Anyone else hate step-by-step instructions?

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I hate when people give me step-by-step instructions. They often take longer to listen to, confuse me and sound totally condescending. The only time they're semi-useful is if I'm trying to put something together. They could also be useful if they are very short and not broken down too much.

I can't follow a recipe even if it's written down clearly. My learning style is in fact best with the written word and yet when I'm faced with the 1, 2, 3, steps in a recipe, and a long list of ingredients, my brain just stops functioning and I don't know why. It's an agonizing feeling, very frustrating. I would be even worse with auditory instructions.

I'm usually ten steps ahead of someone who's trying to explain something to me, and I get frustrated waiting for them to catch up, and with the condescending way they think I'm the one who's behind.

Most people are more interested in displaying their superior knowledge than providing the information which you need.

When I was a truck-driver, I hated having to ask for directions because it was easier to go into a shop and spend half my day's earnings on a useful map or road atlas. Obviously, the map would become part of a very useful collection which would serve me well for some time to come.

In the UK it is even now quite common to see foreign truck-drivers stationary on the side of the road waving a piece of paper in front of anybody who might be passing by. The fact that they have no chance of understanding the directions which they might be given does not deter them.

But I have to say that step-by-step instructions are sometimes very useful. Old people, for example, are easily over-loaded by too much information. And just this morning, when I was struggling to persuade my grandchildren to get dressed ready for school, I pointed at their piles of clothes, and we went through a step-by-step description of the process of getting dressed - it was great fun, and we arrived at school on time.

I hate it when they say it because I just can't remember all the steps and I end up not getting the point. I often are forced to ask "What EXACKLY you want me to do?".

But I have no problem with step by step instructions on paper. It all depends on my mood (if I want a challenge of figuring it out myself or just decide to be a brain dead) but if I decide to go by the steps I have no problem following them. As long as they are in a written form.

I NEED step-by-step instructions, very detailed, and written down.

No. I need step by step. Give me too many instructions, it's hard for me to remember them. It's better if they are written down so I can keep looking at them as I do them and I look at one line at a time.

Don't give me turn by turn directions, I'll end up at the wrong place. Give me a map with the route drawn up.

I don't know how many times with step by step instructions, I would be on step 12 and have to go back, disassembling what I've built, so that I could find the step or steps I've skipped.

Yes, I do very well with step by step instructions that are written down. I actually prefer that because things are much more specific when they are set out step by step with a beginning and end point.

I don't dislike step by step instructions, but I tend to find they are developed for the less intellectual, so I try to avoid them because I'll feel like I'm less intellectual. Sounds stupid, it's just my mad way of thinking.

In terms of learning I usually need every bit of detail on the subject topic. How it works. Why it works. By reading step by step instructions you miss all the important bits out, which is something I don't like.

But, if I need directions, or I'm cooking, I will use step by step instructions so I know in my brain the clear path to take.

I guess it all depends on the situation.

I like step-by-step directions.

Yeah, I like them too. But it helps when I write them down (or someone else). When I only get spoken step-by-step instructions, I'll get confused as to their order, unless it's demonstrated a COUPLE of times.

I like step-by-step instructions too, preferably if written.
If they are "being said" i'm prone to forget them as i try to understand it.

Is someone verbally telling me instructions? Because that won't work. My mind will get all confused and when I try to remember, it will forget steps and put them out of order.. ugh! Honestly, the best way to convey instructions to me is to show me (that's the best way I learn).. or failing that, write down EXTREMELY detailed instructions.