An example can be explaining directions. Last night, I was on a way to a dinner to a place that I have never went to before. The area is around Milpitas and I never really go around there. The directions was explained to "go on this street and look for a plaza." That was the only direction I got from my friend. What made it difficult the street that I had to be on had about almost 10 plaza's. Things that are vague as that response "Go on Jackson and look for a plaza" really irritate me.
This doesn't always happen when dealing with directions. Other good examples that I seen directions that were vague were how to do a homework assignment, how to take off a bulb from a GTi, and even trying to figure out how a person broke the computer.
More or less people being vague happens all the time.
This is my reaction when you explain vague statements to me.
Hey! I just wanted to say good job on your post with all your great examples as to what makes a statement vague. Your example of getting lost because of people's lack of directional communication is a great example of why vague statements confuse people. I agree with you, and it also bothers me when people say things like, 'turn here!' It is kind of like a "wait? where? here?" kind of a reaction for me, which makes things very difficult sometimes. One thing that I noticed though, was that there were no indications of what makes a statement vague. You have plenty of examples showing what a vague statement is, but no definition that defines the actual word. I still enjoyed reading your post though! and nice pic! =)
ReplyDeleteI would have to agree whole heartedly with your assessment that it is difficult to ever get precise instructions. Even instructions that are printed out online are too vague to fully comprehend sometimes. I usually love everything Google, but I am not an entirely huge fan of Google maps simply because I have been mislead by their directions on several occasions. In the past I have always felt as though they were too precise, but it may just be a form of vagueness. Instructions like “Slight Right’s” and “continue on (insert name) street.” It can be really confusing and cause one to second guess themselves. This is why I am a big proponent of using a map. Whether it’s GPS or a Thomas Guide, it’s far simpler as to figuring out exactly where to go. Maybe I feel this way only because I am a visual learner, but even so, that is the case for most of us.
ReplyDeleteYeah. I agree with you! I absolutely hate it when people don't know how to give directions and they're just not straight-forward about it. Sometimes they give you directions thinking that you already know the area. It just makes you lost and makes you waste precious gas!!
ReplyDeleteIt even sucks more when you're trying to help someone fix something on their computer and they just don't know their way around it. I feel you, maaaan.
Btw, I hella laughed at your pic.
I think you give great examples of vague situations! I agree with you completely when a person or friend gives you directions that make complete sense to them but for you it’s like trying to decipher an impossible code! I usually get extremely frustrated and then once I finally do arrive I'm in a horrible mood and feel as if the rest of my evening is ruined. I can also relate to vague directions when it comes to homework assignments as well. In my health class we had a group project due and we got the first date to present. After we turned in our group paper and did our presentation our teacher called us all together and totally ripped apart our work saying we did it incorrectly but really she was the one who gave vague directions. Luckily she is allowing us to redo what we did wrong but it is still frustrating to think the work is all done and now we have to do it all over again.
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