I've known a couple of women who aren't and I've heard of a couple of men who are. But mainly, directions exchanged between
sexes are exercises in futility.When Mrs. Stupidman gives me directions I need a big piece of paper. Her directions are based on rights, lefts and landmarks. Go past Wal-Mart, turn left at big sign, look for house with puce shutters (What's puce?), then go two houses further on opposite side.
"What's address?" "I don't know, but you can't miss it." "From what direction did you assume I was coming when you began instructions?" "Huh?"
"The Wal-Mart is on corner of an intersection. Should I go north, south, east or west from Wal-Mart?" "Huh?"
"Should I head towards Kansas, Arkansas, Texas or California?" (We live in Oklahoma.) "Oh, Arkansas."
I realize I don't pay attention to landmarks. I don't notice new stores, pretty signs, big tree. I'm limited to primary colors and even with that I have trouble distinguishing blues from greens.
When I was younger I tried to accommodate women by giving landmark directions but I was a failure.
One time my sister wanted directions to a new shopping center. I told her to go past three red lights before making a right turn. She got lost and blamed me. Turned out I should have said traffic light instead of red light.
Mrs. Stupidman and I used to have a lot of conflict over directions. She thought my smug expressions and tone were condescending (not me).
But then one day I picked up a book entitled "Sex On The Brain". Unfortunately, title was deceiving and it was really about clinical studies that attempted to explain differences for how women and men process information. But I read it anyway.
