There are valid arguments for knowing how to use a paper map. We’re fortunate that GPS was opened up to the world, and we’ve flourished for it, but one very bad solar storm and it’s possible we’ll be back to paper for regional and farther navigation.
And the vast majority of people will have no problem using a road Atlas… Once they find out it exists. It won’t be the optimal route but getting from one cross street to another is very intuitive if you ever looked at the screen in Google maps.
Navigating a countryside or understanding topological maps is a lost cause but even back in the 80s like two weirdos knew how to do that.
Oh. They are incredibly popular and basically anyone who knows the word “mountaineer” brings one.
That said… actually try to watch any of those people use it. They’ll pretend they are but really they are relying on trails or were shown the area by an old. And most of the olds are just relying on knowing a few landmarks and how to use a compass rather than actually figuring out their location based on slope steepness and the like.
The old who taught me how to assist SAR/not need to call SAR always loves to give people a compass and ask them how to actually use one to get their bearings (even when it is just “that is The Nose” let alone “what ravine do you think we might be in on this map?”). Nine times out of ten, it is a debacle as they actively ignore everything but the needle and bezel. And this isn’t just the newbies. Even a lot of the people who have been in the area for 40 years basically only know how to navigate by landmarks and would be up a creek if they had to, let’s say, go overland in the event of an emergency/apocalypse. Once they leave their comfort zone they are as capable of navigating as a proverbial city slicker.
I’ve actually been taught how to take back bearings, triangulation etc, and would still remember how to do that, but there’s definitely some hopeless cases that have no idea how to do that.
Another skill I’ve noticed is missing is the ability to know where you are on a map based on a known point you’ve passed, and the time elapsed since then. People tend to overestimate how far they’ve traveled.
I mean, even that is kind of about treading known ground. Unless it is fairly straight going on very flat terrain, you are going to find your estimates fall apart REAL fast (… unless you are doing a forced military march where people are getting berated/whipped if their strides are too short or not with the rhythm of the cadence). Let alone any winding trails.
Its why, historically, one of the most valuable assets is a local who knows the terrain. Whether that is letting an army know about a really good place for an ambush or just helping to navigate even a bunch of fields in a valley, let alone mountainous terrain.
There were rumours that our two local Street Directories had been made Out-Of-Print.
(Melway and UBD)
They are both still active, and a great resource for historians, but their distribution has been seriously curtailed.
We also have a collection of Adventure maps called Rooftops which still have great circulation despite the proliferation of Off-Road mapping apps.
Having offline-paper maps are invaluable when in certain conditions.
I have been told that Rooftops are generated by one Cartographer who uses a Pushbike as his exclusive surveying vehicle. (Citation needed)
I don’t doubt they would be able to figure it out, but we must at least acknowledge it’s not plug-and-play. If one doesn’t know their way around, paper maps take some planning. The paper map won’t announce the next upcoming turn in 2 miles. It definitely takes some learning to use.
I was curious to see if someone has ever documented this experience and I was rewarded with this video: https://youtu.be/sr9hQ_tDLP0
You looked at a map beforehand and saw what directions to go. The map book has an index in the back to find destinations.
You often wrote a note for yourself beforehand. Rt 40, take exit 17a, take 97 S exit, Rt onto Brookshire,
You didn’t need to know north.
I drove for decades before gps. No one taught me how to use a map. You bought one and it was obvious because it was the same as any text book with an index in the back.
Honestly, I suspect a lot of that kind of mentality is just projecting by people who struggled with something and assume everyone will struggle as well. Or people who just have a need to feel superior to other people by trying to gatekeep something by pretending it’s super difficult to learn/do.
There are valid arguments for knowing how to use a paper map. We’re fortunate that GPS was opened up to the world, and we’ve flourished for it, but one very bad solar storm and it’s possible we’ll be back to paper for regional and farther navigation.
And the vast majority of people will have no problem using a road Atlas… Once they find out it exists. It won’t be the optimal route but getting from one cross street to another is very intuitive if you ever looked at the screen in Google maps.
Navigating a countryside or understanding topological maps is a lost cause but even back in the 80s like two weirdos knew how to do that.
Topo maps are still very popular in the outdoors communities even today.
Oh. They are incredibly popular and basically anyone who knows the word “mountaineer” brings one.
That said… actually try to watch any of those people use it. They’ll pretend they are but really they are relying on trails or were shown the area by an old. And most of the olds are just relying on knowing a few landmarks and how to use a compass rather than actually figuring out their location based on slope steepness and the like.
The old who taught me how to assist SAR/not need to call SAR always loves to give people a compass and ask them how to actually use one to get their bearings (even when it is just “that is The Nose” let alone “what ravine do you think we might be in on this map?”). Nine times out of ten, it is a debacle as they actively ignore everything but the needle and bezel. And this isn’t just the newbies. Even a lot of the people who have been in the area for 40 years basically only know how to navigate by landmarks and would be up a creek if they had to, let’s say, go overland in the event of an emergency/apocalypse. Once they leave their comfort zone they are as capable of navigating as a proverbial city slicker.
I’ve actually been taught how to take back bearings, triangulation etc, and would still remember how to do that, but there’s definitely some hopeless cases that have no idea how to do that.
Another skill I’ve noticed is missing is the ability to know where you are on a map based on a known point you’ve passed, and the time elapsed since then. People tend to overestimate how far they’ve traveled.
I mean, even that is kind of about treading known ground. Unless it is fairly straight going on very flat terrain, you are going to find your estimates fall apart REAL fast (… unless you are doing a forced military march where people are getting berated/whipped if their strides are too short or not with the rhythm of the cadence). Let alone any winding trails.
Its why, historically, one of the most valuable assets is a local who knows the terrain. Whether that is letting an army know about a really good place for an ambush or just helping to navigate even a bunch of fields in a valley, let alone mountainous terrain.
Outdoors? Where is that?
Apparently, it’s where the grass is. Or so I’m told.
Well shit. If that’s where I can score some grass, I’m in! Or, out? I don’t know anymore.
There were rumours that our two local Street Directories had been made Out-Of-Print. (Melway and UBD)
They are both still active, and a great resource for historians, but their distribution has been seriously curtailed.
We also have a collection of Adventure maps called Rooftops which still have great circulation despite the proliferation of Off-Road mapping apps.
Having offline-paper maps are invaluable when in certain conditions. I have been told that Rooftops are generated by one Cartographer who uses a Pushbike as his exclusive surveying vehicle. (Citation needed)
A gps is a paper map on the computer with the feature that shows your location on the map.
There’s nothing to learn. The gps voice prompt takes the place of the passenger who’s job it was to voice prompt you.
A GPS is updated. A GPS can be zoomed in on. A GPS won’t get distracted and you miss a turn.
Plus people did drive places without maps, and they’d have to remember directions and be able to orient themselves.
A car compass helps, but yeah, a GPS unit is a lot more convenient.
I don’t doubt they would be able to figure it out, but we must at least acknowledge it’s not plug-and-play. If one doesn’t know their way around, paper maps take some planning. The paper map won’t announce the next upcoming turn in 2 miles. It definitely takes some learning to use.
I was curious to see if someone has ever documented this experience and I was rewarded with this video: https://youtu.be/sr9hQ_tDLP0
a gps is an planet covering realtime map pinpointing your location and destination, things a traditional map DOES NOT DO.
fuck mate a map only gives you orientation, you still have to know where north is for it to be any use.
a navigator… SAY THEIR FUCKING NAME, THEY WERE NAVIGATORS, IT WAS AN ENTIRE CAREER LOL
can’t tell if this is all satire and I’m overreacting but holy shit I’d love to see this generation do some orienteering.
You looked at a map beforehand and saw what directions to go. The map book has an index in the back to find destinations.
You often wrote a note for yourself beforehand. Rt 40, take exit 17a, take 97 S exit, Rt onto Brookshire,
You didn’t need to know north.
I drove for decades before gps. No one taught me how to use a map. You bought one and it was obvious because it was the same as any text book with an index in the back.
You act like kids are stupid.
lol how do you orient the map then?
I act like kids need experience and practice.
Honestly, I suspect a lot of that kind of mentality is just projecting by people who struggled with something and assume everyone will struggle as well. Or people who just have a need to feel superior to other people by trying to gatekeep something by pretending it’s super difficult to learn/do.