How Do You Given/Take Driving Directions

[INTrPosr]

I just completed the BBC/MBTI test, at the Online Test forum, resulting again in INTP/Strategist. One of the questions pertained to giving/taking directions. I have always believed that my method of giving directions was more Se-ish, but wanted to know from some of you.

Usually, when someone gives me directions, I first want the exact address. If the address is unknown, I want an interval, i.e., the corner of such and such streets. When I do get instructions, I detest someone referencing to some landmark (a yellow building, a building with a big maple tree in front, etc). Instead, I like for people to give me directions, via N-S-E-W. Is that using extraverted sensing, or would that be extraverted intuition? Hmmmm...., I always considered it being an extraverted thing, but maybe it's introverted.

[EternalCynic]

For me this changed when I started driving and actually -looking- at street signs. When I first got my license, I wanted directions by landmarks and things like that. Now I prefer to know where to turn right on which street and how far i'll be going down before I make my next turn. I like more specific directions.

[jimkopelli]

I'm horrible at remembering street names, but good at landmarks. I can't say "Turn on Walnut Street" but I'm fine with "It's right next to that one house with three dead cars." (I hate the Midwest. So much. Grr.)

[MacGuffin]

I like maps. Specific directions only work I think when you are given distances to each turn - otherwise I get paranoid that I'll miss the turn.

In fact, I like drawing maps when giving directions. Especially when the streets don't conform to a grid and curve all over.

[Birdsnest]

If you visit Carmel, CA, or send anyone a post card there, you will find no address numbers on any houses. You have to address it to the two streets that most closely intersect, and the families last name. So two of the nearest street names can be a good way to find a place for me, like the cottage house at 3rd and Ocean, but I don't mind the other visuals, and I do like the actual address if they have it as well, since mapquest helps a lot.

It helps a lot if I go to a new city to have an idea of the directions and highway exits before I go. For instance Orlando isn't complicated at all if you know that all the things like Sea World, Universal studios and Disney world are connected by I drive, but that if you want to get back to your hotel after leaving the DW theme parks at midnight, and if you aren't staying in the Disney Resorts themselves, then you have to look for highway I-4 signs going East, and just remember your exit number and you'll get back half asleep, but knowing your way around like a pro. I'm going off point here, but, hey I like to talk about Orlando!!!

The major attractions driving East to West are Downtown Orlando, Universal, Sea World, Disney World, and last, the airport. If you know that, you can get anywhere you need to. If you know that the best cheap hotels are LaQuinta, the best moderate are Residence Inn, and the best Sea World hotel is Rennaissance, the best Univeral hotel is Hard Rock Hotel, or Portofino, the best DW hotels are the Disney Resorts including Port Orleans Riverside, Animal Kingdom Lodge, for budget minded, stay in Disneys All star movies, Love Bug, its far from anyone else, and very quiet. The good thing about staying in a DW resort is if you book one night there, you can buy a length of stay park hopper and go to any of the water or theme parks for two days, the day of arrival, early check in 7am to day of check out, till park closes.

If I'm navigating around in new cities, I appreciate knowing before hand the layout of the major highways before I go, and mapquest is great for that too. I used to love to "try" to get lost, because I could always find my way out of somewhere, and lived near San Francisco, so I had some practice finding my way around in cities.

[Crazy]

I like using street names and landmarks. I also like distances and map drawing. People have said that I am very good at giving directions. I believe that giving directions is more of a T/F function, while following directions is more of a S/N function.

[Strephonade]

Depends--I usually try both widely recognizable landmarks and street names, and use more of what appears to be making more sense to the person to whom I'm giving directions. If someone prefers fewer directions, then I'll give more general directions, with a specific large landmark just before they get there, or a specific street right around the area they're headed toward. Although, I usually try to be very specific if possible, which is most often appreciated.

[greenintp]

Essentially I don't go anywhere without a map/ map book. I study it before I leave and bring it with me. Even when someone gives me directions, I look them up on the map.

[shaytana]

I usually dont trust other peoples directions so I will look it up myself.
If I am completely unfamiliar with the area I will want both the street name and whats on the corner, like Turn left on Queen street, right by the McDonalds. drive down about 5 blocks then turn right on Landsdown, by the street car terminal.

If I know the area somwhat then just give me the destination address and I will find it myself.

[adamjaskie]

Give me a destination address, and I will look it up on Mapquest.

[Division56]

I am a navigational god. I was driving with an INTJ this week and they can never admit they're wrong, so if they do get lost, they won't take help. *huff*


Thankfully we only got lost once and it was for a short while.

[nobarcode]

...INTJ...and they can never admit they're wrong, so if they do get lost, they won't take help. *huff*

Well.... I never get lost. ;P

[shaytana]

I get lost in the city, but never in the woods.

[Google Monster]

I got lost in the woods the other day. Took 7 and a 1/2 hours to get out. Was a good experience. :)

[Division56]

I got lost in my mind a few years back, I'm still looking for the exit...

[nobarcode]

The exit is the entrance; that's the friggin' problem.

Cue: *spooky organ music*

[Google Monster]

Odd. I came out of the woods the same part I went in.

[Boozer]

The farther away the place is from anything I am familiar with the more I move away from just an address/intersection to mapquest.

[Polly_G]

I just want the exact address. I print off directions using google maps. If I have to give directions, I usually give them a link to google maps. If they don't have an email, I'm faxing a print out to them. I worry about landmarks when giving directions but seem to do ok without them myself as long as I have a good map. I travel a fair amount though and can cheat with GPS in motorola Q.

[intpgolfer]

Here is the Eiffel Tower - click on "Map" and you can see the roads - then zoom in, out and around:

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=eiffel+tower&t=k&om=0&ll=48.858265,2.294509&spn=0.001195,0.00339

I am going to Scotland next month and have laid out all the roads I will be traveling. Especially fine are the maps of the airports - if you zoom in you not only see the roads in and around the Airports - it shows you the traffic directions. An with so many roundabouts in Scotland I can get a feel for the entrances and exits ( because I will be driving on the left side of the road - this is important.

Just type in "Glasgow airport, Scotland" you will see what I mean - and this can be done for just about any airport in the world - invaluable

Oh yeah - all my directions are visual - I cannot give directions using street names more than 2 blocks from my house?

[mgb]

What's with all the necromancing?