Talking about supercomputers in your pocket… am I the only one who finds extremely funny when people ask for directions with their smartphone in their hand? Or ask for anything that can be easily solved by just using the device they’re already holding?
In the past I used to send “Let Me Google That For You” links, but I think I need a “Just use your smartphone!” T-shit or something. :P
Edit: while I find the situation funny, I want to clarify that I never mock people, or be rude to them. I try to go out of my way to help them, since you never know why they don’t do the obvious thing.
My parents and grandparents will routinely give me directions to the restaurant we’re all going to. In the past I tried to stop them as I can never remember them anyway and certainly don’t use the same landmarks. Now I just nod my head and pretend like I got it all on the first try and then just use Google maps like a sane person.
I mean I agree, but also can see the advantage of asking someone who seems like a local if you’re confused about the transit system or if you took a wrong turn and just want to get some place without further hassle.
That’s absolutely true. One person asked me for directions once with Google Maps open and pointing where they had to go. Clearly this person was unable to understand the app.
It should be noted that while chat services that many use require low bandwidth, sometimes on throttled speed it’s not enough to even make a basic Google search.
It is likely that the person you are talking to already used up their high speed mobile internet and now is running on throttled. Searching something up can take a minute or two in that state. Opening up a website or navigation becomes straight up impossible.
I totally understand that. As I said, I never know the reason, so I don’t judge. It’s just that the situation is funny, in the “we have the tools, but still can’t solve the problem” kind of way. :D
am I the only one who finds extremely funny when people ask for directions with their smartphone in their hand
Depends on the context.
If I’m hanging out with friends, in a city or area I’m relatively familiar with, and somebody suggests going to a restaurant or something I don’t know, I might just casually ask “Where is it? How are we getting there?” or something like that. Because there’s a good chance I don’t need to pull out my phone, open an app, type something in, make sure it’s the right location (being buried beneath the ad results), and following the steps the whole time, when a simple “just head to where the BDSM dungeon is, it like 2 doors down”
For people whose childhood didn’t have an internet, it makes sense. Many are more comfortable getting information the way they used to. Even though I grew up in the 80s, I prefer to avoid having to interact with people when possible, so being able to use the internet for information was a godsend.
Talking about supercomputers in your pocket… am I the only one who finds extremely funny when people ask for directions with their smartphone in their hand? Or ask for anything that can be easily solved by just using the device they’re already holding? In the past I used to send “Let Me Google That For You” links, but I think I need a “Just use your smartphone!” T-shit or something. :P
Edit: while I find the situation funny, I want to clarify that I never mock people, or be rude to them. I try to go out of my way to help them, since you never know why they don’t do the obvious thing.
My parents and grandparents will routinely give me directions to the restaurant we’re all going to. In the past I tried to stop them as I can never remember them anyway and certainly don’t use the same landmarks. Now I just nod my head and pretend like I got it all on the first try and then just use Google maps like a sane person.
Hahahaha! Well played. ;)
I mean I agree, but also can see the advantage of asking someone who seems like a local if you’re confused about the transit system or if you took a wrong turn and just want to get some place without further hassle.
Oh! When you’re in a place you don’t know, it’s a whole different game. Yes, even with Maps or a GPS it can be confusing. :P
Some people just cant navigate, not much help in google if you don’t understand what direction it is telling you to go.
Plus maps aren’t always accurate about address locations. So I think it can really depend on exactly the type of direction someone is asking for.
That said, please put a number on your house if you don’t already have one.
That’s absolutely true. One person asked me for directions once with Google Maps open and pointing where they had to go. Clearly this person was unable to understand the app.
It should be noted that while chat services that many use require low bandwidth, sometimes on throttled speed it’s not enough to even make a basic Google search.
It is likely that the person you are talking to already used up their high speed mobile internet and now is running on throttled. Searching something up can take a minute or two in that state. Opening up a website or navigation becomes straight up impossible.
I suffer from that problem frequently
Google Maps and Apple Maps allow you to download offline maps!
And unfortunately many of us neglect to do that! Yes I know I should but somehow we never think we need it
I swear I’ll download my maps this time
I totally understand that. As I said, I never know the reason, so I don’t judge. It’s just that the situation is funny, in the “we have the tools, but still can’t solve the problem” kind of way. :D
Depends on the context.
If I’m hanging out with friends, in a city or area I’m relatively familiar with, and somebody suggests going to a restaurant or something I don’t know, I might just casually ask “Where is it? How are we getting there?” or something like that. Because there’s a good chance I don’t need to pull out my phone, open an app, type something in, make sure it’s the right location (being buried beneath the ad results), and following the steps the whole time, when a simple “just head to where the BDSM dungeon is, it like 2 doors down”
For people whose childhood didn’t have an internet, it makes sense. Many are more comfortable getting information the way they used to. Even though I grew up in the 80s, I prefer to avoid having to interact with people when possible, so being able to use the internet for information was a godsend.