Never Argue with Sophia!

 

She’s stubborn as all get out. When she makes a plan, she sticks with it and won’t let anyone interfere. She argues with us incessantly, and when we go against her wishes, she reluctantly goes along, but only after several protests. She always wants to go back to her original plan. And she is so polite, too; it’s very annoying to see that nothing ruffles her. But most of the time we defer to her: after all, what do a couple of old geezers know about these things?!

So who is Sophia? She is our GPS system. Not the name we gave our GPS system, she is the system. We have Android Auto in our car, and sometimes I’d like to throttle Google.

Sophia seems to have taken on a life of her own. And she knows how to take her revenge. One time she suggested we avoid a major traffic jam by taking a less trafficked route. Less-trafficked is right! We wondered, if the car broke down, would we find our way out of the wheat fields or have to fight off the steers! In fact, I wondered if somehow, we’d gotten off track and ended up in Kansas. And course there were no cell towers, so we couldn’t re-route or call anyone. Eventually we wandered into civilization and found a gas station. Sophia was probably smirking at us by that time. But we had the upper hand once cell towers showed up.

Then there was the time we wanted to re-route to a destination. After a couple of directions from Sophia, we realized after two U-turns that we were essentially going in a big circle. Not nice, Sophia. We were once again going to show her who was in charge and took a parallel route. We showed her!

But sometimes Sophia is actually right. She wanted us to take one route to a Ricochet meet-up and we defied—yes, defied her! We went on a more familiar route. Of course, it was longer and less convenient (we found out from our friends at the meet-up).

Please don’t tell her what I’ve said.

She might take it personally.

And we’ll end up in China.

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  1. Tex929rr Coolidge
    Tex929rr
    @Tex929rr

    I once cussed out Siri on my phone (trying to send a text via voice while driving).  The results are surprising (and amusing).

    • #1
  2. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Tex929rr (View Comment):

    I once cussed out Siri on my phone (trying to send a text via voice while driving). The results are surprising (and amusing).

    Well, @tex929rr, you can’t just leave us hanging! Give us at least a little sample! Sophia never talks to us; she does whatever she wants to do.

    • #2
  3. Tex929rr Coolidge
    Tex929rr
    @Tex929rr

    I told Siri she was an effing moron.  And she said “I don’t talk to you that way.”

    I googled it and discovered Siri has a variety of responses, most of which are quite funny. While experimenting I found it harder than you would think to gratuitously insult Siri – but very rewarding.

    https://www.iphonelife.com/content/how-to-make-siri-mad-30-other-funny-things-to-ask-siri

    • #3
  4. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Tex929rr (View Comment):

    I told Siri she was an effing moron. And she said “I don’t talk to you that way.”

    I googled it and discovered Siri has a variety of responses, most of which are quite funny. While experimenting I found it harder than you would think to gratuitously insult Siri – but very rewarding.

    https://www.iphonelife.com/content/how-to-make-siri-mad-30-other-funny-things-to-ask-siri

    Yeah, right. I just know there’s a miniature person in there trying to mess with me! Siri’s response to you must have cracked you up–sort of changed the mood, huh? ;-)

    • #4
  5. Front Seat Cat Member
    Front Seat Cat
    @FrontSeatCat

    Ha ha – glad I’m not the only one who gets lost and you had help! Mi piache!

    • #5
  6. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Front Seat Cat (View Comment):

    Ha ha – glad I’m not the only one who gets lost and you had help! Mi piache!

    Yeah, like I needed help!!!  ;-)

    • #6
  7. Rodin Member
    Rodin
    @Rodin

    When we bought our first car that included a GPS system (2005) we picked the car up at the factory and drove it cross country home. We named her “Elvira” because of the tendency to route us to bizarre places. We still have the car but have not updated the GPS system, consequently I rely on the iPhone GPS if GPS is needed. Easier to use and more accurate.

    • #7
  8. Annefy Member
    Annefy
    @Annefy

    I am amazed how my husband will take direction from our female voiced nav system when any suggestion from me is met with stubbornness. 

    I think she could direct him off the proverbial cliff and he would go. 

    His sense of direction is famously bad and I’ve become accustomed to merely enjoying the ride which is inevitably longer than it should be. 

    But he will listen to “her” and do whatever she says …

    • #8
  9. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Annefy (View Comment):

    I am amazed how my husband will take direction from our female voiced nav system when any suggestion from me is met with stubbornness.

    I think she could direct him off the proverbial cliff and he would go.

    His sense of direction is famously bad and I’ve become accustomed to merely enjoying the ride which is inevitably longer than it should be.

    But he will listen to “her” and do whatever she says …

    Yes! But Jerry is finally wising up to her. I think. Thanks, @annefy!

    • #9
  10. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Rodin (View Comment):

    When we bought our first car that included a GPS system (2005) we picked the car up at the factory and drove it cross country home. We named her “Elvira” because of the tendency to route us to bizarre places. We still have the car but have not updated the GPS system, consequently I rely on the iPhone GPS if GPS is needed. Easier to use and more accurate.

    That’s why it’s hard to complain about Android Auto because Google is always updating. Well, almost always . . .

    • #10
  11. Kay of MT Inactive
    Kay of MT
    @KayofMT

    I have disabled Siri as too darn nosy.

    • #11
  12. Miffed White Male Member
    Miffed White Male
    @MiffedWhiteMale

    We were in Colorado some years ago, driving in the mountains.  The GPS routed us on a truly terrible gravel road, where we could barely drive 20 miles an hour.  We spent the better part of an hour on this road getting the fillings shaken out of our teeth.  Arrived at the destination to find there was a perfectly fine paved road that would have taken us to the same destination, but the route was about half a mile longer, so the GPS decided to put us on the shorter route.

    • #12
  13. Kay of MT Inactive
    Kay of MT
    @KayofMT

    I also own a road atlas and know how to use it. I have been cross country twice and never got lost. Taught my 6 year old grandson at the time to read road signs and use the atlas. By the time we got to NC from CA, the boy was nearly a pro.

    • #13
  14. Percival Thatcher
    Percival
    @Percival

    Kay of MT (View Comment):

    I have disabled Siri as too darn nosy.

    Too nosy? I can’t get her attention sometimes.

    • #14
  15. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Kay of MT (View Comment):

    I also own a road atlas and know how to use it. I have been cross country twice and never got lost. Taught my 6 year old grandson at the time to read road signs and use the atlas. By the time we got to NC from CA, the boy was nearly a pro.

    Yeah, but @kayofmt, those aren’t always up to date! Road closures, road construction–I refuse to be at the mercy of Thomas Guide Maps! Then again, Sophia does not always come through . . .

    • #15
  16. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Miffed White Male (View Comment):

    We were in Colorado some years ago, driving in the mountains. The GPS routed us on a truly terrible gravel road, where we could barely drive 20 miles an hour. We spent the better part of an hour on this road getting the fillings shaken out of our teeth. Arrived at the destination to find there was a perfectly fine paved road that would have taken us to the same destination, but the route was about half a mile longer, so the GPS decided to put us on the shorter route.

    You should have sued them for your follow-on dental work, @miffedwhitemale!

    • #16
  17. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    I call my Garmin “Sheila” because I use the Austrailian woman’s voice . . .

    • #17
  18. unsk2 Member
    unsk2
    @

    Best be nice to the Siri’s  and Sophia’s of the world.  Soon they will be our masters. 

    • #18
  19. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    unsk2 (View Comment):

    Best be nice to the Siri’s and Sophia’s of the world. Soon they will be our masters.

    AAAAArrrrrrgghhhhhhhhhh!!!

    • #19
  20. Kay of MT Inactive
    Kay of MT
    @KayofMT

    Percival (View Comment):

    Kay of MT (View Comment):

    I have disabled Siri as too darn nosy.

    Too nosy? I can’t get her attention sometimes.

    I tried using GPS a few times, and it had me driving in circles crossing the same bridge many times trying to get out of Portland, another time there were so many road closures in Idaho, it was unreal. Finally had to stop at a burger stand to ask for directions. Then when I forgot to turn it off, any conversation with a passenger or other, it would offer suggestions to do one thing or another. I finally disabled both GPS and Siri. I have a good sense of direction and always know where I am going. Those AI’s confuse me.

    • #20
  21. Annefy Member
    Annefy
    @Annefy

    Kay of MT (View Comment):

    I also own a road atlas and know how to use it. I have been cross country twice and never got lost. Taught my 6 year old grandson at the time to read road signs and use the atlas. By the time we got to NC from CA, the boy was nearly a pro.

    I also travel with a road atlas. Years ago I left Yosemite heading for Merced to drop son #3 off at Boy Scout camp. The road was unknown and confusing and I kept losing the signal. The movie Duel and countless other movies were playing in my head. 

    I vowed to never travel again without an atlas. If I’m going to get murdered I want to at least know where the heck I am 

    • #21
  22. Tex929rr Coolidge
    Tex929rr
    @Tex929rr

    The aircraft warning voice is commonly known as bitching Betty.  She recently retired:

    https://www.boeing.com/features/2016/03/bds-bitchin-betty-03-16.page

    • #22
  23. Annefy Member
    Annefy
    @Annefy

    Kay of MT (View Comment):

    I have disabled Siri as too darn nosy.

    My sister disabled everything after her phone started reminding her it was time to leave every Saturday afternoon to visit our mother

    i recently attended a cell phone forensics presentation and it was horrifying. That said, the presenter suggested only disabling the tracking features if you’re planning on committing a crime. 

    • #23
  24. Susan Quinn Contributor
    Susan Quinn
    @SusanQuinn

    Tex929rr (View Comment):

    The aircraft warning voice is commonly known as bitching Betty. She recently retired:

    https://www.boeing.com/features/2016/03/bds-bitchin-betty-03-16.page

    That is so cool! There was a time when poor Boeing was greatly appreciated . . .

    • #24
  25. Stad Coolidge
    Stad
    @Stad

    Annefy (View Comment):

    Kay of MT (View Comment):

    I also own a road atlas and know how to use it. I have been cross country twice and never got lost. Taught my 6 year old grandson at the time to read road signs and use the atlas. By the time we got to NC from CA, the boy was nearly a pro.

    I also travel with a road atlas. Years ago I left Yosemite heading for Merced to drop son #3 off at Boy Scout camp. The road was unknown and confusing and I kept losing the signal. The movie Duel and countless other movies were playing in my head.

    I vowed to never travel again without an atlas. If I’m going to get murdered I want to at least know where the heck I am

    We have maps, an atlas . . . had a couple of cases where Sheila got confused.  One other bit of pre-travel planning I do is use Google maps to go over the route.  I get Interstate exit numbers, and I can switch to satellite view and get down on the road to see how a complicated exit looks before actually driving it.

    • #25
  26. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Tex929rr (View Comment):

    I told Siri she was an effing moron. And she said “I don’t talk to you that way.”

    I googled it and discovered Siri has a variety of responses, most of which are quite funny. While experimenting I found it harder than you would think to gratuitously insult Siri – but very rewarding.

    https://www.iphonelife.com/content/how-to-make-siri-mad-30-other-funny-things-to-ask-siri

    You just need a burr, laddie!

    • #26
  27. Tex929rr Coolidge
    Tex929rr
    @Tex929rr

    Arahant (View Comment):

    Tex929rr (View Comment):

    I told Siri she was an effing moron. And she said “I don’t talk to you that way.”

    I googled it and discovered Siri has a variety of responses, most of which are quite funny. While experimenting I found it harder than you would think to gratuitously insult Siri – but very rewarding.

    https://www.iphonelife.com/content/how-to-make-siri-mad-30-other-funny-things-to-ask-siri

    You just need a burr, laddie!

     

     

    • #27
  28. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Tex929rr (View Comment):
    You just need a burr, laddie!

    Yeah, there’s a reason I didn’t link that. Not really CoC compliant.

    • #28
  29. Keith Rice Inactive
    Keith Rice
    @KeithRice

    I’ve taken to calling my GPS “GyPSy” after an incident that required 12 additional hours of driving after being directed to the wrong location.

    • #29
  30. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    I don’t have a GPS. I don’t have a smart phone. I just have maps, so I don’t get lost or misdirected by SkyNet.

    • #30
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