# You've lived here your entire life and don't know where anything is? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 7, 2016, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-lived-here-your-entire-life-and-dont-know-where-anything-is/759292 "2016-07-07T07:42:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![ERON](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ed8c4c/32.png) [@ERON](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ERON)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2016, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-lived-here-your-entire-life-and-dont-know-where-anything-is/759292/101 "2016-07-09T06:27:04Z")
> [@lazybratsche](#): > > For fuck’s sake, _“The Boston Harbor” is not a well specified landmark_. If you were in Copley Square and asked for directions to the back bay, you’d get confused reactions. If you were in Inman Square and asked for directions to “the river”, again you’d get confused reactions. > > What’s set me off is not my self-absorbed millenial ways. Nor my cluelessness about geography or lack of spatial awareness – in the very city you’re talking about, when the mood struck me I would halfway across it simply because that seemed more interesting than taking the T. I’ve walked all the way from Charlestown to Longwood because it was the first beautiful day of spring, or because it was snowing heavily and I almost had the whole city to msyelf. > > No, what’s set me off is you’re cluelessness, entitlement, and willful ignorance. You don’t know where you’re going? Fine. You’re offended that someone can’t read the poorly formed thoughts in your mind? Get over yourself. Haha in his or her face! Tell 'em! ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2016, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-lived-here-your-entire-life-and-dont-know-where-anything-is/759292/102 "2016-07-09T22:32:53Z")
> [@faithfool](#): > > But then wouldn’t you just say that? I really don’t understand this thread. I get that people are taking the OP to task for thinking so poorly of the restaurant staff, but simply to have any of a group of people, who’ve lived there long-term, suggest right or left? To something as large as a water mass that could be access from several different directions? > > And I’ve waited tables before, in an area that wasn’t particularly touristy, but after any length of time, you learn to answer customer’s questions about where crap is just by overhearing stuff. If there was any confusion about his question or the destination, I don’t think it would’ve been too tall an order to ask for clarification… IE: “The Boston Harbor, you say? Well, there’s lots of routes to what would qualify, but I really don’t hang out there. Would it work to just send you to an overall area I think might be what your looking?” Or any such thing. Well like I said, I generally know where stuff is, but it’s more like I’m just walking there on auto pilot. And anyone who’s ever been to Pittsburgh knows it’s more of a city of neighborhoods – ask me how to get to the Point or the North Shore, I could do that. Ask me how to get to the zoo from downtown? You generally want to get a good map or GPS. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2016, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-lived-here-your-entire-life-and-dont-know-where-anything-is/759292/103 "2016-07-10T00:45:04Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > Not everyone is rich. People need to keep their privilege in mind. I’m not sure about the US, but in my experience Smartphones in Australia are so cheap (literally free on a phone contract; second hand ones readily available and even brand new “no-frills” models available for change out of $100) that quite literally everyone in major cities who wants one has one, and anyone who doesn’t have one doesn’t need one and/or has an enormous beard, a Penny Farthing, and owns a cereal cafe. I have to say I agree with the OP - but I’m one of those lucky people who’s extremely good with orientation and navigation and finding my way around. The idea I could spend any useful length of time in a city (ie more than a couple of days) and not know where major landmarks and stuff were is, quite frankly baffling. I used to live in an extremely touristy area, in a non-touristy role, and even though I’d never go to any of the attractions, I certainly knew how to give people directions to them (even if those directions were “Drive to the airport and then catch a plane to Sydney, because that’s where the Harbour Bridge you’re looking for is located”). Interestingly, though, we used to have a flatmate who was like the sort of people the OP described. He’d lived in the city his entire life and had no idea where anything that wasn’t our flat, his work, his girlfriend’s place or his parent’s place was. He honestly had no idea - I mentioned going to a fairly substantial shopping centre which was about 30 minutes drive away to get something, and he had no idea where it was. ---
**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2016, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-lived-here-your-entire-life-and-dont-know-where-anything-is/759292/104 "2016-07-10T01:38:18Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > I’m not sure about the US, but in my experience Smartphones in Australia are so cheap (literally free on a phone contract; second hand ones readily available and even brand new “no-frills” models available for change out of $100) that quite literally everyone in major cities who wants one has one, and anyone who doesn’t have one doesn’t need one and/or has an enormous beard, a Penny Farthing, and owns a cereal cafe. > > I have to say I agree with the OP - but I’m one of those lucky people who’s extremely good with orientation and navigation and finding my way around. The idea I could spend any useful length of time in a city (ie more than a couple of days) and not know where major landmarks and stuff were is, quite frankly baffling. > > I used to live in an extremely touristy area, in a non-touristy role, and even though I’d never go to any of the attractions, I certainly knew how to give people directions to them (even if those directions were “Drive to the airport and then catch a plane to Sydney, because that’s where the Harbour Bridge you’re looking for is located”). > > Interestingly, though, we used to have a flatmate who was like the sort of people the OP described. He’d lived in the city his entire life and had no idea where anything that wasn’t our flat, his work, his girlfriend’s place or his parent’s place was. He honestly had no idea - I mentioned going to a fairly substantial shopping centre which was about 30 minutes drive away to get something, and he had no idea where it was. I think that the privilege \*\*drunky \*\* was referring to was the time and means to play tourist in their own city. In a lot of urban areas in the US, the people who work in the tourist areas don’t live there, either because housing isn’t available or it is unaffordable. Most everyone under the age of 80 has smart phones here too. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2016, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-lived-here-your-entire-life-and-dont-know-where-anything-is/759292/105 "2016-07-10T02:46:34Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Well like I said, I generally know where stuff is, but it’s more like I’m just walking there on auto pilot. And anyone who’s ever been to Pittsburgh knows it’s more of a city of neighborhoods – ask me how to get to the Point or the North Shore, I could do that. Ask me how to get to the zoo from downtown? You generally want to get a good map or GPS. No, I understand that, as it truly does make sense. But I’m absolutely positive that no matter how much you do something by rote while not really paying attention, you totally could’ve at least headed them in the right general area by saying either right or left. I just can’t comprehend that would be too much for anyone’s ability. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2016, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-lived-here-your-entire-life-and-dont-know-where-anything-is/759292/106 "2016-07-10T05:25:23Z")
Well, I guess it depends on the regions, but [this](http://dve.iheart.com/media/play/22055826/) is generally why you want to have a map… (I’m not kidding, this is what happens when people try to give directions in Pittsburgh. Usually, if it’s in walking distance, and you look trustworthy, they’ll show you where something is.) 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2016, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-lived-here-your-entire-life-and-dont-know-where-anything-is/759292/107 "2016-07-10T06:49:29Z")
> [@faithfool](#): > > No, I understand that, as it truly does make sense. But I’m absolutely positive that no matter how much you do something by rote while not really paying attention, you totally could’ve at least headed them in the right general area by saying either right or left. I just can’t comprehend that would be too much for anyone’s ability. Maybe they really, truly didn’t know. Some people really, truly cannot tell you that the door of their workplace faces a certain direction relative to an invisible landmark eight blocks away. And there are also people who just aren’t very curious, and refuse to learn to find their way. There are people who get hopelessly lost in airports even though there are detailed signs hanging within view of almost everywhere, telling you where to go. The idea that the location of gate B20 is discernible from a sign saying “Gates B 10-25 →” does not cross their minds. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2016, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-lived-here-your-entire-life-and-dont-know-where-anything-is/759292/108 "2016-07-10T07:47:13Z")
> [@lazybratsche](#): > > This part has been bugging me in particular. That question is basically nonsense. It’s about as useful as a tourist in DC asking “Do I go left or right to get to The Government?” > > For one, as everyone has been harping on for a while now, “Boston harbor” is not a well-defined place. For the other thing, given how fucked the streets are laid out, “left or right” is not useful directions unless you’re already close enough to see the water front from the street. Finally, you probably don’t want the directions I might have given you: “take a left, then a right, then the road curves to the right, then you take two lefts and cut through an alley to Chinatown, make sure you enter the correct side of the station, to take the orange line to State St, switch to the Blue Line to go the Aquarium… or find your own damn map because it’d be faster to walk” This. I’ve spent plenty of hours walking around Boston, but from most locations, I wouldn’t be able to answer that question. First, I have no freaking clue what you mean by “Boston harbor”, because that’s adjacent to most of the city. You could want to go almost anywhere. Second, the streets are a maze of twisty little passageways, no two the same. It’s very hard to give directions in Boston to anything that isn’t very close by. And 8 blocks isn’t close enough to be easy, even if the waiter guessed that wherever you ended up was where you wanted to go. Third, everyone takes the T. Locals rarely drive around, and most don’t walk far, either. So they have no particular reason to know local geography (which isn’t easy to map to a grid, like it is in many places) If you’d asked for direction to the nearest T stop they could probably have answered that. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2016, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-lived-here-your-entire-life-and-dont-know-where-anything-is/759292/109 "2016-07-10T15:45:21Z")
> [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](#): > > I would probably be able to lead you there, but I can’t tell you. I have this problem. I know where the thing is. I could easily walk/drive there. But my direction giving skills are lacking. I know that it’s forward for a while then right for a while - but I also know that there are hills and that the city isn’t exactly a grid and there are streets that just end. I’m not really sure whether the thing is on 1st or 2nd or possibly even 3rd. I also really have no internal sense of distance - so, I know it’s close, but 5 blocks? 10 blocks? I really just know that I could walk right there. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2016, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-lived-here-your-entire-life-and-dont-know-where-anything-is/759292/110 "2016-07-10T22:42:49Z")
Well, I thought I knew my way around Boston. I was just downtown today. There was an event for singles, an urban race/scavenger hunt. I was a little apprehensive, but nothing ventured, nothing gained. The ticket said to meet at Central Wharf at 1:00. I got a bit dressed up, left nice and early, and was there in front of the Aquarium by 12:45. No one showed up. I walked all the way out to the end of the wharf; plenty of people around, but no one organizing any sort of scavenger hunt. It turns out that I think they meant Central Wharf Co. (a restaurant) and not Central Wharf (a wharf). On the other hand, I found the harbor. I felt like jumping in. ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2016, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-lived-here-your-entire-life-and-dont-know-where-anything-is/759292/111 "2016-07-11T02:18:29Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Well, I thought I knew my way around Boston. I was just downtown today. There was an event for singles, an urban race/scavenger hunt. I was a little apprehensive, but nothing ventured, nothing gained. The ticket said to meet at Central Wharf at 1:00. I got a bit dressed up, left nice and early, and was there in front of the Aquarium by 12:45. No one showed up. I walked all the way out to the end of the wharf; plenty of people around, but no one organizing any sort of scavenger hunt. It turns out that I think they meant Central Wharf Co. (a restaurant) and not Central Wharf (a wharf). > > On the other hand, I found the harbor. I felt like jumping in. ↑ ↑ ↑ This = Way cool tude… ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2016, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-lived-here-your-entire-life-and-dont-know-where-anything-is/759292/112 "2016-07-11T02:46:02Z")
The only other thing I will say about this, since much of the discussion (because part of the OP) centers on Boston– I have known a lot of people from Boston in my life and a lot of people not-from-Boston as well, and while people not-from-Boston aren’t necessarily especially good at geography (knowing where things are in their own communities, the US, the world), people \*from \*Boston are disproportionately the pits where geographic knowledge and understanding is concerned. Sure, I’ve met a few geographically-savvy Bostonians, but the bulk of those I know have a \*really \*bad sense of geography. “What’s the capital of Europe” bad, “It takes what, a few hours to drive from Los Angeles to Miami?” bad. (Both of these are perfectly true.) Maybe it’s the result of living in a place where the street layout doesn’t make a lot of sense, or maybe it’s this idea of the “Hub of the Universe” where nothing outside the city signifies, or maybe it’s something in the water, I don’t know, but when it comes to otherwise intelligent people who lack even basic geographical understanding, Boston seems to lead the league. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2016, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-lived-here-your-entire-life-and-dont-know-where-anything-is/759292/113 "2016-07-11T04:28:24Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > On the other hand, I found the harbor. I felt like jumping in. That does not sound like a great notion… ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2016, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-lived-here-your-entire-life-and-dont-know-where-anything-is/759292/114 "2016-07-11T05:34:32Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Well, I thought I knew my way around Boston. I was just downtown today. There was an event for singles, an urban race/scavenger hunt. I was a little apprehensive, but nothing ventured, nothing gained. The ticket said to meet at Central Wharf at 1:00. I got a bit dressed up, left nice and early, and was there in front of the Aquarium by 12:45. No one showed up. I walked all the way out to the end of the wharf; plenty of people around, but no one organizing any sort of scavenger hunt. It turns out that I think they meant Central Wharf Co. (a restaurant) and not Central Wharf (a wharf). > > On the other hand, I found the harbor. I felt like jumping in. Damned Klingons! ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2016, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-lived-here-your-entire-life-and-dont-know-where-anything-is/759292/115 "2016-07-18T08:18:07Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > Perhaps if \*you \*had a smartphone you would Did you read the part where I posted that my wife has a Smart Phone and for whatever reason couldn’t get a signal? I posted it early on: > [@pkbites](#): > > I have a good old fashioned dinosaur Smart Talk flip phone. Full bars but no map apps. My wifes precious smart phone had no signal for whatever reason. I razzed her about how at least I could make a phone call. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2016, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-lived-here-your-entire-life-and-dont-know-where-anything-is/759292/116 "2016-07-18T14:26:29Z")
> [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](#): > > The only other thing I will say about this, since much of the discussion (because part of the OP) centers on Boston– > > I have known a lot of people from Boston in my life and a lot of people not-from-Boston as well, and while people not-from-Boston aren’t necessarily especially good at geography (knowing where things are in their own communities, the US, the world), people \*from \*Boston are disproportionately the pits where geographic knowledge and understanding is concerned. Sure, I’ve met a few geographically-savvy Bostonians, but the bulk of those I know have a \*really \*bad sense of geography. “What’s the capital of Europe” bad, “It takes what, a few hours to drive from Los Angeles to Miami?” bad. (Both of these are perfectly true.) > > Maybe it’s the result of living in a place where the street layout doesn’t make a lot of sense, or maybe it’s this idea of the “Hub of the Universe” where nothing outside the city signifies, or maybe it’s something in the water, I don’t know, but when it comes to otherwise intelligent people who lack even basic geographical understanding, Boston seems to lead the league. No, I can’t blame them one bit. That fucking Big Dig started a few years after I was born and ended what, just a few years ago? 2005? During that time everything kept changing in Boston. We went half a dozen times and every time it was damn difficult to navigate. And the city is confusing. NYC is built on a grid and is sort of planned. Boston? Not even remotely. It’s just a disorganized mess. And I love Boston, but damn, it’s confusing. All this tells me though it the OP is one damn annoying tourist. You need to bring your own maps and know how to get there. Your lack of planning does not constitute an emergency on anyone’s part. I don’t own a smartphone, either, for the record, and neither does my husband. We opted for tablets, but you know, for years and years we did without, and had printed maps ready to go. Hell, for a while we used to keep a map of Boston in my car, we went so often. And what’s all this about milennials? I’m 40 fucking years old. Gen X, and I hate you Baby Boomers and I hate you milennials too. Get off my lawn - both of you! ---
**Author:** ![Lok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e8c25b/32.png) [@Lok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lok)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2016, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-lived-here-your-entire-life-and-dont-know-where-anything-is/759292/117 "2016-07-18T14:39:43Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > And what’s all this about milennials? I’m 40 fucking years old. Gen X, and I hate you Baby Boomers and I hate you milennials too. Get off my lawn - both of you! But you have a PokeStop with a lure going and tons of spawns! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![edwards\_beard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@edwards\_beard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/edwards_beard)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2016, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-lived-here-your-entire-life-and-dont-know-where-anything-is/759292/118 "2016-07-18T18:16:49Z")
Do you mind telling the name of the restaurant so us locals can see how close you were? So…You ask the hostess how far it is to Boston Harbor (the harbor or the hotel?), when she tells you she doesn’t know, you question her as to how long she’s lived there (I’m sure they were perfectly pleasant questions, and didn’t come across as condescending at all.) So she has lived there for 32 years (but how long has she worked at the restaurant?) Then you jump over to the waiter, and grill him for how long he’s lived there, and then two others. I’m guessing you weren’t asking as politely as you thought you were. As others have said, the harbor is huge, seeing as though you were there on Fourth of July, and the fireworks (which are nationally televised) are shot out over a part of the harbor, where the Charles empties into it, there are plenty of road closures which could complicate giving directions. So which part were you trying to get to? The touristy portion near the aquarium (which is one direction), the touristy portion new the Federal Courthouse, Bank Boston Pavillion and Harpoon Brewery (different direction) or looking at it from the Northend? So, what was the name of the restaurant, and which part of the harbor did you want to see (or end up at) ---
**Author:** ![HelenGawn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@HelenGawn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelenGawn)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2016, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-lived-here-your-entire-life-and-dont-know-where-anything-is/759292/119 "2016-07-18T19:54:50Z")
> [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > In my experience a large majority of people have no idea where they are most of the time. This. I once asked a co-worker if she lived east or west off the street - the street that ran due east/west - our place of business was. As in, is the sun in your face or at your back both ways? Even when phrased that way, she couldn’t tell me. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2016, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-lived-here-your-entire-life-and-dont-know-where-anything-is/759292/120 "2016-07-18T20:30:29Z")
> [@HelenGawn](#): > > This. I once asked a co-worker if she lived east or west off the street - the street that ran due east/west - our place of business was. As in, is the sun in your face or at your back both ways? Even when phrased that way, she couldn’t tell me. That’s very confusing wording. Phrased that way, I can’t tell what you’re asking either. (“west off the street”? “both ways” of what?) If the street she lives on runs due east & west, doesn’t she live on either the north or south side of the street? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-lived-here-your-entire-life-and-dont-know-where-anything-is/759292.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/youve-lived-here-your-entire-life-and-dont-know-where-anything-is/759292.md?page=7)