A good illustration of alternative modes of ‘direction-seeking behavior’ comes courtesy of Douglas Adams’ private investigator Dirk Gently who, in
“Long Dark Tea Time of the Soul” (Douglas Adams)
explains the method he uses to find his way when he gets lost. His technique involves finding a car that looks like it knows where it’s going and following it. Gently says “I rarely end up where I was intending to go, but I often end up somewhere that I needed to be”. I sometimes employ this same technique. I also find that, when there are a number of cars on the road, I will decide in favor of the direction in which a majority of them are headed.
This behavior can be observed well outside the realm of automobile travel. In research I often find myself following the research trail of scholars who seem to have a much better idea of where they are going than I do. In fact, like Dirk Gently who believes in the fundamental interconnectedness of all things, I often find that I end up somewhere I needed to be.
One downside to this approach is the very real danger that you might end up more lost than you were to begin with. Another downside is that interesting and distracting things will lure you, Siren-like, to the rocks. I find that a trail of breadcrumbs, a ball of yarn, or any other method of finding your way back to the last place you actually recognized is essential. And I suppose, in a worst case scenario, I might even consider asking directions.