why do we have east and west?

Question

i mean if we keep going east OR west, we will end up the opposite of the last, east or west. so we will end up east if we keep traveling west, right? so why should we have left and right? they will end up the opposite if we travel around the earth. I MEAN THE EARTH IS ROUND, AND WHOEVER MADE UP LEFT, RIGHT, EAST AND WEST ARE STUPID BUTTS. T^T

Answer 1

we need east and west, left and right, port and starboard etc to describe direction.



If you kept travelling east, you would always be travelling east. however, you could eventually be west of your start point.



If you traveled slightly north or south of east or west, you would travel in a spiral (loxodrome) and end up in one of the poles.

Answer 2

Most people don't go all the way around the Earth.

We need names for specific bearings/directions that are independent of which way you are facing.

If you say "go left", it is relative to the direction of travel or direction of viewing.

Having East and West allows us to use maps and bearings for navigation.

Answer 3

So .. you would just as likely go 24,000 miles to the right, as 2 steps to the left? Is that what you're saying?

Answer 4

We need left, right, etc. because it helps with direction. Having these adjectives allows people to give directions. Since everyone has a stationary starting point to work from, using these direction words work. But theoretically, yes, one could go left and end up "right" from their starting point. But without these words you'd have to be specific in every case. turn left vs. turn in the direction of that green house over there. It would be hard to distinguish one way from another.

Answer 5

East is associated with an old European word for dawn.

West is associated with an old European word for evening.