Ask for directions

What? And miss taking the road less travelled? Never. It comes from our genetic programming as hunters. Since we no longer hunt for food, we now hunt for a shortcut that isn't on the map.

Guys: If you see you're getting lost, say to your passengers  "I know where it is but I think there is a shorter route. Let me double check."  Then, when you find the person you wish to ask for directions get out of the car and talk to him or her far enough away your passengers cannot hear your conversation. After you get directions, as you walk back to the car say  "Thanks very much, that's what I thought."  The only drawback is you should be very careful who you choose to ask for directions. Sometimes there is a good reason why certain people aren't driving.

Most people you ask will cheerfully give you directions that land you ten miles in the opposite direction from your objective. And that's if they're men. Ask most women for directions and you'll get something like "Turn at the house that's yellow that was painted last month, and then again at the house that has children playing in the yard after school." This is why we don't ask for directions, ladies.

Yep, I've been the stereotypical guy unable to admit when I am lost and in need of directions. Happily, I solved this shortcoming recently. I've decided I'm not too proud to get directions by punching in an address into the new GPS gadget I bought for my car. Worth every penny so far.

And what will happen if you ask for directions, your manhood will fall off? I think you rather ask a question, then drive around for hours being a "man".

I don't like asking for directions. I tell people directions even if I don't neccessarily know the way, I'm a man!

Better to ask directions than to drive around aimlessly for hours.

I think they should ask for directions even if they THINK they don't. It makes them able to admit their faults.

I never understood why this was considered an 'unmanly' thing to do - I have done this quite frequently in the past, though nowadays, when I know I'm going someplace I've never been before, I will usually print out directions using the mapfinder. Whoever thinks this is 'unmanly' probably doesn't travel much to begin with.

C'mon, any idiot can get lost..yet you can always buy a map.

There are two circumstances under which a man should never ask for directions: 1. When a woman is in the car with him, and 2. when the person he would be asking is a woman. Other than that, ask away. After all, we men must keep up our mystique.

With mapquest, GPS, and the quality maps available this should only happen in extreme situations. UPDATE: To answer CastleBee, the dude is looney. We must also consider Mr. Political's very good point that people give crap directions half the time. Find your own way if at all possible, guys!

I always know where I'm going even if it takes me a couple extra turns here or there... why do I need to stop and ask for directions. Vfern is the one with those damn useless mapquest printouts that gets us lost every damn time she plans out the trip... no honey I said right at the .01 mile turn and then a left at the next .02 onto the other right at .01. WHAT IN GODS @#$%$#@% NAME ARE YOU TALKING BOUT?

Jared, resplendent in his leopard print vest, leather short shorts, and snake-skin boots, after just having his nips pierced, happily hops on the back of his new moped behind his girlfriend, burps with gusto and then asks the guy in the car next to them for directions to the nearest Baskin Robbins. Escaped mental patient or just a guy whos secure in his masculinity?

As a female, I so wish they would.Please, instead of holding who is hostage in the car with you while you turn here and there. Why NOT ask a stranger for directions? {or pull over and use a map}

You don't wanna do that in NY. Most New Yorkers might tell you to blow off! or Hit the road bozo! Just be careful who you're asking.

. . .means that your dumb ass didn't bring a map or plan ahead. Half the people you ask for directions are stupid anyways. The other half don't know how to get you there. Men don't ask for a REASON, ladies- not because we're dumb. I don't make fun of the excessive shoes in your closet, you should respect the masculine need to not trust a nation of idiots for directions.

IJR, God is a myth, and therefore could not have invented maps.

it depends. i think men are wanderers by nature and would rather scope out an area and try to find a place based on their own sense. on the other hand, chances are good if you're a man and a woman is riding shotgun you probably dont want to go where you need to anyway, and would rather get lost and miss the whole event.

Hey I'm secure enough in my masculinity that by asking directions I will not feel less of a man. Thank God I was blessed with a good sense of direction though:)

There really must be something to this because even though I like to think I break the sterotypes of men on many accounts- this one sticks. I don't know, to me it just seems that it makes a lot more worth it sense to look at a map or use a GPS device in the car then to look around for some complete stranger who could very well be giving you the wrong information. Of course, it would help if I knew how to use a map properly or the GPS....

Never had to. I always no where I'm going. Now, was it a left or a right at Albuqureque?

You mean some of us don't know the way? What?

Real men don't ask for directions. We just keep driving in circles, praying, hoping, wishing, sweating, wondering if anyone has noticed we're lost. No, real men are stupid and stubborn. I'm a real man, and proud of it. LOL

I don't like to,but with gas hovering around $2.00 a gallon....