North, South, East, West..... WTF???? How do people know this????
By James72
@James72 (26790)
Australia
March 12, 2009 4:08am CST
Have you ever met people that instantly know what compass direction is what? You know the type of people I'm referring too right? "Ah, yep..... As you can see, this house has a North Easterly facing aspect!" How the hell do they know this just by looking around them??? Do they have some inbuilt magnetic field or something??? Yeah mate, sure..... Personally I thought the house was facing North, North East West South myself, but I believe ya! 
As far as I'm concerned, North is UP, South is DOWN, East is that way, and West is the other way..... Simple really! It also means that if I were lost in a desert, I'm screwed, but whatever. I'll just be sure to only have brief trips into the desert and I'll make sure I never lose sight of the highway! 
So what about yourself? Are you one of these smartass human compasses? Or are you like me and as far as you're concerned, anything above head height is North? 
As far as I'm concerned, North is UP, South is DOWN, East is that way, and West is the other way..... Simple really! It also means that if I were lost in a desert, I'm screwed, but whatever. I'll just be sure to only have brief trips into the desert and I'll make sure I never lose sight of the highway!
So what about yourself? Are you one of these smartass human compasses? Or are you like me and as far as you're concerned, anything above head height is North? 29 people like this
62 responses
@alokn99 (5717)
• India
12 Mar 09
It has something to with the earth's magnetic field in relation to my magnetic field sends a magnetic vibration through my body. Dowsing is what it is i think and direction dowser is what i am. 
. Confused you ? I confused myself i think.. Smartass....
Very simply i use the sun in the day. Now the sun in the arctic and antarctic regions ???? And then what do i do in the night ? I think i need to get my astronomy updated
.
. Confused you ? I confused myself i think.. Smartass....
Very simply i use the sun in the day. Now the sun in the arctic and antarctic regions ???? And then what do i do in the night ? I think i need to get my astronomy updated.@James72 (26790)
• Australia
12 Mar 09
See! This is eaxactly what I mean..... WTF are you on about Alok?? Magnetic dowsing from my wazoo that's aligned with the Arctic whoozits and the regional bruohaha..... (That's basically how I've interpreted and read what you've said!)
Seriously though, I know of water dowsers and I agree on the fact that some people are just naturally attuned to magnetic polarities, so can pretty much determine direction instantly; but I sure as heck ain't one of them! lol. I use the Sun, sure, but it's to SEE and keep warm! Hahahahaha. And as for the night, well I guess that's when I have to make my own fake sun and switch on a light..... Which way am I facing right now by the way?
Magnetic dowsing from my wazoo that's aligned with the Arctic whoozits and the regional bruohaha..... (That's basically how I've interpreted and read what you've said!)
Seriously though, I know of water dowsers and I agree on the fact that some people are just naturally attuned to magnetic polarities, so can pretty much determine direction instantly; but I sure as heck ain't one of them! lol. I use the Sun, sure, but it's to SEE and keep warm! Hahahahaha. And as for the night, well I guess that's when I have to make my own fake sun and switch on a light..... Which way am I facing right now by the way? 3 people like this
@alokn99 (5717)
• India
12 Mar 09
Why do you want to know which direction you facing now ? Are you lost in the Egyptian desert ? Use your intuition , find the Panda and you know that you are facing North...
And all that blabber on magnetic forces,directions........something seems wrong with my axis. It's not alligned at 23 degrees i think..
And all that blabber on magnetic forces,directions........something seems wrong with my axis. It's not alligned at 23 degrees i think..3 people like this
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
12 Mar 09
Find the panda and I'll know that's North??? Jeez, I can SEE the damn panda, but it's running all over the place at the moment! So according to your suggestion, North's in EVERY direction! lol. I need to double check if I'm standing at the centre of one of the Poles, 'cos that's the case there also..... Nope, I'm still in Egypt!
3 people like this
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
12 Mar 09
hahaha....
I have always wondered at my father's sense of direction but then, he has studied in great details the aspects of architecture and Civil Engineering which demand a good sense of directions. He can tell you just like that and he says its experience and the shadow of the sun that help! I have little clue and even when I tried a few times to study I failed! I have been pathetic!
That explains why I had asked you to change that rule of Panda Shuing where we had to have a perfect sense of direction. I am still struggling and still awaiting an alternative rule!
4 people like this
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
12 Mar 09
Where were you all this while? Half my hair is lost perfecting on that! And now you are telling me this! I was 99.98.75 there!
You must addon this to the book to save some other followers who misconstrued like me.
You must addon this to the book to save some other followers who misconstrued like me. 3 people like this
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
12 Mar 09
Your Father is definitely one of the directionally gifted people then! I'm quite capable of placing a stick in the ground to look at the shadow too by the way. The difference being that all I read each and every time is an actual stick shadow! "Hmmmmmm, yes! It's a stick shadow and it's definitely pointing...... THAT WAY!" And don't get too caught up on determining the panda shui directional stuff to an nth degree, mimpi. As long as you get SOME of it right, the goodness will come!
And don't get too caught up on determining the panda shui directional stuff to an nth degree, mimpi. As long as you get SOME of it right, the goodness will come! 2 people like this
@royal52gens (5488)
• United States
12 Mar 09
I totally forgot about the sundial effect. Yep, use a stick and the sun and the time of day to get your bearings.
2 people like this
@mssnow (9484)
• United States
12 Mar 09
LOL I could not tell you my north from my south unless I really think about the way my city is built. if i look on a map of my city I see which way is north, south east and west. So if i remember that downtown is to the west and the opposite way from where I live is North then Im fine. But if you put me in the middle of nowhere i would be totally lost. I gotta have a map and then I can not always figure it out.
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
12 Mar 09
Actually maps aren't so bad 'cos they normally have a little picture on them with a compass showing north! But take away the map and have me standing in the actual location..... I'm pretty sure that when God was handing out directional intelligence to everybody, I was out the back somewhere taking a crap!
I'm pretty sure that when God was handing out directional intelligence to everybody, I was out the back somewhere taking a crap! 2 people like this
@hiddenwing (3719)
• China
12 Mar 09
Oh my gosh! You are so talented!
To be honest, the theory below the surface of your discussion is sort of profound for me to get!
But, um, let me talk something about the surface!
I am always screwed of the dirfections! Even now, I don't know which way is north! Sometimes, I inquired the way of some people. "Excuse me, where is the subway station?" I asked,
"Go down the street and turn north"
Haha, the answer made no sense, you know! What the he** is north,
not to mention south, east, west.
However, I do know right, left, middle, up and down!
@hiddenwing (3719)
• China
12 Mar 09
hahahaha... I couldn't help chuckling earlier! You are so humourous! Actually, like I said, I was supposed to go two minutes earlier! Bye!
3 people like this
@hiddenwing (3719)
• China
12 Mar 09
Hahahaha... I couldn't help chuckling again! You are so humourous! Actually, Lie I said, I was supposed to go two minutes earlier! Bye!
3 people like this
@sparkofinsanity (20471)
• Regina, Saskatchewan
12 Mar 09
LOL James, I'm so directionally challenged I can't even read a compass let alone tune into my own force field. But hey dude, I'll get lost in the desert with you any day! ROFL
2 people like this
If we can remove this aspect of it all sparky, I'll find us a force-field free desert. We can then find out together which way is UP! @sparkofinsanity (20471)
• Regina, Saskatchewan
12 Mar 09
It's a date!
Shall I bring the hubs to entertain your wife while we're.....................nevermind! ROFL
2 people like this
@thebohemianheart (8827)
• United States
12 Mar 09
As far as I'm concerned, North is UP, South is DOWN, East is that way, and West is the other way.....
YES! My kinda man!
I get lost backing out of my driveway, ask Irish!*LOL*
The only reason I know what direction I am even going is because there is a little thing in my car that tells me. Otherwise, I go left or right, forward or backward.
The only reason I know my house faces North, is because I know the sun rises in the East and sets in the West, the front door doesn't face either, and when I get in my car and start it up, that little thinggie says I am facing South.
2 people like this
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
12 Mar 09
How the hell do ya get lost backing otu of a driveway??? Thanks for that Diddly, all of a sudden I feel like a directional Einstein in comparison! But then again, you DO seem to realize that your house faces North, so I'm back to my dumb directional self again it seems..... Dagnabbit! I need a little car thinggie too then. Oh and a car!
But then again, you DO seem to realize that your house faces North, so I'm back to my dumb directional self again it seems..... Dagnabbit! I need a little car thinggie too then. Oh and a car! 2 people like this
@royal52gens (5488)
• United States
12 Mar 09
I use the position of the sun, the time of day, the direction I wish to go, the place I am standing and a compass. Also, the direction of the wind is helpful. At night, I find the North Star and work from there. If it is cloudy, I am screwed. That is when I use MapQuest and road signs to get where I want to go. And if all else fails, I ask for directions.
2 people like this
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
12 Mar 09
If I have a compass, I'm well and truly sorted! But I've got no chance with the rest of the naturally assisted options. Even the North Star has the word "North" in its title, so that's screwed me right there! lol. Last but not least, I'm a male and we NEVER ask for directions! But given all you've shared, I think if a case ever arises where I need to know which way is north or whatever, the important thing is that I find YOU!
But given all you've shared, I think if a case ever arises where I need to know which way is north or whatever, the important thing is that I find YOU! 2 people like this
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
12 Mar 09
Not to be a smarta$$ here but, ummm..... make friends with the sun, my friend, it will help you out with this a great deal. You know, rises in the east sets in the west, at high noon it is pretty much directly over head.
I used to live in a coastal town and for some reason it was easier for me to always know which way was north when I lived there. The sea is a bit of a balancing agent in life for me.... the only reason I can figure I am more directionally aware at those times.
2 people like this
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
12 Mar 09
NOT to be??? Too late makingpots! The Sun's my friend already, it's just not my DIRECTIONAL friend is all. Warmth, light and all that is the order of the day from Mr Sun, but that's about it for me really. I do agree though that having the ocean nearby helps a LOT with direction! I used to live in a coastal city myself and all I had to do was look out at the ocean to know that this was East! Thanks for the response.
The Sun's my friend already, it's just not my DIRECTIONAL friend is all. Warmth, light and all that is the order of the day from Mr Sun, but that's about it for me really. I do agree though that having the ocean nearby helps a LOT with direction! I used to live in a coastal city myself and all I had to do was look out at the ocean to know that this was East! Thanks for the response.1 person likes this
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
12 Mar 09
Ohhhhhhh!! You could have said something like it doesn't suit me well........ 
2 people like this
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
13 Mar 09
You sound just like me then Sid! Let's make sure that we never go hiking together then! lol. It DOES make for interesting road trips though, I agree! I have seen many an interesting place on foot too, just because I'm directionally challenged. And of course being a man, I refuse to ask directions, so sometimes I'm walking around aimlessly for hours! Why go 1 kilometer to get from A to B when you can make the trip 10 kilometres instead?
Why go 1 kilometer to get from A to B when you can make the trip 10 kilometres instead? 2 people like this
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
13 Mar 09
Exactly! It's called exploring. right?I'm a woman and it isn't often that I stop and ask for directions either. I don't usually set specific destinations when I set out anyway....just somewhere in the vicinity or you know some beach...somewhere. A few years ago I had an out of town dr.appt. Following their map, I did land at a clinic and did check in. After an hour of waiting, I did some deeper research. I was in the wrong state....seems I missed a very important exit early on in the trip. ..like 3hours earlier on. had to reschedule.
I'm a woman and it isn't often that I stop and ask for directions either. I don't usually set specific destinations when I set out anyway....just somewhere in the vicinity or you know some beach...somewhere. A few years ago I had an out of town dr.appt. Following their map, I did land at a clinic and did check in. After an hour of waiting, I did some deeper research. I was in the wrong state....seems I missed a very important exit early on in the trip. ..like 3hours earlier on. had to reschedule.1 person likes this
@sharra1 (6340)
• Australia
13 Mar 09
If you were lost in the desert all you have to do is look at the sun and remember which way it travels. Of course the remembering bit can be tricky. I seem to have a lot of trouble with my memory these days but it is really odd the things I actually do remember since I forget 90% of everything else.
Interesting really as you are a boy and I have been told that boys just know these things, that it is girls that do not know directions etc. I am hopeless at directions and if I cannot figure out where the sun is and I do not have a compass then I have no idea which direction I am in. Hmmm I vaguely remember something about looking at your shadow but if it is cloudy and there are no shadows then what do you do? 
Interesting really as you are a boy and I have been told that boys just know these things, that it is girls that do not know directions etc. I am hopeless at directions and if I cannot figure out where the sun is and I do not have a compass then I have no idea which direction I am in. Hmmm I vaguely remember something about looking at your shadow but if it is cloudy and there are no shadows then what do you do? 2 people like this
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
13 Mar 09
Do I neeed to question my standing as a boy then sharra? lol. I'm no good with handyman type stuff either, so I guess I'm wide of the mark in a few of the suppossed "manly" areas! As far as I'm concerned, the Sun is UP and that's that! And looking at my shadow?? Why, it's a shadow!
lol. I'm no good with handyman type stuff either, so I guess I'm wide of the mark in a few of the suppossed "manly" areas! As far as I'm concerned, the Sun is UP and that's that! And looking at my shadow?? Why, it's a shadow! 2 people like this
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
12 Mar 09
Call me a smartass. I do instinctively know which way is North, South, East and West. The only exception to that rule that I've ever noticed is when I get turned around. That happens occasionally when I either go into an underground garage and the exit is not on the same side and the entrance (esp. at night) or if I fly into an unfamiliar town.
Left and right though, I get that messed up constantly except when I'm driving. Go figger.
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
12 Mar 09
Smartass! Well this doesn't surprise me at all Dawn. How else would you be findin' them beavers??? lol. I think you've just provided very solid reasoning as to why women shouldn't drive. Champion effort there as I've been waiting for somethin' in writing on that front for years!
Well this doesn't surprise me at all Dawn. How else would you be findin' them beavers??? lol. I think you've just provided very solid reasoning as to why women shouldn't drive. Champion effort there as I've been waiting for somethin' in writing on that front for years! 2 people like this
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
12 Mar 09
Wow Sherry. I guess I'll let Dawn clear up this one further if she wishes to. If you knew me at all, you wouldn't have even said what you just did. But in my own defense, Dawn posted a discussion about finding a beaver lodge near her home and she even posted photograph's of it. Secondly, I have interacted with Dawn for quite some time now and don't believe I've ever overstepped any boundaries before??? Thirdly, this interest category is "panda spanking" which by default is an interest group where a bit of teasing goes on regularly. Please do your homework before jumping on me in future. 
But in my own defense, Dawn posted a discussion about finding a beaver lodge near her home and she even posted photograph's of it. Secondly, I have interacted with Dawn for quite some time now and don't believe I've ever overstepped any boundaries before??? Thirdly, this interest category is "panda spanking" which by default is an interest group where a bit of teasing goes on regularly. Please do your homework before jumping on me in future. 2 people like this
@Theresaaiza (10487)
• Australia
13 Mar 09
I think I am like you most of the time. Except that I always know where east is because of the sunrise. When the sun is high at noon I am back to my non-compass self.
But take me someplace else and ask me to point to the direction where the mall is, or the theater, or the park where I left my handbag with all my valuables in it, my finger would go whirling in crazy directions.
2 people like this
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
13 Mar 09
I have 10 crazy whirling fingers then! lol. And I'm not up in time to see the sun rising either..... See, I can GET to places no issues (I just tell the taxi driver to take me there! lol) but ask me what compass direction the location is in and I'll look at ya as if you've just asked me to explain Einstein's Theory!
1 person likes this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
13 Mar 09
Lol, I never rise early enough to catch the sun ha!
2 people like this
@Theresaaiza (10487)
• Australia
13 Mar 09
Haha, yeah, too bad for me I had to wake up in the morning to get ready for work. So I don't have much choice. :-D
2 people like this
@nympha687 (940)
• United States
13 Mar 09
Don't count on me on that. I'm really bad at directions. I even get lost most of the times.
2 people like this
@marciascott (25529)
• United States
13 Mar 09
I know that I live on the S.E. side of my town.
1 person likes this
@CJscott (4187)
• Portage La Prairie, Manitoba
14 Mar 09
I would be on of them smart-alec human compasses. It is good to know these things, just in case. I sometimes lose sight of it when on twisting mountain roads and such, because that is the first method I use. If I leave Winnipeg headed west, I will run into Brandon, headed east I hit Ontario. Barring that, If you are in the Northern Hemisphere, the Sun and the Moon move from east to west along the south side of the sky, which is why moss only grows on the north side of trees. Great lesson would you not say?
2 people like this
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
14 Mar 09
Welcome to mylot CJscott! You're lucky then if determining direction like this comes naturally to you. I agree that it's a handy skill to have, I just happen to NOT possess this skill at all! lol. I have read many great tips and lessons so far and all I have to now hope is that I remember some of them if I'm ever lost in a desert somewhere!
You're lucky then if determining direction like this comes naturally to you. I agree that it's a handy skill to have, I just happen to NOT possess this skill at all! lol. I have read many great tips and lessons so far and all I have to now hope is that I remember some of them if I'm ever lost in a desert somewhere! @James72 (26790)
• Australia
15 Mar 09
You're welcome! I guess what I meant is that you're lucky to be able to retain what you've learned, 'cos I sure don;t seem to be able to! lol. The kind of directions you mentioned are just what I would prefer to hear myself. A mention of "that way" and a poiting finger would at least give me a chance to find my way. A mention of a compass direction instead and I'd have NO chance.
1 person likes this
@CJscott (4187)
• Portage La Prairie, Manitoba
14 Mar 09
Thank you for the welcome, I would not refer to it as Lucky though. I had to learn of necessity, and for school. One of our classes was Orientation and Wildlife Classification, or some such thing. So that we would be able to find our way home if we ever got lost in the mountains. It might be different in Australia but I imagine, it would just mean the sun was in the top of the sky rather then the bottom of it. Besides, that, when ever any one I know ask's me where something is, I point randomly and say "that way". If there were to walk that way long enough they would find it.
2 people like this
@redyellowblackdog (10629)
• United States
13 Mar 09
I built a sundial outdoors with a 10 foot gnomen. It is of the kind that is quite accurate. It covers about 1/4 acre of land. If you do this, you become quite aware of where the sun is at what time of day. If I can see a clock and the sun, I know what direction is which almost instantly.
2 people like this
@redyellowblackdog (10629)
• United States
13 Mar 09
Nah, it does not block out the sun. Most of the sundial is mearly empty cat food cans turned upside down and stomped into the ground. The gnomen is the part that casts the shadow. It is a 10 foot section of radio tower with a gazing ball on top. No, big deal, but this kind of sundial is very accurate, unlike the normal commercial kind.
1 person likes this
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
13 Mar 09
Now THAT's a sundial, RYBD! I'm surprised it doesn't actually BLOCK OUT the Sun if it covers a quarter acre! lol. I just don't possess these kinds of smarts at all. If I have a watch and can see the Sun, well, I have me a watch and can see the Sun! That's about it really.
I'm surprised it doesn't actually BLOCK OUT the Sun if it covers a quarter acre! lol. I just don't possess these kinds of smarts at all. If I have a watch and can see the Sun, well, I have me a watch and can see the Sun! That's about it really. 2 people like this
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
13 Mar 09
Look at a Satellite Dish...if you're in the Northern hemisphere (above the equator!) they point south!
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
13 Mar 09
Ooooooh, now that's a good one to know! There are literally thousands of these on rooftops here in Cairo. Great tip there SheperdSpy! I like how you added (above the equator) there too. The inclusion of the word "Northern" would've thrown me for sure otherwise!
I like how you added (above the equator) there too. The inclusion of the word "Northern" would've thrown me for sure otherwise! 2 people like this
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
13 Mar 09
I figured there's mylotters (maybe) reading this from all over the world,and not all of them live where there's south pointing ones! This is just a tip for fixed domestic tv dishes-don't rely on it near any radio telescopes-they can "look" anywhere in the sky!
) reading this from all over the world,and not all of them live where there's south pointing ones! This is just a tip for fixed domestic tv dishes-don't rely on it near any radio telescopes-they can "look" anywhere in the sky!1 person likes this
@jtr115 (722)
• United States
12 Mar 09
I'm lucky enough to live in a city where some of the Rocky Mountains are located to the west. Since I can see a particular mountain from my dining room window, I know my kitchen, living and dining rooms all face the southwest. I wouldn't be able to tell the direction without things like this, though.
2 people like this
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
14 Mar 09
Easy..get yourself some pebbles,plant them in your rock garden,then wait for them to grow
1 person likes this
@sconibear (8016)
• United States
12 Mar 09
it's easy.......
1) stick your finger in your mouth.
2) pull your finger out and hold it pointing up at about top of the head level.
3) look from left to right slowly several times.
4) look behind you.
5) look at your still pointing up finger again.
6) look up "knowingly" at the sky like you know what you're looking for.
7) level your still extended finger to a horizontal position, pointing it out in front of you.
8) exclaim loudly, "AHHH HAHHH!!!..........THIS WAY!!!"
9) walk forward until you reach your destination.
it always works in the movies. 
2 people like this
@sconibear (8016)
• United States
12 Mar 09
DON'T DO IT JAMES!!! 
for Lassie to still be "alive" now-a-days, she would definitely have to be a zombie dog, and the only place she's gonna lead you is to Zombie-topia.
for Lassie to still be "alive" now-a-days, she would definitely have to be a zombie dog, and the only place she's gonna lead you is to Zombie-topia.2 people like this
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
12 Mar 09
Lassie wouldn't do that sconi! She'd probably pong a bit, sure! But she'd still have that inbred desire to lead me to safety! Anyways, even if she didn't, I could follow all the dropped off rotten Lassie body parts back to my original location.....
1 person likes this
@thebeaddoodler (4262)
• Lubbock, Texas
13 Mar 09
I have a built-in compass. Unfortunately it's quite often wrong. I can leave town heading east on a straight road and by the time I get to my turn off my compass says I'm heading north.
2 people like this
@SaintAnne (5453)
• United States
12 Mar 09
I am spatially disoriented. A lot of times.
2 people like this
@SaintAnne (5453)
• United States
12 Mar 09
I am still trying to figure out which way is west and then I will take it from there.
2 people like this
