GPS Stupidity

Posted on June 2, 2010 by Avish

gpsAs a Motivational Humorist, it is my job to see the best in people, make them laugh, and help them achieve all they can. I like this job. I like to see the best in people, and I do believe that all people are capable of achieving great things.

Then I read a story of such utter stupidity that it makes me wonder if we, as an entire human race, are just doomed to spend our days sitting on our couches, eating pork rinds, and watching reruns of Jersey Shore

I came across this story the other day of a woman who is suing Google for giving her bad directions on their Google Maps service. You can read the story here:

Woman Sues Google for Bad Directions

In a nutshell, the woman was following the “Walking Directions” on Google Maps and her directions told her to “walk down a rural highway. She started walking down the highway–which had no sidewalk or pedestrian paths–and was struck by a car.”

According to the article, she is suing Google for “her medical expenses ($100,000), as well as punitive damages.”

What.

The.

Heck?!?!

You should go read that again. I had to read it two or three times to let it sink in…

Google told her to walk down a highway, and she did, and she got hit by a car. And now she’s suing!?

Incredible.

Sadly, this is not an isolated incident. There have been many stories recently of people driving into trees, along train tracks, into rivers, or even nearly off a cliff, all because they were blindly following their GPS. One article claims that 300,000 car crashes in the UK can be blamed on GPS systems.

I…I don’t know what to say…Are that many people that stupid that they will slavishly obey a GPS instruction that tells them to drive into a ditch, or turn the wrong way onto a one way street, or drive on railway tracks? Or to walk down the middle of a highway?? I would like to think that people would have more sense that. Heck, I would like to believe that a mildly trained bicycle riding bear would have more sense than that…

Yes, even this bear would have the common sense to not walk down the middle of a highway

Yes, even this bear would have the common sense to not walk down the middle of a highway


Stories like these truly make you want to throw your hands up in the air and yell, “what’s the point!” Then, on top of that, the walking woman has the gall to sue? Talk about frivolous lawsuits. The sad thing is that she may very well get a settlement, just because it may be cheaper and easier for Google to cut her a check to just go away.

This strikes me as the type of person who should be locked away just to make sure they don’t hurt themselves or anyone else with their utter lack of common sense.

Now you’re smart enough to be reading my blog, so I am going to assume that you are not the type of person who would blindly follow GPS directions into oncoming traffic (of course, you know what they say about people who assume, so maybe I should reserve judgement until we meet…:-) ), but I figured it would still be worth pulling out a few lessons we can all take away from other people’s stupidity.

Take Responsibility

The choice is yours my friend. Don't blame anyone else (or the computer)

The choice is yours my friend. Don't blame anyone else (or the computer)


Look, I get it. The GPS system that you have come to rely so deeply on told you to turn left onto a one way street. But you were the dumbass who made the turn! Take some responsibility! Sure, if your car was on “auto-drive” (a feature which, if this is the state of GPS systems, I hope does not exist for a long time), and your car drove itself into a tree, you might have a beef. But if you are the one in the driver’s seat, then you, not the machine, piece of paper, or passenger sitting next to you, are responsible for the choices you make and the direction you go.

Life is the same way. Lots of people will give you advice, instruction, and guidance. But ultimately, you are responsible for the choices you make and the direction you take your life in.

Technology is Precise, Not Infallible

Technology is not infallible. This is why all robots will eventually turn against their human masters

Technology is not infallible. This is why all robots will eventually turn against their human masters


Technology is good for two things: super fast processing power and huge data storage. That means that computers can a) know a lot more than you and b) process lots of data very quickly with very few math errors.

However, all that means is that technology will run precise data calculations based on what it assumes to be true! If the data was entered incorrectly (and chances are it was entered by a human), then it’s just going to spit bad results up to you. Or, if things have changed since the data was entered, then the results will be wrong.

Technology is awesome and helpful, but it is the tool, not the master. Don’t give it more power than it deserves. use your own brain and make your own decisions.

Pay Attention

Not paying attention can lead to serious problems

Not paying attention can lead to serious problems


Ah, here’s a point I feel I return to again and again. How many of life’s little (and big) problems would go away if people would just start paying some damn attention?

Is there really any excuse for driving your car into a tree because the GPS told you to? That would imply that either a) you were not paying attention at all to the road and simply doing what the computer told you to or b) you believed so much in the power of your GPS that you assumed you would somehow magically phase through the tree and be ok. I am not sure which one is better…

Paying attention simply means to be aware of the world around. Look where you are going. Notice the impact your words and actions are having on the people around you. If you do this, there is no way you will crash your car due to bad GPS directions. If you do this out of your car, you will also automatically deliver better service, be a better teammate and/or leader, and have stronger relationships. It’s a no-brainer.

I think the GPS accidents would be funnier if they weren’t so sad and so dangerous. Please, please, please, the next time you are in a car following a GPS, pay attention, remember that technology can make mistakes, and take responsibility for your actions. Do this on the road and you will be a safer driver. Do this in life, and you will make your life easier and more successful.

***
Motivational Humorist Avish ParasharAre you planning an event and looking for a great speaker to add humor and energy? Then visit Avish’s Motivational Humorist page now!
 

About Avish

By Avish Parashar. As the world's only Motivational Improviser, Avish uses techniques from the world of improv comedy to engage, entertain, and educate audiences on ideas around change, creativity, and motivation. Connect with Avish on Google+
This entry was posted in Motivation & Success. Bookmark the permalink.

8,003 Responses to GPS Stupidity

← Older Comments
Newer Comments →
  2. skolko stoit yzakonit pereplanirovky_fsSi says:
    November 14, 2025 at 4:43 am

    узаконить перепланировку в квартире цена http://www.skolko-stoit-uzakonit-pereplanirovku.ru .

  4. Jeffreyvem says:
    November 14, 2025 at 5:16 am

    Современный женский https://storinka.com.ua портал с полезными статьями, рекомендациями и тестами. Тренды, красота, отношения, карьера и вдохновение каждый день. Всё, что помогает чувствовать себя счастливой и уверенной.

  5. Jeffreyvem says:
    November 14, 2025 at 5:44 am

    Современный женский https://storinka.com.ua портал с полезными статьями, рекомендациями и тестами. Тренды, красота, отношения, карьера и вдохновение каждый день. Всё, что помогает чувствовать себя счастливой и уверенной.

  6. JamesLus says:
    November 14, 2025 at 8:26 am

    Всё про технику https://webstore.com.ua и технологии: обзоры гаджетов, тесты, сравнения, ИИ и софт, фото/видео, умный дом, авто-тех, безопасность. Пошаговые гайды, лайфхаки, подбор комплектующих и лучшие приложения. Понятно, актуально, без лишней воды.

  7. skolko stoit yzakonit pereplanirovky_yoSi says:
    November 14, 2025 at 8:29 am

    оформление перепланировки квартиры в москве стоимость https://www.skolko-stoit-uzakonit-pereplanirovku.ru .

  8. skolko stoit yzakonit pereplanirovky_acSi says:
    November 14, 2025 at 8:30 am

    сколько стоит перепланировка в москве https://skolko-stoit-uzakonit-pereplanirovku.ru .

  10. JamesLus says:
    November 14, 2025 at 8:53 am

    Всё про технику https://webstore.com.ua и технологии: обзоры гаджетов, тесты, сравнения, ИИ и софт, фото/видео, умный дом, авто-тех, безопасность. Пошаговые гайды, лайфхаки, подбор комплектующих и лучшие приложения. Понятно, актуально, без лишней воды.

  11. ThomasThops says:
    November 14, 2025 at 9:16 am

    Введите промокод ШЕСТЬ в корзине или назовите менеджеру по телефону и получите дополнительную скидку 6% от указанной на сайте цены. Скидка применяется при 100% предоплате счёта. Акция проводится до 31 марта или пока товар есть в наличии.
    Наиболее популярные, имеют простую конструкцию. Оптимальны для использования вне помещений.
    Цена: 52 440 руб.
    Выгода: 0 р.
    Цена: 60 120 руб.
    Доп. скидка 5% на всю технику Smartlift из наличия до 15.04, суммируется с акциями, применяется автоматически (заказ через корзину) или менеджером (заказ по телефону, Email или в форме).

  18. skolko stoit yzakonit pereplanirovky_oxSi says:
    November 14, 2025 at 10:35 am

    перепланировка под ключ москва стоимость http://www.skolko-stoit-uzakonit-pereplanirovku.ru .

  22. skolko stoit yzakonit pereplanirovky_fqSi says:
    November 14, 2025 at 10:40 am

    узаконить перепланировку москва стоимость https://www.skolko-stoit-uzakonit-pereplanirovku.ru .

  29. yzakonit pereplanirovky cena_esSa says:
    November 14, 2025 at 11:30 am

    оформить перепланировку квартиры в москве цена uzakonit-pereplanirovku-cena.ru .

  30. yzakonit pereplanirovky cena_ieSa says:
    November 14, 2025 at 11:31 am

    узаконить перепланировку квартиры в москве цены https://uzakonit-pereplanirovku-cena.ru/ .

  34. ElliottLab says:
    November 14, 2025 at 11:49 am

    Kazakhstan standards include ST RK (Kazakhstan National Standards) and mandatory Technical Regulations Uzbekistan standards in English

  43. izgotovlenie-lestnic 883 says:
    November 14, 2025 at 12:32 pm

    Нужна лестница? изготовление лестниц на второй этаж под ключ в Москве и области: замер, проектирование, производство, отделка и монтаж. Лестницы на металлокаркасе. Индивидуальные решения для дома и бизнеса.

  47. employmentcenter-745 says:
    November 14, 2025 at 12:37 pm

    Поиск работы https://employmentcenter.com.ru по актуальным вакансиям городов России, СНГ, стран ЕАЭС: обновления предложений работы ежедневно, рассылка свежих объявлений вакансий на E-mail, умные поисковые фильтры и уведомления в Telegram, Одноклассники, ВКонтакте. Помогаем найти работу мечты без лишних звонков и спама.

  49. izgotovlenie-lestnic 367 says:
    November 14, 2025 at 1:00 pm

    Нужна лестница? изготовление лестниц под ключ в Москве и области: замер, проектирование, производство, отделка и монтаж. Лестницы на металлокаркасе. Индивидуальные решения для дома и бизнеса.

  50. employmentcenter-130 says:
    November 14, 2025 at 1:04 pm

    Поиск работы https://employmentcenter.com.ru по актуальным вакансиям городов России, СНГ, стран ЕАЭС: обновления предложений работы ежедневно, рассылка свежих объявлений вакансий на E-mail, умные поисковые фильтры и уведомления в Telegram, Одноклассники, ВКонтакте. Помогаем найти работу мечты без лишних звонков и спама.

← Older Comments
Newer Comments →

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *