[masraum]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

^^
That was fascinating. Thank you!

I find people who do not know where they are on the earth frustrating to deal with, but I would not want to have to describe my position in the cardinal directions every time I say "hello" like those Aborigines do.
We've lived here for over 5 years and my wife still doesn't know that the field is on the south side of the house and the creek is on the north. She knows the sun rises in the east, and knows what side of the house the sun rises on. But doesn't know which is the east side of the house without thinking about it. I can't imagine what it must feel like to just BE on the earth with no idea where you are relative to anything out of sight.

Right, your description of you and your wife resonates. I'm pretty good at knowing what direction is what most of the time. I can occasionally get turned around if I'm somewhere unfamiliar, usually if I have no visibility to the sky (overcast or indoors). My wife is usually clueless. She still gets east/west backwards at the house where we've lived for the last 3.5 years.

The other bit that you mentioned about how language impacts perception "the vase broke" vs "he broke the vase" is interesting, and I'm sure is well known and used by folks like lawyers, police, etc....

Originally Posted by Crowbob

My cousin has the interesting ability to know in which direction he is facing at all times, day, night, indoors, outdoors, wherever and whenever. It’s like has a compass in his head. He claims he’s never been lost. Lost in the sense that he doesn’t know where he’s headed. Back in the day it was fun to go trail riding in the woods with him.

Wow, that's pretty cool.

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

^^
I'm pretty good at it unless I'm in a building and go down several hallways. If I can see the sky I can identify the cardinal directions.

Exactly, get me in an unfamiliar building with no windows and then send me through a maze of halls, and I'm probably going to lose my bearings.