. You know where home is, don't you? You know, go down to the service station, take a right on county road 38, drive 5 miles and take a right and your drive is the first road to the left. Your house is at the end of that driveway." And I usually look really good if the directions aren't too complicated. She sure would like for me to have a girlfriend sometimes.

Traditionally, in prehistoric times, the men were hunters and the women were gatherers. Hey, I don't think it was fair either but that's the way it was. And still is. Your husband was hunting for Lowes and you were trying to gather up your family. He's upset because since he failed and you succeeded that means that, prehistorically, you all would starve because he's a bad hunter. See? He has a right to be upset! If he doesn't improve, he could lose his family! Bad hunter!

By the way, I don't know a man who doesn't know where every Home Depot and Lowes are in at least the three surrounding cities. I can't get home but I can take you to three different Home Depots in Dallas and one in Little Rock. Kinda like women and Wal-Mart. My wife and sister know where every WW is between Dallas and Northern Ark.

I'm going to take a chance and speak for all the males on the forum and say that you don't have to apologize to us because we just KNOW that you can't be referring to us! We're never guilty of the things that you're venting about.

Wildman, (fostering better understanding through communication)

-- Anonymous, August 16, 2002


Speaking as a woman, but only for myself, the only reason I'd want to know where all the nearby WalMarts are is so that I would know where to plant the bombs!

-- Anonymous, August 16, 2002

I saw a bumper sticker today and this guy wasn't shy about asking directions "Just where the hell IS easy street?"

-- Anonymous, August 16, 2002

Once again, I am an anomaly! I usually don't have a clue where Wal- Mart is (I've been there and constantly forget how to get there), but I know where all the hardware stores are! I refuse to patronize Home Despot, but I know where it is. I'm IN hardware stores more often than any other kind (except grocery). I'd rather go to Target than Wal-Mart anyway!

-- Anonymous, August 17, 2002

Joy, I see a lot of women in places like Home Depot and Lowes. I think most of the time they're telling their husbands what to buy. Or what not to buy. Or chewing his ass for spending so much. Most of the women I know love places like Home Depot. In fact, I had a friend that needed to use my Home Depot credit card once for some purchases for her business. I was a little hesitant because I was afraid that they wouldn't accept it with her signature because just prior to that, I had used a business check and they wanted to know what the closest major highway to me was since I was from out of the metroplex. I asked the gal if she was coming to visit and if she wasn't then it didn't matter She called the manager and I explained to him that if they didn't know where I lived then I could put down any highway and they wouldn't know if it was right or wrong and it was a stupid rule. He covered himself by saying that the checker had misunderstood the instructions. Yeah. Sure. Anyway, I had a fairly low credit limit on the card because I normally only used it on larger jobs to keep track of expenses on that particular job. Not only did they accept her signature, but she got my credit limit raised! My card and she got the limit raised and they knew that it wasn't her card! Oh, well, that doesn't have anything to do with anything, does it?

Wildman, (just a rambling)

-- Anonymous, August 17, 2002



Oh, oh, I have a good one. My husband and son were going for an overnight Scout camp in town. I was still making some food for them to take and said to go and I would drop it off. I proceeded to tell him how to get there and should have known he didn't get it because he had that faraway look in his eye. Anyway, he comes home yelling that I don't know where I'm going because it wasn't there. I informed him that I already dropped off the food so I did know and it is still there.

I have come to realize that when I tell him directions, he will start thinking of how he is going to go before I finish so I loose him along the way. Same happens when I'm telling him how to go while I'm in the car. I told him to bear left at the bend in the road. He was stopping so I told him to "keep going" because the other person has the stop sign but he started going straight instead because I told him to "keep going straight", because he stopped listening to me before I finished.

I don't tell him where to go anymore. Me? I have a map and try differents routes to see what is easiest.

-- Anonymous, August 17, 2002


Sherri, did we answer your question or just prove that men (other than those of us on the board) won't ask directions? And can't follow them. Or was it a rhetorical question? Do you really care? Why are we having this conversation?

Wildman, (being helpful)

-- Anonymous, August 18, 2002


Haha...Wildman, I think maybe you (and Dee) have provided us with the answer to why men don't ask directions! (They cannot follow them anyway, so its a waste of time!)

Actually I'm just kidding of course.......I'm not gonna let them off the hook that easily! My father takes directions very well; course he has a very good natural sense of direction. I inherited this from him; I rarely get lost, but then he made us follow along with maps when we went on road trips as kids.

As for me, I am not real good at following someone's verbal directions; I need more concrete visuals than that, and anyway most people give *terrible* directions! As long as I have the address, I can find it. I would much rather look things up on a map before I leave home so I pretty much know exactly where I'm going, and I have maps and phone book in the car in case I get stuck, and since moving to town I take a cell phone with me. And on those rare occassions where even this wasnt enough, I stop at a gas station and ask! (duh!)

-- Anonymous, August 18, 2002


You're absolutely right, EM. Most men can't follow directions. If they could, more women would have orgasms! I'm never lost, I know exactly where I am, it's just not where I want to be. Besides, I'm looking for an alternate route.

Wildman, (misdirected)

-- Anonymous, August 18, 2002


Ha....well Wildman, that's purty funny.......

On the other hand, not meanin to hurt you'alls feelins, but consider yourself reminded that women don't really need men to have orgasms (and vise versa), followin directions or not.

Just somethin to think about when designing your 'alternate route.'

Perhaps could stretch yourself a bit more even; there are lots of alternate routes, and the best of luck to ya! :)

-- Anonymous, August 18, 2002



Well...talk about thread drift!! THAT subject even follows the "hunter/gatherer" thinking. Men want to get right down to the "nitty gritty" and women like to "wander" :-)!!

-- Anonymous, August 19, 2002

Oh Marcia. It's not widely known but the reason men are always in such a hurry is that we're trying to finish before ya'll change your mind. Or sober up. Or come to your senses.

Wildman, (telling secretes)

-- Anonymous, August 19, 2002


Ohh, EM, I should have started another paragraph with "I'm never lost...."

A paragraph that has nothing to do with sex.

What a difference in meaning that would make.

Wildman, (still learning grammar rules)

-- Anonymous, August 19, 2002


I do believe that Wildman has appointed himself Chief in Charge of Thread Drift . . . . ;-P

-- Anonymous, August 19, 2002

HEYWAITAMINUTETHERE!! I do believe that I have already been crowned "Queen of Thread Drift"! Wildman - old buddy, old pal, old chum; if you think you're gonna get my scepter and tiara without a rumble, bucko; you got another think comin'! Why, I can out drift you with one hand tied behind my back! And one eye closed, even!

-- Anonymous, August 20, 2002

Thanks Joy! I don't have too many people who'll talk to me anyway and you want to alienate Polly? I know, you're getting worried that I'm closing in on you and you want to distract me.

No Polly, I don't want any titles. I've been in charge of something all my life and I don't want to be in charge of thread drift. I don't even know what it is. That's just something else I'd have to learn and be responsible for. Besides, I don't think a tiara would improve my image!

By the way, am I talking to you Polly? Or are you one of the ones that I said I wasn't talking to when I first came on here? I wish I could remember who I'm not talking to.

Wildman, (declining the nomination)

-- Anonymous, August 20, 2002


Dang. Can't even work up a good snit fit. And I was in the mood for a good one after last night at work. Got half a mind to call in sick tonight - yeah, I'm sick - sick of sickos; and have we had some doozies lately! Must be running a special on weirdos this month - Guess I'll have to have Wayne the Security Guard take down the "Free Beer" sign 'til I can escape on vacation.

Wildman, I'm pretty sure that you're talking to me. I'm sure that I'm talking to you; anyway! Now, if you'd like some help in tracking down the elusive Joy; you do know that we have a southern branch of da Family, right? We can put one of our crack sleuths on helping you locate her. One question tho - whatta you want to go and mess with one of them Northerners for anyhow, son? Don't you remember what they did the last time through?!

-- Anonymous, August 20, 2002


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