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Hikers rescued after following non-existent trail on Google Maps
(www.smh.com.au)
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this post was submitted on 13 Nov 2023
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I can't understand why someone would use Google Maps instead of something built for purpose like GaiaGPS or Alltrails when hiking.
Whenever I "can't understand" something, I stop for a moment, and start interrogating my own assumptions of how the world works, because I clearly made an assumption of how the world or how people in general work and need to correct my own thinking.
It's very hard to change how others do things. Much easier to start on yourself.
A good rule of thumb, I find is: instead of asking, “how can people think X?” ask, “why do people think X?” It puts one into an open-minded mindset in which one can learn something new rather than a close-minded and oppositional mindset.
Bravo
A surprisingly enlightening comment for social media, thank you.
Right. These people followed Google Maps into the wilderness without verifying anything and had to be rescued and I'm supposed to ask myself why I thought that was stupid...? I mean it makes significantly more sense to assume that the people who made the poor decision and realized the predictable outcome are stupid, does it not?
The alternative is blindly following some other app into the wilderness though. Doesn't seem like such a cut and dry example of stupidity.
I mean yeah, it does actually. Other apps are explicitly designed for that purpose. It's even recommended by the authorities in the OP.
To be fair, Vancouver, BC is a popular spot for tourists, especially those doing outdoor activities, who I suppose may come from places with a different hiking and trail culture, and different types of signage. Maybe Google maps is more accurate where they’re from? Maybe they just didn’t realize how much landscape detail the tree cover can hide. Lots of folks who come here don’t speak a lot of English in my experience as well. It’s still on them, though.
I’m not even a hiker though, the trails are just too packed full of people for me here.
I'm not going to pretend that it's impossible that they made some sort of honest and totally legitimate mistake but if, as the article says, they simply pulled up a trail on Google Maps and took off, that was an extremely poor decision and Occam's razor indicates they are stupid.
I think these people are dumb as rocks myself, but it’s interesting to wonder why the bad decisions are made.
NSR I believe has a policy of not charging the costs of the rescues to those they pull off the mountains, to not discourage people calling for help when they really need it, but I’m sure that’s a struggle to justify some days.