# Guys finish faster **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 1, 1999, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-finish-faster/5060 "1999-12-01T20:47:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Homer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/df788c/32.png) [@Homer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homer)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 1999, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-finish-faster/5060/1 "1999-12-02T06:11:00Z")
As I was driving home from class today (one hour drive to school, one hour of class, one hour drive home. Waste of time? Worth it? Comments?) I started to wonder: Why is it that it always seems to be quicker getting back from somewhere than going? Then I realized that the jack off in my lane was, at a green light, **backing** her Really Expensiveâ brand SUV down the lane, down a line of traffic, to get in the back of the right hand lane, as I was speeding toward her. Luckily, this jackass managed to avoid getting hit, and finish her _extremely_ retarded manuever with SUV and body still in one piece. I tried to rationalize for this poor soul, born with no brain, that perhaps she truly needed to get into the shopping strip that was on the left, but **NO!** she continued on past, to the next left hand turn! LIKE SHE COULDN’T HAVE MERGED ONCE TRAFFIC WAS MOVING!!! MORON!! IDIOT!!! Someone get me a sedative. ::lies down, compress on forehead:: Oooh, midwest drivers. Am I the only one who pays attention to what I’m doing? Am I the only who truly knows how you’re SUPPOSED to behave on the road? Am I the only one out here who will not cause five or six wrecks because of my ignorance? Perhaps, just perhaps, this is all a little game, and I am a chess piece. All these other drivers are soulless, clueless automatons, sent to confuse and constipate me. But anyway, why does it seem like it takes longer to get somewhere than it does to get back? –Tim * * * We are the children of the Eighties. We are not the first “lost generation” nor today’s lost generation; in fact, we think we know just where we stand - or are discovering it as we speak. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 1999, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-finish-faster/5060/2 "1999-12-02T06:15:00Z")
Because on the way there (at least the first time) you’re constantly trying to read street signs and figure out where you’re going. Also in most cases “on the way there” you want to be “there” at a certain time and feel rushed. Usually there are not the same conditions “on the way back.” BTW, Homer, I would suggest that you listen to soothing music in your car to help you relax. Either that or take up marijuana as a recreational activity. * * * La franchise ne consiste pas à dire tout ce que l’on pense, mais à penser tout ce que l’on dit. H. de Livry ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/original/2X/e/e489c3b7d8fce19c4b355dd4fc3f88cc39c34b87.png) [@system](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 1999, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-finish-faster/5060/3 "1999-12-02T06:15:00Z")
I don’t know Why,but it’s definitely true! ---
**Author:** ![pldennison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@pldennison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pldennison)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 1999, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-finish-faster/5060/4 "1999-12-01T20:47:00Z")
What a minute–aren’t you the one who is constantly getting pulled over for speeding, and has had a wreck recently? * * * "I prefer shows of the genre, _“World’s Blankiest Blank.”_ ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 1999, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-finish-faster/5060/5 "1999-12-01T21:01:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Perhaps, just perhaps, this is all a little game, and I am a chess piece. All these other drivers are soulless, clueless automatons, sent to confuse and constipate me. Was that Kant? * * * “It is lucky for rulers that men do not think.” — Adolf Hitler ---
**Author:** ![Keeves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f05b48/32.png) [@Keeves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keeves)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 1999, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-finish-faster/5060/6 "1999-12-01T21:20:00Z")
I’ve noticed this phenomenon also. My WAG has always tied it to _expectations_, because it only seems to occur the first time you go to a new place. Or at least, the first time you’ve been there recently. Since you haven’t been there (recently), your subconscious has no reasonable expectation of how long the trip should take (even if your _conscious_ side does have such info from the guy who gave you the directions). This lack of knowledge produces a queasy uncertain feeling, which we interpret as a lengthy trip. Time crawls when you don’t know what’s going on. But on the return trip, this doesn’t happen, because your subconscious can relate to whatever landmarks (or whatever) you passed on the way. Just my WAG. Your mileage (no pun intended) may vary. ---
**Author:** ![Homer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/df788c/32.png) [@Homer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homer)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 1999, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-finish-faster/5060/7 "1999-12-01T22:20:00Z")
Those really are great answers, no sarcasm intended. But I drive to UMKC every morning. Usually takes 45 minutes, sometimes an hour. I drive home every night, same route, same level of traffic. Usually 30 minutes, sometimes 45. –Tim * * * We are the children of the Eighties. We are not the first “lost generation” nor today’s lost generation; in fact, we think we know just where we stand - or are discovering it as we speak. ---
**Author:** ![Homer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/df788c/32.png) [@Homer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homer)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 1999, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-finish-faster/5060/8 "1999-12-01T22:26:00Z")
Also, it wasn’t Kant, it was me. I don’t tend to quote people. OOOOH! I have another one! At the movies the other night, divided road, I was in the (very crowded) right-right turn lane, and suddenly, down the (empty) left-right turn lane, comes some jackass in a new red Escort, **GOING THE WRONG WAY!** you fucking JACKASS! He was laughing his ass off, too, and all the other people in the car. I could just see someone coming down that lane, to go to Ward’s, and plowing that retarded fuck-face, and all the jerk-offs in the car with him. What a fucking **MORON!** and _no_ my car’s new, so I’m not going to drive over the 6 inch divider to get on my side, I’ll drive to the next road, sit at the stop light, ON THE WRONG SIDE, and wait for a turn to go, AGAINST TRAFFIC!!! Where were the police for this? Where were the fucking cops!? And why couldn’t someone have nailed him and wiped that retarded grin off his face?! Please move this, it’s becoming MPSIMS-ish. –Tim –Tim * * * We are the children of the Eighties. We are not the first “lost generation” nor today’s lost generation; in fact, we think we know just where we stand - or are discovering it as we speak. ---
**Author:** ![Homer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/df788c/32.png) [@Homer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homer)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 1999, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-finish-faster/5060/9 "1999-12-01T22:28:00Z")
Oh, gee. Isn’t that nice. I’m developing a schitzophrenia. –Tim * * * We are the children of the Eighties. We are not the first “lost generation” nor today’s lost generation; in fact, we think we know just where we stand - or are discovering it as we speak. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [December 1, 1999, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-finish-faster/5060/10 "1999-12-01T23:59:00Z")
ah homer, maybe she was about to give birth to a baby & needed the lane to zee doc? Who knows with people these days. Who in their right mind wants to hurry to work? Shoot, coming home FROM work, now that would be pleasureable & much faster seeming. ---
**Author:** ![NanoByte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecc23a/32.png) [@NanoByte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NanoByte)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 1999, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-finish-faster/5060/11 "1999-12-02T09:49:00Z")
> [@](#): > > drive to UMKC every morning. Usually takes 45 minutes, sometimes an hour. I drive home every night, same route, same level of traffic. Usually 30 minutes So, at your particular driving times, you’re hitting the peak of the rush hour in the morning but not at night. Nothing strange there. However, I think the shorter-time-home effect also occurs for me when I just go hiking in the hills, not knowing where or how far I’ll go. If I take the same route back, it always seems to go faster in that direction. Sometimes that’s because I tend to choose the uphill direction to start, but not always. Ray ---
**Author:** ![Chef\_Troy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Chef\_Troy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chef_Troy)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 1999, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-finish-faster/5060/12 "1999-12-02T14:47:00Z")
Another possibility (since you said you were seeing the same level of traffic) is that the traffic lights are more favorable to your route on the way home than on the way out. I’ve experienced this on many occasions. * * * Live a Lush Life Da Chef