Twice, in recent weeks, I have had what loosely might be described as "exchanges" with individuals, one of which occurred this past week-end on a bus, and both of whom had persisted in citing Google maps, adamantly insisting that this was correct, rather than listening to (having initially sought advice and answers) responses based on what eyes observed (what you could, and would see, in terms of desired destinations, at the following bus-stop), or what long lived experience had dictated how one could best interpret one's environment.
The bleated - endlessly repeated and increasingly truculent - responses "but this is what Google maps says" in reply to my suggested recommendations (as to which bus stop would suit their needs best re desired destination and a short subsequent distance to walk) led to aggressive questions "how do you know?" (I live here); "how long have you lived here?" (around half a century when I am not elsewhere); "do you realise it's lashing rain"? (Yes, I do, actually).
The replies between brackets would have been expressed by those wonderful thought bubbles visible in cartoons, as, while I certainly thought them, I did not actually give voice to them.
Eventually, irked by having to endlessly repeat myself, (and worse, actually justify citing my lived experience over an imperfect online source), I asked this individual (the question was rhetorical) whether they believed an online source over the evidence of their eyes.
Good grief.
