I'm actually pretty sure theres a form of mental block against reading maps or recognizing how the map relates to real world geography. Not sure if its named or an actual 'condition' per se, but I both vaguely remember reading something to the effect, and have known several otherwise very intelligent people who simply could not find their way across an open gymnasium with one.
Similar to simply having bad spatial/directional awareness, id think, and ive known MANY with that trait who couldnt tell you which way is north if they were standing at the intersection of two interstates in a place theyd lived all their lives.
Edit: its much worse than I thought. Theres even a condition thats recognized that, while having no brain damage, one simply CANNOT create a 'mental map' of familiar places.
Map-block ? It's real. Scary real. And, I dare say, a familial trait. Across my extended family, I've several of the best map-readers you could hope to meet, also some of the very, very worst.
One such was a scout-master. His troop soon learned that if they didn't independently track navigation, they'd land hungry, tired, cold, wet and miles off 'planned' route up a dead-end lane in the dark, yet again, yet again...
My wife had similar issues among her kin, was as delighted as I was to discover we shared a love of maps, geology and 'Physical Geography'...
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u/brotherenigma The abbreviated spelling is ΩMG Dec 19 '19
I'm sorry, maps are complex? Jesus. No wonder friendly fire is so damn common.