4 ms·

Does this guy still print out 12-13 pages of MapQuest directions before driving somewhere too?

by mentos 11y ago

arca_vorago 11y ago
It's called having paper maps for the states and cities you are in... I grew up in the forest where no cellphone works and GPS topo data was sparse, but the local forest service topo maps were second to none. Some people need gps directions to go to the corner store, some people just need a paper map to traverse the world. I'd rather be the latter and use the former when needed/wanted than the former with the inability to to the latter. As for the article, I generally agree with the author, as I have done the same thing (ditched a cell phone for about a year and a half). It was wonderful, but my current job description requires me to be on call, so I have made a temporary compromise, but I fully intend to return to no cell phone eventually. One thing in particular I learned from my time without one is that I was much more observant and interactive with my surroundings. I would have conversations or see things I would have never if my eyes were glued to a screen. It also strengthened my conversation skills as a result.
- nathan_f77 11y ago
  Offline maps are way better than paper maps, though. I go hiking and use maps.me. I just download and import hiking trails as KMZ files. And you can also download the offline mapping and routing data for any country in the world, just like a TomTom GPS. Paper maps are fine, and I can still read those. But they really pale in comparison to a map with GPS and automatic routing. Also a built-in compass. And a camera. And everything else that a modern smart-phone can do.
  - bpchaps 11y ago
    Best experience I've ever had was when I woke up at a hotel in Muir Woods and just started.. walking. I didn't have a car, a map or a phone intentionally. There was a trail, I had enough food, and there were enough every ten minutes or so to ask questions if needed. Thirteen miles later, I ended up at the ocean for the first time, when I didn't even know which way was west. It was mindblowingly refreshing. Sure, it could have gone completely differently, but is that the point? I was content where I was by just hiking with my own thoughts and awareness of my immediate surroundings. Having a phone or GPS would have completely stripped that feeling away. There's something to be said to just living in the moment when the risk is low-medium.

Does this guy still print out 12-13 pages of MapQuest directions before driving somewhere too?

by mentos 11y ago

Does this guy still print out 12-13 pages of MapQuest directions before driving somewhere too?

It's called having paper maps for the states and cities you are in... I grew up in the forest where no cellphone works and GPS topo data was sparse, but the local forest service topo maps were second to none. Some people need gps directions to go to the corner store, some people just need a paper map to traverse the world. I'd rather be the latter and use the former when needed/wanted than the former with the inability to to the latter. As for the article, I generally agree with the author, as I have done the same thing (ditched a cell phone for about a year and a half). It was wonderful, but my current job description requires me to be on call, so I have made a temporary compromise, but I fully intend to return to no cell phone eventually. One thing in particular I learned from my time without one is that I was much more observant and interactive with my surroundings. I would have conversations or see things I would have never if my eyes were glued to a screen. It also strengthened my conversation skills as a result.

nathan_f77 11y ago
Offline maps are way better than paper maps, though. I go hiking and use maps.me. I just download and import hiking trails as KMZ files. And you can also download the offline mapping and routing data for any country in the world, just like a TomTom GPS. Paper maps are fine, and I can still read those. But they really pale in comparison to a map with GPS and automatic routing. Also a built-in compass. And a camera. And everything else that a modern smart-phone can do.
- bpchaps 11y ago
  Best experience I've ever had was when I woke up at a hotel in Muir Woods and just started.. walking. I didn't have a car, a map or a phone intentionally. There was a trail, I had enough food, and there were enough every ten minutes or so to ask questions if needed. Thirteen miles later, I ended up at the ocean for the first time, when I didn't even know which way was west. It was mindblowingly refreshing. Sure, it could have gone completely differently, but is that the point? I was content where I was by just hiking with my own thoughts and awareness of my immediate surroundings. Having a phone or GPS would have completely stripped that feeling away. There's something to be said to just living in the moment when the risk is low-medium.