Does Your Map Align with Reality?

It’s no secret… I am directionally challenged. More times than not, I’m lost. Unlike some people (typically men), however, I have no problem stopping to ask for directions. In fact, I’ve been known to stop at a couple gas stations in a row just to confirm that the first person’s directions were right. Knowing this, you might imagine how elated I was when GPS (Global Positioning System) became available. No longer was I stressed out by looking at maps, calling the office for help, or pulling over at gas stations. For the first time, I always knew where I was, the route I was traveling, and approximately how long it would take to reach my destination. GPS had solved my problem… or so I thought.

Believing I knew the quickest route to and from my office, I decided one night after work to see if my GPS concurred. I touched the “Home” button and in moments a pleasant female voice announced, “Please proceed to the highlighted route,” so I did. As predicted, the route it had calculated was the same as mine… until I reached a particular intersection. It was then my cheerful navigator confidently said, “Turn left in 500 feet – turn left.” This made no sense.

Turning left would have taken me the long way home—several miles more. Knowing this, I ignored her advice and took my regular route. Her response? “When possible, make a legal U-turn.” To reinforce her point, a U-turn arrow was displayed on the monitor. When I ignored them both, she started repeating, “When possible, make a legal U-turn,” and the arrow flashed. It was probably my imagination, but each time she repeated herself, I swear her voice seemed to grow more irritated.

Within two miles of my home, both the verbal and visual GPS commands abruptly stopped… then something unbelievable happened. It was a miracle! Well, maybe not a miracle, but it was pretty amazing. Driving along, I casually glanced over at my GPS display and discovered I was traveling in or on a lake! My mind raced as I firmly gripped the steering wheel. For a split second I envisioned myself hydroplaning across the lake… or worse yet, driving under water. I quickly glanced out the windshield to find neither was happening. I was still safely driving on the same road I had traveled down for months… crisis averted! But it made me realize… had I been traveling in unfamiliar territory, I probably would have followed the GPS directions and taken the long route to my destination.

The problem was my GPS didn’t know this section of road existed. It had been added after I purchased my GPS, so it was operating on outdated information. The territory had changed but the GPS data hadn’t. Suddenly Alfred Korzybski’s words entered my mind, “The map is not the territory.” How true. It’s easy to confuse maps with territories… people do it all the time. An accurate map can sometimes help us, but it’s important to remember… it’s never the territory. Some people stubbornly or blindly follow maps and plans that don’t align with reality. Some even go so far as to try and make reality conform to their beliefs.

Later that night I decided to update my GPS data. As I read the user’s manual, I came across the following Safety Information: Failure to avoid the following potentially hazardous situations could result in an accident or collision, resulting in death or serious injury.
-When navigating, carefully compare information displayed on the unit to all available navigation sources, including information from street signs, visual sightings, and maps.
-Do not become distracted by the unit while driving.
-The unit is not designed to replace the need for driver attentiveness regarding road conditions, traffic congestion, or weather conditions.

What sound advice. Whether it’s business, law, education, politics, religion… or driving a car, the Safety Information outlined in my GPS user’s manual makes sense. The map is not the territory… and the territory is always changing. Keep your eye on the road… and make certain the maps you’re following align with reality.

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