Here's something else I discovered was opposite by trying to go the the American way (i.e. up is on the right). (If you're getting this via email, you might have to go to the actual blog to see the attached video: g4ceinoz.blogspot.com)
Tuesday, 13 November 2012
Opposite of Attract
Yes, the automobile traffic in Australia is opposite of that in the US. But that's not all. When I first arrived at the Melbourne airport, I had my suitcases in one of those large, sort of unwieldy shopping cart-like things. I made it away from the baggage carousel and through customs without difficulty, but when I got out into the airport proper, I just couldn't seem to make any headway. I had this very salmon-like feeling - the whole world was upstream. And then I realized I was on the right and going directly against the Australian foot traffic. I switched to the left and suddenly the whole world was just carrying me along. I thought this would carry over to sidewalks, but that doesn't seem to be the case - they're sort of a free for all.
Here's something else I discovered was opposite by trying to go the the American way (i.e. up is on the right). (If you're getting this via email, you might have to go to the actual blog to see the attached video: g4ceinoz.blogspot.com)
Here's something else I discovered was opposite by trying to go the the American way (i.e. up is on the right). (If you're getting this via email, you might have to go to the actual blog to see the attached video: g4ceinoz.blogspot.com)
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Bob K used to tell this story as part of his 4 column workshop:
ReplyDeleteAn Australian woman was visiting the US for several months. One day (which had been kind of a bad day for her), she was leaving work and automatically went around to the right side of her car and got in. As she reached for the steering wheel her immediate thought was "someone in this stupid, violent country has stolen my steering wheel!"
The disconfirming data was only a arm's length away (to her left). The question is... what makes us look for it?
I've had that day SO many times already. I find my vision is narrower when everything is unfamiliar. I think I can only look for disconfirming data when things are slightly less chaotic!
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