You say ascending, I say descending, you're still lost.

[terribleturnip]

So, I need a poll here.

In a "like I have time to dick around with radio button, just comment you lazy expletive."

You're hopelessly lost in DC. I'm on the phone trying to help you get to where you're going. Which is, namely, to the restaurant where I'm sitting wondering where the hell you are.

And you're making me break my rule of no cell phones in a restaurant. But if I don't talk to you on my cell phone, there's no bloody point to me sitting in said restaurant because this is so not in MY budget for the month.

And I'm trying to get you to the section of DC where I am. And frankly, you're a flake and your GPS is on ultra-loud, and clearly confused, but you refuse to turn it off, because having two things tell you directions at the same time seems helpful to you. Despite the fact that no matter which direction you go in, the GPS tells you to make the first legal U-turn.

So I tell you "Just get to a numbered street. All of the cross streets will be the alphabet. If you're going down the alphabet, you're going in the wrong direction. If you're going up the alphabet, you're going in the right direction. Call me back when you are going in the right direction."

If you started at P Street, what's the next street, if I've told you to go UP the alphabet.

(Some of you will find this direction clear, some ambiguous. I'm not looking for a freaking debate here -- just pick which one your gut says, without over thinking it. After all, you're 45 minutes late and talking on your cell phone in DC -- think FAST.)

Comments

[dawntreader]

Q?

disclaimer: please know i don't drive in DC. it's easy for me to think straight when not faced with scary cars, unknown streets, bizarre stoplights that face a hundred directions at once with multiple arrows of varying colour, and strange street signs and directional pointings. all knowledge of everything goes out the window in such situations and, as your sad little driver is finding out, GPS is completely pointless. THEY FREAK OUT and then so do i. GPS devices are supposed to be reliable. mini-meltdowns occur when they are proven fallibale. (this is why, if the metro doesn't go there in DC, neither do i.)

[lady-foxchase.livejournal.com]

I live in DC and avoid driving here as well for all those same reasons :-)

[thatliardiego.livejournal.com]

You live on a boat, and have been termed "the Naviguesser" for good reason.

[lady-foxchase.livejournal.com]

that would explain why no one ever lets me lead :-)

[sestree.livejournal.com]

I ask you for directions ... and you give the phone to your Bosun :)

[thatliardiego.livejournal.com]

Down is to "A," up is to "Z"—so the next street should be Q Street.

But really? The first thing I tell them to do is PULL THE FUCK OVER AND TURN OFF THE GPS VOICE.

And then learn to read a fucking map.

[sestree.livejournal.com]

But really? The first thing I tell them to do is PULL THE FUCK OVER AND TURN OFF THE GPS VOICE and find the nearest metro, cab, and/or bus because you're clearly not up to the challenge of driving in DC.

...and that would be the winner (or what she'd tell me - only it would be interspersed with lots of cuss words).

[pyratelady.livejournal.com]

O

"Down the alphabet" would mean Q was next.

[russell-moore.livejournal.com]

I second this ... "up" the alphabet being O Street

[dawntreader]

interesting. :)

there are some disagreements for Q and O. 2/2

see, i would interpret "up" to mean incrementing. if you said "up" in the numbered streets, it would be 15, 16, 17. if you say "down" it would 17, 16, 15. so i would assume it would be the same incrementation of letters. "up" in alphabet would be O, P, Q. "down" would be Q, P, O.

[thatliardiego.livejournal.com]

The reason why, in this case, "down is to A" is because "downtown" is always toward the center of town. Which is to A.

DC streets start with the letters (although you may drive in DC all your life and never see "A" or "B" streets—C street NW is near the State Department), and move "upwards" to Z, after which there are one-syllable streets beginning with A and going to Z, then two syllable and then three-syllable.

[terribleturnip.livejournal.com]

People. Read the directions: "I'm not looking for a freaking debate here -- just pick which one your gut says, without over thinking it."

When you overthink it, when you debate it -- you then ruin the ability of anyone commenting AFTER you to go with their gut. Now, they're going to weigh the merits of your discussion.

Way to ruin my terribly unscientific poll, people.

You just want to MAKE me learn how to create radio buttons, don't you?

[russell-moore.livejournal.com]

ok ... in accordance with your rules, I stick with my initial answer - "O Street" ... as my initial thought without the overthinking or debate was "up the alphabet" meaning towards the beginning of the alphabet

so from "P" towards "A" = "O"

[thatliardiego.livejournal.com]

Yes. :)

[dawntreader]

lol... c'mon. this is US you're talking about. have you ever known the collective we to be a simple yes/no people!??! ;)

anyway, i'm not sure if basic account persons have access to the AMAZING POLL CREATORRR, but in case you wanted to try in the future, here is the link.

http://www.livejournal.com/poll/create.bml

[mistressfetch.livejournal.com]

O ? (my definition of down would be from P to Q) :-)

[dreamtigress.livejournal.com]

Amusingly, my gut and my apparently not awake brain said N.

Uh. That would be O. Way to go, brain.

[terribleturnip.livejournal.com]

Dude, I only cared about direction, not whether you knew the alphabet or not. I have to sing it to get it in the right order. Still.

[dreamtigress.livejournal.com]

I'm glad I am not the only one mouthing the alphabet song on occasion. ::giggles::

[chellebelle74.livejournal.com]

Q.

Now to check the other comments and see if I'm right.

[sestree.livejournal.com]

Make it easy - remember the DC Cell Phone Laws, tell them to pull over and take a friggin cab.

Of course finding a parking space in DC is a whole 'nother issue.

[sestree.livejournal.com]

Down the alphabet would be b,c,d,e etc

Up the alphabet would be e,d,c,b etc

My vote is still take the bleedin METRO

[sequinedlovenun.livejournal.com]

Q. Q Street would be next if you were going up the alphabet.

[silvrwillow.livejournal.com]

Q.

[teky4lf.livejournal.com]

Q or R. I can't remember if DC is the city that has an O street, but no Q, or if that's SF, or another city.

[thatliardiego.livejournal.com]

There's no "J Street," and I believe there's no "O Street" either.

[russell-moore.livejournal.com]

Washington DC does in fact have an "O" street, said street being the correct answer to our frenzied host's query

[thatliardiego.livejournal.com]

Hm. And I used to work down there.

Maybe I was distracted by someone making their "O face."

[russell-moore.livejournal.com]

didn't know you swung that way, but ok

[thatliardiego.livejournal.com]

Hey, on the street, who doesn't like to watch?

[furrball.livejournal.com]

At first I thought "Duh, Q". Then I waffled, cocked my head, and said, "No, wait, O."

So, all other things in the story being equivalent (I'd like to think I'm neither that much of a flake, nor likely to keep a loud GPS going while I'm on the phone asking for better directions), I'd say, "Please clarify... am I supposed to drive towards Z or towards A?"