What is it about me that unmistakably give people the impression that I’m a bearer of all information that is needed in order to satisfy their needs? Ok, I admit, I don’t mind this epithet. In fact, I seek it and honor it. But, what make complete strangers single me out of a crowd and request me for information? A mystery.
Getting off the bus in central Luton on a Thursday evening. Have never been to the city. Don’t know a soul there. Don’t have a map. All I know about the city is an address to a Bed and Breakfast. The streets are pretty empty. I chose a direction, and start walking on random. After having spent less than five minutes in this for me completely unknown city, a man walks up to me and asks me for a location. I couldn’t possibly look more lost than I do with my backpack and with eyes flickering all over the place trying to identify anything at all suggesting a direction to where I’m going. Yet, this strange man, probably a local, decides that I am the solution to his geographical dilemma.
Day two in Luton. Slightly more familiarized with at least the central part of the hat city, but obviously still a stranger. The cute girl with the suitcases really wants her inquiry efforts worth. Not only does she have one question, but two! The first one I am able to provide a simple answer to as it happens to regard the intersection we’re standing at. The second one about the bus station I fail to give answer to, possibly distracted by her relative beauty. Could be a coincident that I happened to be the first person she happened to bump into, but considering the time of day and a rather easy location to find themselves for anyone who would give it the least effort, I’m once again stunned by my attractiveness as a source for information.
Well, no use to argue. “Human Map” is written all over my face. Maybe there’s a career in mapping services...
Luton, UK. February 2004
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