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Going around in a Circle
- Thread starter logansan
- Start date
I have an experiment for you to try. Find a large, empty field. Make sure it has no large hidden obstacles, like sinkholes or ditches. Start at one end, and walk about ten or twenty feet into the field, in a straight line, and pick out an object on the far side that matches up with the other end of the line. Stop, and look behind you, and note where you came out. Know this spot, and imagine a line between where you started, and where you were going to. Now, keep walking to where you were going to, and after a few steps, close you eyes, and walk for another 50 or 100 paces. Stop and open your eyes, and see how close you are. Did you walk in a straight line? Did it curve one way or the other?
In general, people curve when they walk. Frequently, people who curve one direction will always curve that direction, barring other factors. If you know where you want to go, there are several ways of making sure you follow a straight line. Always having three landmarks, one behind and two in front of you, is a good way of doing this. Being observant is another. A compass alone is not a good method, unless you make good use of landmarks as well. This may sound elementary to some folks here, but trust me, it is not so commonly known. I've seen an entire patrol of 8+ boys move 15 degrees in heading after traversing only a hundred yards or so. Give them a mile or two, and they may very well have made a complete circle. Thank goodness the farthest leg we had them travel was only a coupla hundred yards...
The only place I've ever wandered in a circle was in a car, in the old down-town part of a city or two I've been in. I'll frequently acquaint myself with the large area, and then take off in my car to see the small details. Sometimes this means I wander around a bit, and then come back to a place I've been before. I don't call this 'lost', I have a map, I know where I need to head to to get out, but I'm wandering around seeing where everything is. And occasionally, I'll be pleasantly suprised and come back into a place I remember.
It's relatively easy, though, to remember which direction you are heading in a car, especially in a city. Most streets are pretty straight, and hit each other at more or less 90 degrees. It's a lot tougher on foot, and though I've never seen someone walk in a complete circle, and know few people who would admit if they did, I have seen people start off on a big arc, and have to be corrected, or notice only when the come to the end of the distance they were pacing out..
Stryver
In general, people curve when they walk. Frequently, people who curve one direction will always curve that direction, barring other factors. If you know where you want to go, there are several ways of making sure you follow a straight line. Always having three landmarks, one behind and two in front of you, is a good way of doing this. Being observant is another. A compass alone is not a good method, unless you make good use of landmarks as well. This may sound elementary to some folks here, but trust me, it is not so commonly known. I've seen an entire patrol of 8+ boys move 15 degrees in heading after traversing only a hundred yards or so. Give them a mile or two, and they may very well have made a complete circle. Thank goodness the farthest leg we had them travel was only a coupla hundred yards...
The only place I've ever wandered in a circle was in a car, in the old down-town part of a city or two I've been in. I'll frequently acquaint myself with the large area, and then take off in my car to see the small details. Sometimes this means I wander around a bit, and then come back to a place I've been before. I don't call this 'lost', I have a map, I know where I need to head to to get out, but I'm wandering around seeing where everything is. And occasionally, I'll be pleasantly suprised and come back into a place I remember.
It's relatively easy, though, to remember which direction you are heading in a car, especially in a city. Most streets are pretty straight, and hit each other at more or less 90 degrees. It's a lot tougher on foot, and though I've never seen someone walk in a complete circle, and know few people who would admit if they did, I have seen people start off on a big arc, and have to be corrected, or notice only when the come to the end of the distance they were pacing out..
Stryver
I agree with Stryver's post. We used to have students investigating disabilities try an hour blindfolded - and we tried the walking in a straight line. Everyone curves - some far more than others.
The common theory is that everyone has one leg slightly longer than the other, so walking in a curve is natural except if you have landmarks to sight on.
Jimbo
The common theory is that everyone has one leg slightly longer than the other, so walking in a curve is natural except if you have landmarks to sight on.
Jimbo
This is a feeling or theory that I've had for
along time...
People don't look or pay attention to the
surroundings. They don't look up ahead or
to the side when they walk or drive. and
get very disorented.
How many times have you been led on foot through the woods by someone who knows the
area and it's the first time for you in the
area and then tried to back track. The same
in a car in unfamiliar territory. A person
has a tendency to concentrate on the object
right in front of them in stead of looking around and famaliarization with surroundings. Not ALWAYS but frequently.
When driving a car most I say alot of people
don't look ahead any further than the bumper
in front of them even if not being led.
The experiment mentioned could also be done
at night with the aid of a small flashlight. You can't really oreint other than right in front of you.
------------------
http://www.imt.net/~goshawk
Don't walk in tradition just because it feels good!!!!!
Romans 10:9,10
Hebrews 4:12-16
Psalm 91
along time...
People don't look or pay attention to the
surroundings. They don't look up ahead or
to the side when they walk or drive. and
get very disorented.
How many times have you been led on foot through the woods by someone who knows the
area and it's the first time for you in the
area and then tried to back track. The same
in a car in unfamiliar territory. A person
has a tendency to concentrate on the object
right in front of them in stead of looking around and famaliarization with surroundings. Not ALWAYS but frequently.
When driving a car most I say alot of people
don't look ahead any further than the bumper
in front of them even if not being led.
The experiment mentioned could also be done
at night with the aid of a small flashlight. You can't really oreint other than right in front of you.
------------------
http://www.imt.net/~goshawk
Don't walk in tradition just because it feels good!!!!!
Romans 10:9,10
Hebrews 4:12-16
Psalm 91
Stryver is absolutely right. Everyone has a natural tendency to curve when they walk, and most people do not realize it. You should check out this article - www.pioneerpc.com/wildernessway/Pages/inavigat.htm it is about navigating with your internal compass. I think everyone here will find it very interesting. Have fun.
Jeremy
Jeremy
- Joined
- Jan 20, 1999
- Messages
- 738
I suppose it could always differ for a particular individual, but I read generally that whether one was left handed or right handed affected the direction to which the person curved when walking. I believe I read this at least once in reference to where to look for someone who was lost.
Does anyone know for certain whether this handedness effect is true or for certain that it is not true?
Does anyone know for certain whether this handedness effect is true or for certain that it is not true?
- Joined
- Nov 7, 1999
- Messages
- 6,651
Hi Logasan..
I think that walking in a circle is just a figure of speech...
Unless you are severely confused in thick jungle,,then I can see it...
Movies like Blair Witch,, had them walking in circles.. I think they Should have been killed for being stupid!!LOL
If you are walking in circles,,stop dragging one of your feet!Then You'll walk straight.. LOL
ttyle Eric...
------------------
Eric E. Noeldechen
On/Scene Tactical
http://www.mnsi.net/~nbtnoel
Custom made, High Quality
Concealex Sheaths and Tool Holsters
Canada's Only Custom Concealex Shop!
I think that walking in a circle is just a figure of speech...
Unless you are severely confused in thick jungle,,then I can see it...
Movies like Blair Witch,, had them walking in circles.. I think they Should have been killed for being stupid!!LOL
If you are walking in circles,,stop dragging one of your feet!Then You'll walk straight.. LOL
ttyle Eric...
------------------
Eric E. Noeldechen
On/Scene Tactical
http://www.mnsi.net/~nbtnoel
Custom made, High Quality
Concealex Sheaths and Tool Holsters
Canada's Only Custom Concealex Shop!
Well, I'll be the first to admit it. I have walked in a circle.
I was 14 and deer hunting.Dad told me to stay put and he would be back to get me in a couple hours.
It started to snow pretty hard,several inches and what seemed like forever later,I just KNEW that all the deer were on the other side of the hill. I walked in the direction dad had gone.I had been in this woods several times but never with snow on the ground. After about a half hour I found boot tracks and thinking it was my dad, followed them.I was wearing an old pair of his boots so the tracks were the same size.
After about a half hour I was suprised to find myself back at the tree i had started from.I'm right handed but walked in a circle to the left.This was not a big patch of woods, maybe a square mile or so.No real danger of getting lost, only confused.Its never happened again in 30 years,I hope I'm wiser now.
I was 14 and deer hunting.Dad told me to stay put and he would be back to get me in a couple hours.
It started to snow pretty hard,several inches and what seemed like forever later,I just KNEW that all the deer were on the other side of the hill. I walked in the direction dad had gone.I had been in this woods several times but never with snow on the ground. After about a half hour I found boot tracks and thinking it was my dad, followed them.I was wearing an old pair of his boots so the tracks were the same size.
After about a half hour I was suprised to find myself back at the tree i had started from.I'm right handed but walked in a circle to the left.This was not a big patch of woods, maybe a square mile or so.No real danger of getting lost, only confused.Its never happened again in 30 years,I hope I'm wiser now.