Rant number 17
Apologies for the very late posting ladies and gents. I've only just got back. Which - bearing in mind the subject in question - may be understandable...
So who is Delia? Well Delia is not a she. She is a what...
This evening, I had around a 50 mile trip to make. This in its self is no problem. Unfortunately however - I did not know the way there exactly. I had a plan however.
After much begging and pleading (and the administration of a minor sedative) I was able to prize my wife's much loved iPhone 4 from her hands. On it you see is a SatNav - which I felt would - most definitely mean that I would get there in double quick time.
Definitely...
Having a healthy distrust for technology (despite having a degree in Music technology - go figure) due to my upbringing in movies (think the Terminator crossed with Demon Seed via Event Horizon - all within my grumpy head goo) I also printed out a paper copy of a route.
I really, really should have risked it with the paper
Knowing that I would be able to get to around 5 miles from where I was going without any guidance, I set off in high spirits - with a view to pulling over around where I was familiar. And this I did.
Which is where I made a very silly error.
My paper copy said go left - and Delia 'knowing better' said to go right.
I trusted her friendly, patronising and dulcet tones.
This, if I am not mistaken - added around 10 miles to my journey (with change,) took around 20 minutes longer and stressed the hell out of me. Ball-ache - really does not cover it.
The thing is, Delia has done this before - more than once.
She forgets roundabouts exist, gives misleading instructions, sends me down dead ends - and various other annoyances.
And lets face it - I'm talking about Delia here- but I really am describing the problems with Sat-Navs in general.
To be very fair to them - and I really should be. Sat-Navs have made traveling to areas outside of your area a little easier.
My issue with them is more that - to use one, you need to put your trust in its hands - which is always always dangerous with a machine (Westworld, the Matrix, I Robot.)
We've all seen and laughed at idiots who have driven through streams or into super narrow lanes at a Sat-Nav's bequest. In an unknown area however, you can see almost see how people can get themselves into these scrapes - although there is evidently some lacking common sense going on there.
The moral I suppose is to trust road signs and maps rather than following the Sat-Nav like a mindless idiot. Have you ever noticed how many times the Sat-Nav seems to be taking you away from your destination!?
Rant over.
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