Directions
As many may know, I get asked for directions on a regular basis. To me, it is unclear why I get asked all the time but it happens. On average I get asked twice per week* the exact location of a street, a store, a busline or a cardinal direction.
Today was one of those days. I was on the "L" getting off on the Merchandise Mart stop to walk to Lalo's the mexican restaurant. Heading toward the exit I hear above the din of the departing train and my iPod a womans voice. It was somewhat shrill and directed at ME. Very kindly removing my earbuds and turning my head with a smile I asked:**
Me: I'm sorry?
Shrill woman: Where do I get down to the blue line!!!!!?
Me: Ummm...
SW: I need to get on the blue line, how do I get down there from here!!!!!!!?
Me: You can't get on there from this stop.
SW: (shouting) YES I CAN! Now how do I get there?
Me: (calmly) There is no access to the blue line from this stop. You need to get back on the train.
SW: What!!!!!! That train (the one going the opposite direction of where I pointed)
Me: No the direction we were just going. You need to either A: Go around the loop or B: go to the next train stop and make a transfer.
SW: (shouting) NO!! I DO NOT NEED TO DO THAT! The brown line should take me right there.
Me: No, the brown line does not go that direction you want to be at Clark and Lake (she had stated this earlier)
SW: Yes, Clark and Lake
Me: Then you need to get back on the train and go around the loop (I could tell at this point that there was NO WAY I could explain a train transfer to this woman.)
SW: (stil shouting) The brown line does go that direction, it was going that direction today.
Me: (still calm) No ma'am the brownline does not go that direction it only goes one way.
SW: No I did not need to go around a loop at any point today you must be wrong.
At this point I was running late and ready to tell the woman to find it herself if she was so sure, but patience from God prevailed.
Me: Ma'am What you need to do is get on this train and get off at clark/lake. You will go by about 7 or 8 stops. (I then named them in approx. order)
SW: What stops were those?
Me: Do you want me to show you on a map?
SW: Yes, I do I have no idea what you are talking about. (again shouting) Oh, forget it I don't know directions at all.
Oh Really!!!! ***
Me: Well, just get on this train and go around tell you hit clark and lake.
SW: Oh okay I'll do that.
Shrill woman departs.
I don't understand it. There I sat for 5 to 10 minutes helping her and what does she do? SHOUT. Never have I met someone so lost who was so stubborn that they were so right. I mean come on, you are LOST how can you be so stubborn?
* This average is higher during summer months and lower during periods of winter.
**This is an abridged version of this conversation. The conversation took much more time, with more shouting (by her).
***Sarcastic remark inserted, not actually stated at the time of the conversation.
Today was one of those days. I was on the "L" getting off on the Merchandise Mart stop to walk to Lalo's the mexican restaurant. Heading toward the exit I hear above the din of the departing train and my iPod a womans voice. It was somewhat shrill and directed at ME. Very kindly removing my earbuds and turning my head with a smile I asked:**
Me: I'm sorry?
Shrill woman: Where do I get down to the blue line!!!!!?
Me: Ummm...
SW: I need to get on the blue line, how do I get down there from here!!!!!!!?
Me: You can't get on there from this stop.
SW: (shouting) YES I CAN! Now how do I get there?
Me: (calmly) There is no access to the blue line from this stop. You need to get back on the train.
SW: What!!!!!! That train (the one going the opposite direction of where I pointed)
Me: No the direction we were just going. You need to either A: Go around the loop or B: go to the next train stop and make a transfer.
SW: (shouting) NO!! I DO NOT NEED TO DO THAT! The brown line should take me right there.
Me: No, the brown line does not go that direction you want to be at Clark and Lake (she had stated this earlier)
SW: Yes, Clark and Lake
Me: Then you need to get back on the train and go around the loop (I could tell at this point that there was NO WAY I could explain a train transfer to this woman.)
SW: (stil shouting) The brown line does go that direction, it was going that direction today.
Me: (still calm) No ma'am the brownline does not go that direction it only goes one way.
SW: No I did not need to go around a loop at any point today you must be wrong.
At this point I was running late and ready to tell the woman to find it herself if she was so sure, but patience from God prevailed.
Me: Ma'am What you need to do is get on this train and get off at clark/lake. You will go by about 7 or 8 stops. (I then named them in approx. order)
SW: What stops were those?
Me: Do you want me to show you on a map?
SW: Yes, I do I have no idea what you are talking about. (again shouting) Oh, forget it I don't know directions at all.
Oh Really!!!! ***
Me: Well, just get on this train and go around tell you hit clark and lake.
SW: Oh okay I'll do that.
Shrill woman departs.
I don't understand it. There I sat for 5 to 10 minutes helping her and what does she do? SHOUT. Never have I met someone so lost who was so stubborn that they were so right. I mean come on, you are LOST how can you be so stubborn?
* This average is higher during summer months and lower during periods of winter.
**This is an abridged version of this conversation. The conversation took much more time, with more shouting (by her).
***Sarcastic remark inserted, not actually stated at the time of the conversation.
posted by Noellebellz at 1:57 AM
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