# Do you leave notes on the windows of poorly parked cars **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 4, 2010, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-leave-notes-on-the-windows-of-poorly-parked-cars/541946 "2010-06-04T16:39:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2010, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-leave-notes-on-the-windows-of-poorly-parked-cars/541946/41 "2010-06-05T14:57:00Z")
> [@Oliveritaly](#): > > This might sound bazaar but I think I’m going to start paying a lot more attention to it. Yay! ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2010, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-leave-notes-on-the-windows-of-poorly-parked-cars/541946/42 "2010-06-05T15:20:51Z")
> [@Oliveritaly](#): > > My parking skills aside, I’m still curious why someone would take the time to write the note. I’ve never left a note. I just don’t have the time/energy. I do know people who leave notes, and others who key cars. I would be thankful that notes have been all you’ve received. And in 34 years of driving, I’ve never gotten a note. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2010, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-leave-notes-on-the-windows-of-poorly-parked-cars/541946/43 "2010-06-05T15:49:01Z")
I’ve never gotten a note, but I’m a very careful parker. I’ll back out and try again if I can’t make it in properly the first time. I do have a great note-leaving story though. It’s from high school. A friend and I went to the mall one afternoon and there was some asshat parked not only diagonally across two spaces, but the ass end of his car was still hanging out, making it hard to drive around him. We parked and then made our way back to where his car was parked (it was on our way to the doors) and proceeded to leave perhaps 15 notes on his car. We did them in different handwriting so it would look like different people. Then we went into the mall. When we came back out, the car was still parked. What made it hilarious though, is that there were SEVERAL MORE NOTES added to those we’d put on his car. I think probably everyone who passed his car after that must have added another note (or two). I hope he got the message. ---
**Author:** ![Skara\_Brae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Skara\_Brae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skara_Brae)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2010, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-leave-notes-on-the-windows-of-poorly-parked-cars/541946/44 "2010-06-05T16:30:42Z")
> [@Glory](#): > > We had a hilarious incident at the San Diego Wild Animal Park recently. > > We went fairly late in the morning on a beautiful day. The parking lot was a zoo. > > My husband found a parking place close to the entrance, it hadn’t been taken, because the car on the right had parked so they were touching the line, leaving a very small parking space. > > My husband told me and our passenger to get of our Jetta, then he packed into the parking spot. He had no problem getting out on his side, but it was a tight fit on the passenger side of the poorly parked car. > > When we got back to the car, the driver/passenger of the poorly parked car on the right had written “asshole” on our passenger window in lipstick. > > It was infuriating - they WERE the parking issue. There was PLENTY of room for that driver to get in the car (because they were parked over on our side). All they had to do was pull out of the space and the passenger could get in the car. > > Assholes. This is bewildering to me. Not that they would get angry at you when it was their fault - most self absorbed people are like that. But to ruin a good tube of lipstick? I hope it was expensive stuff! ---
**Author:** ![Khaki\_Campbell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Khaki\_Campbell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khaki_Campbell)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2010, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-leave-notes-on-the-windows-of-poorly-parked-cars/541946/45 "2010-06-05T16:59:42Z")
I don’t leave notes on poorly parked cars. I simply flip the driver’s rearview mirror with a swift, angry punch, a way of telling “you’re taking too much place on the sidewalk”. 2 times I blew the thing apart. ---
**Author:** ![Candyman74](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Candyman74](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Candyman74)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2010, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-leave-notes-on-the-windows-of-poorly-parked-cars/541946/46 "2010-06-05T17:16:46Z")
The level of vitriol I’ve witnessed is often quite out of proportion to the offense. There’s something about driving that does that. ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2010, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-leave-notes-on-the-windows-of-poorly-parked-cars/541946/47 "2010-06-05T17:30:15Z")
I used to leave computer printed labels on cars that took two spaces. I don’t exactly remember what they said but I made a point of leaving them on the windshield in front of the driver. Really sticky hard to get off. I guess I’ve mellowed or just ran out of labels now I just key the sonofabitch if I’m in a bad mood… ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2010, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-leave-notes-on-the-windows-of-poorly-parked-cars/541946/48 "2010-06-05T17:43:26Z")
I once saw a picture of Mickey Mouse grinning away with his middle finger up, with the caption mentioned earlier: Thanks for parking so close, asshole. Next time leave a fucking can opener so I can get my car out!" At least it was funny that way. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2010, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-leave-notes-on-the-windows-of-poorly-parked-cars/541946/49 "2010-06-05T17:44:30Z")
In my twenties, I used to carry _fluorescent stickers_ that read: > [@](#): > > **WARNING: This vehicle is driven by a person who parks illegally because they value their own convenience over the safety of others.** These would be applied where appropriate, and not on the bumper, but on the painted surface above it. I am well aware that this behaviour is nearly as dickish as parking illegally. I’ve mellowed out a lot since my twenties. A couple of times, I walked (with my workboots) over the hoods of people who blocked access to the crosswalk while waiting to turn right, rather than step into traffic to get around them or wait for the next light. (Or inched sideways past their front bumper, dragging my backpack across the hood.) I acknowledge that this was pathological. It still enrages me, though - however I am now able to restrain myself and be content with giving the offender a look which makes it clear that I’d be happy to stab them in the face, if not for that quarter-inch of safety glass. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2010, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-leave-notes-on-the-windows-of-poorly-parked-cars/541946/50 "2010-06-05T19:25:59Z")
> [@vivalostwages](#): > > I once saw a picture of Mickey Mouse grinning away with his middle finger up, with the caption mentioned earlier: Thanks for parking so close, asshole. Next time leave a fucking can opener so I can get my car out!" > > At least it was funny that way. I saw that, too. [Here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=12536014&postcount=19) in fact. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![EmAnJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d2c977/32.png) [@EmAnJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmAnJ)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2010, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-leave-notes-on-the-windows-of-poorly-parked-cars/541946/51 "2010-06-05T19:26:57Z")
I’m kind of surprised at the number of people who have keyed or otherwise damages vehicles! No matter how angry I am, I would NEVER do something like that. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2010, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-leave-notes-on-the-windows-of-poorly-parked-cars/541946/52 "2010-06-05T20:31:36Z")
The only reason to park improperly is being self-entitled. If you don’t fit in the space, because others are self-entitled too, find a new space. My time is not worth less than yours. I’m may be in a hurry too. Making me climb over the console so you can save a second is rude. You deserve your 5 notes. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2010, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-leave-notes-on-the-windows-of-poorly-parked-cars/541946/53 "2010-06-05T23:17:02Z")
I think I’ve left three such notes. One said, “Your car alarm has awakened me in the middle of the night two nights in a row. Next time I smash your windows.” One said, “This is private parking. If your car is here again when we need to get a delivery, we will have it towed.” The last one said, “Both of the spots your car is taking up are private spaces. Please don’t park here again.” (these are all paraphrased) ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2010, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-leave-notes-on-the-windows-of-poorly-parked-cars/541946/54 "2010-06-05T23:52:28Z")
I still cannot for the life of me understand how people unintentionally inconveniencing them warrants being a flat out grade-A assholes. If you give a nice note, I can believe you were just trying to be helpful. Give a mean one, and it’s quite clear that you are just trying to piss them off. And I can’t figure out why there’s any justification for being that big a jerk. Yet there’s not a person who goes by who doesn’t rationalize it. All the people who leave the notes are just as self-entitled. The difference? They go a stop further and try to piss someone off. Deliberately being a jerk overrides accidentally being one every time. Furthermore, I actually suspect that such notes actually make people less likely to comply. If you use meanness to try and get your way, that makes you a bully, and so many people (myself included) will not acquiesce to bullies. I know I’d be more likely to now take up two spaces on purpose. Rewarding assholish behavior only serves to create more assholes. The fact that so many people justify this bullshit makes me sick. It’s the same rationale used by sociopaths. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2010, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-leave-notes-on-the-windows-of-poorly-parked-cars/541946/55 "2010-06-06T03:46:19Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > I still cannot for the life of me understand how people unintentionally inconveniencing them warrants being a flat out grade-A assholes. If you give a nice note, I can believe you were just trying to be helpful. Give a mean one, and it’s quite clear that you are just trying to piss them off. Why should anyone try to be helpful to people who clearly go through life caring for nothing but their own convenience? > [@BigT](#): > > And I can’t figure out why there’s any justification for being that big a jerk. Yet there’s not a person who goes by who doesn’t rationalize it. > > All the people who leave the notes are just as self-entitled. The difference? They go a stop further and try to piss someone off. Deliberately being a jerk overrides accidentally being one every time. The mistake you make is assuming that people who park like assholes are just “accidentally” being jerks. The sort of people who do this shit are, at best, cluelessly selfish and, at worst, deliberate assholes. They go through life not giving a flying fuck who they inconvenience, or what social niceties they ignore, and generally acting as if they are at the center of the universe. Fuck them with a rusty pole. > [@BigT](#): > > Furthermore, I actually suspect that such notes actually make people less likely to comply. If you use meanness to try and get your way, that makes you a bully, and so many people (myself included) will not acquiesce to bullies. No, bullies are the sort of people who park like assholes. Someone who parks across two spaces, or in a disabled zone, or in someone’s driveway, is a bully. > [@BigT](#): > > I know I’d be more likely to now take up two spaces on purpose. I have no trouble believing that. > [@BigT](#): > > Rewarding assholish behavior only serves to create more assholes. Exactly. Which is why letting parking assholes and their selfish douchebaggery go unremarked is wrong. > [@BigT](#): > > The fact that so many people justify this bullshit makes me sick. It’s the same rationale used by sociopaths. So is parking like an asshole just because it’s easier for you. ---
**Author:** ![jellyblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e480ec/32.png) [@jellyblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jellyblue)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2010, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-leave-notes-on-the-windows-of-poorly-parked-cars/541946/56 "2010-06-06T07:01:26Z")
I left one once. We had parking we had to buy permits for under the building where I worked, but there were never enough spaces. And they were little, even in a Celica, which is what I drove at the time, with giant columns on either side - it was nerve-wracking. Some guy used to park his ginormous Lincoln Navigator straddling the line, while I had to climb across a console in a skirt & heels to squirm into the driver’s seat of my (tiny) car (appropriately) parked in a “compact” spot. Yeah, he got a note. Normally, I’d just fantasize about leaving a note, but this happened a couple of times a week, same guy. I’m pretty sure I saw it crumpled up on the ground the next day. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2010, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-leave-notes-on-the-windows-of-poorly-parked-cars/541946/57 "2010-06-06T13:38:47Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > I still cannot for the life of me understand how people unintentionally inconveniencing them warrants being a flat out grade-A assholes. If you give a nice note, I can believe you were just trying to be helpful. Give a mean one, and it’s quite clear that you are just trying to piss them off. Of course I did it to piss the person off. If the worse offense I ever commit is deliberately pissing off a giant asshole, then I say I’m doing all right. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2010, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-leave-notes-on-the-windows-of-poorly-parked-cars/541946/58 "2010-06-06T14:03:26Z")
> [@Larry\_Mudd](#): > > In my twenties, I used to carry _fluorescent stickers_ that read:These would be applied where appropriate, and not on the bumper, but on the painted surface above it. > > I am well aware that this behaviour is nearly as dickish as parking illegally. > > I’ve mellowed out a lot since my twenties. A couple of times, I walked (with my workboots) over the hoods of people who blocked access to the crosswalk while waiting to turn right, rather than step into traffic to get around them or wait for the next light. (Or inched sideways past their front bumper, dragging my backpack across the hood.) I acknowledge that this was pathological. It still enrages me, though - however I am now able to restrain myself and be content with giving the offender a look which makes it clear that I’d be happy to stab them in the face, if not for that quarter-inch of safety glass. I’m not very careful of my backpack or purse when I’m walking around cars over the sidewalk or crosswalk, either - one guy was giving me all kinds of attitude for touching his shitty ricer. I had my iPod earphones in, so I just kept walking. The way I figure it, call the police - explain to them why the pedestrian in the crosswalk was able to hit your car with their purse. Then YOU get the $500 ticket for interfering with a pedestrian in a crosswalk. My purse just accidentally hit your car - sorry. ETA: But you’re right, **BigT** - I should politely explain to them that the law requires that you make a complete stop before driving over a sidewalk, and only proceed when it’s clear there are no pedestrians. Chances are excellent based on the level of driving here that they don’t have a clue that they’re breaking the law. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2010, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-leave-notes-on-the-windows-of-poorly-parked-cars/541946/59 "2010-06-06T16:53:49Z")
I’ve never even considered leaving a note! I don’t see how it would do any good; it was just piss someone off. People make mistakes. I’m not their mama. ---
**Author:** ![may\_be\_ignorant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c5a1d2/32.png) [@may\_be\_ignorant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/may_be_ignorant)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2010, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-leave-notes-on-the-windows-of-poorly-parked-cars/541946/60 "2010-06-06T17:29:15Z")
> [@](#): > > The note read “Next time leave me a fucking can opener asshole!” > > To this day I can’t imagine why anyone would be so full of vitriol when the solution was painless and took, what 20 seconds longer? I see nothing wrong with what you did, but that cracks me the hell up 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-leave-notes-on-the-windows-of-poorly-parked-cars/541946.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-leave-notes-on-the-windows-of-poorly-parked-cars/541946.md?page=4)