My GPS may be turning on me

Can a machine get angry?

If it can I think my new GPS (Global Positioning System device could be developing an attitude toward me.

I recently acquired the device for several reasons. One is to keep me going in the correct direction. Another is to find the nearest eating facilities. The third reason is to go geo-caching with friends.

So why would my GPS be angry? This is probably because I don’t listen when it tells me to turn.

I have been learning to use the device in an area where I am familiar. Sometimes I program it to navigate me from Ottawa to Pandora. The problem is I don’t follow directions and turn when it tells me to turn right or left.

Often times I will go straight. Patiently the GPS waits for the next intersection and again tells me to turn right. Do I hear edginess to her voice by the third time she has told me to turn right? Is it my imagination or is the arrow becoming larger at each intersection telling me to turn right?

“I’m taking a shortcut,” or “I’m taking the scenic route” I shout at the GPS. “Get over it.”

The GPS faithfully follows me where I am going, telling me the names of the upcoming intersections, noting my speed and reminding me about what time I will remind at my destination IF (and that’s a big if) I follow her directions.

I probably should turn up the volume, but am afraid it will sound too much like the machine is shouting at me to TURN RIGHT and I don’t want to be seen in public arguing with a tiny little screen on my windshield.

If you haven’t heard of geocaching you should try it. It’s like a scavenger hunt. Someone places a small container at a certain latitude and longitude. They mark this location and indicate where the containers are located on a website. Using a GPS device you find this latitude and longitude and try to find the container. It may be in a tree or behind a shrub. They are on public locations such as in parks and cemeteries.

If you find the item you can often sign you name on a paper inside the container.

Often times finding the container brings new possibilities as the location is often scenic or an adventure to reach.

I imagine when doing this I will TURN RIGHT when my GPS says to TURN RIGHT.

I do listen sometimes.