# Let's pit snowbirds! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 31, 2008, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pit-snowbirds/479396 "2008-12-31T20:39:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pit-snowbirds/479396/1 "2008-12-31T20:39:06Z")
Ah yes, it is that time of the year. Every stereotype about the elderly comes true in Arizona, Florida, the deserts of California, and Hawaii. Exhibit A: Elderly woman in motorized grocery cart revs it up and pushes another person’s grocery cart right out of her way. Now, I hate it when people block the aisles as well, but since the other person had been blocking the aisle for less than 2 seconds, I think I’d be patient enough to wait at least 5 seconds. I might even say, “Excuse me, can I get by?” first. Exhibit B: The sign says “Fire Lane” not “Snowbird Lane” I know we should feel blessed that you came down to bless our meager state with your presence, but you really do have to park the Caddy in a parking space, not right in front of the store. Exhibit C: No, there really isn’t a senior discount on New Year’s Eve! ---
**Author:** ![Litoris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9f8e36/32.png) [@Litoris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Litoris)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pit-snowbirds/479396/2 "2008-12-31T20:45:41Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > Exhibit B: The sign says “Fire Lane” not “Snowbird Lane” I know we should feel blessed that you came down to bless our meager state with your presence, but you really do have to park the Caddy in a parking space, not right in front of the store. Step 1: Call police, report fire hazard Step 2: Stand and watch as ticket is issued, maybe even Caddy is towed Step 3: Profit…er, I mean, cackle loudly and longly while Snowbird rants at police officer, hopefully ensuring an even larger fine ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pit-snowbirds/479396/3 "2008-12-31T21:01:11Z")
But… but… they speak to me of flowers that will bloom again in spring! ---
**Author:** ![ASAKMOTSD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/919ad9/32.png) [@ASAKMOTSD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASAKMOTSD)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pit-snowbirds/479396/4 "2008-12-31T21:20:01Z")
Yeah, its really bad for all those annoying people to go south and spend their money where you earn yours. I can see your issue with that. :rolleyes: ---
**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:** [December 31, 2008, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pit-snowbirds/479396/5 "2008-12-31T21:37:58Z")
I was actually thinking about starting a thread, asking Arizonans what they think of all the western Canadian snowbirds they get (I fully intend to be one myself someday). I guess the snowbirds are annoying? But you have to understand - it’s friggin’ cold and snowy here! There’s only so much of that a person can take! ETA: The behaviours described are asshole behaviours, not specific to snowbirds. Are there specific things snowbirds do that residents would really prefer they didn’t? I’d like to be a considerate snowbird. ---
**Author:** ![Atomicflea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/58956e/32.png) [@Atomicflea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomicflea)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pit-snowbirds/479396/6 "2008-12-31T21:43:16Z")
Um, what’s a snowbird? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pit-snowbirds/479396/7 "2008-12-31T21:47:55Z")
> [@Atomicflea](#): > > Um, what’s a snowbird? [Guide to Snowbird lifestyle.](http://www.isnowbird.com/Snowbird_Guide_To_Florida_Housing/Isnowbird.com%3A_Your_guide_to_the_Snowbird_Lifestyle.html) ---
**Author:** ![Omegaman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e480ec/32.png) [@Omegaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omegaman)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pit-snowbirds/479396/8 "2008-12-31T21:49:20Z")
I like em. They bring thier broke ass vehicles to me that they can’t get home without. I miss the days when we sold motorhome chassis’s. ---
**Author:** ![ladyfoxfyre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@ladyfoxfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladyfoxfyre)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pit-snowbirds/479396/9 "2008-12-31T21:50:45Z")
> [@ASAKMOTSD](#): > > Yeah, its really bad for all those annoying people to go south and spend their money where you earn yours. I can see your issue with that. :rolleyes: If you don’t fucking understand the phenomenon, there are shorter ways to say it that still illustrate that you’re a dickhead. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pit-snowbirds/479396/10 "2008-12-31T21:52:05Z")
Snowbird is a ski resort near Salt Lake City. Great powder, 3100 foot elevation range. Can’t imagine Pitting it. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Atomicflea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/58956e/32.png) [@Atomicflea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomicflea)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pit-snowbirds/479396/11 "2008-12-31T21:57:32Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > [Guide to Snowbird lifestyle.](http://www.isnowbird.com/Snowbird_Guide_To_Florida_Housing/Isnowbird.com%3A_Your_guide_to_the_Snowbird_Lifestyle.html) Thank you! Sounds like this isn’t so much a snowbird thing as an oldbird thing. ---
**Author:** ![Sublata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7cd45c/32.png) [@Sublata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sublata)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pit-snowbirds/479396/12 "2008-12-31T22:00:10Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > But… but… they speak to me of flowers that will bloom again in spring! You just HAD to go there, didn’t you? Now I’ve got that song stuck in my head. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pit-snowbirds/479396/13 "2008-12-31T22:08:01Z")
> [@Litoris](#): > > Step 1: Call police, report fire hazard > Step 2: Stand and watch as ticket is issued, maybe even Caddy is towed > Step 3: Profit…er, I mean, cackle loudly and longly while Snowbird rants at police officer, hopefully ensuring an even larger fine I wish, how I wish. Realistically policeman is smart enough to not earn time on the 6 pm news. The police force doesn’t want a sob story about grandpa going in to get his heart pills and finding out his car was towed away. Of course, they’re forgetting that gramps also bought a case of whiskey, a box of cigars, and enough red meat to open a butcher shop. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pit-snowbirds/479396/14 "2008-12-31T22:19:36Z")
> [@Sublata](#): > > You just HAD to go there, didn’t you? Now I’ve got that song stuck in my head. :mad: Well, you can blame me for that. And that bitch Anne Murray, too. ---
**Author:** ![Litoris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9f8e36/32.png) [@Litoris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Litoris)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pit-snowbirds/479396/15 "2008-12-31T22:21:12Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > I wish, how I wish. Realistically policeman is smart enough to not earn time on the 6 pm news. The police force doesn’t want a sob story about grandpa going in to get his heart pills and finding out his car was towed away. Of course, they’re forgetting that gramps also bought a case of whiskey, a box of cigars, and enough red meat to open a butcher shop. Parking in the fire lane is something I loathe and will applaud when I see a police officer writing a ticket for it. That, and parking in a handicap spot. Og, how that chaps my ass. Funny thing is, I have a gf who has a handicap tag, but I won’t allow her to park in the handicap spots when I am with her – her tag is because she’s bi-polar, that doesn’t preclude her from walking. She thinks it’s hysterical that I won’t let her park in the spots when we go out, I think she’s a twat for doing it at all. ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pit-snowbirds/479396/16 "2008-12-31T22:22:14Z")
> [@ladyfoxfyre](#): > > If you don’t fucking understand the phenomenon, there are shorter ways to say it that still illustrate that you’re a dickhead. Which part of the phenomenon did he not understand? I read the link and don’t see what you’re getting at. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pit-snowbirds/479396/17 "2008-12-31T22:22:25Z")
My folks live in South Florida year round. Plenty of people do these things who live there - I don’t think it has anything to do with snowbirds. ---
**Author:** ![ladyfoxfyre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@ladyfoxfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladyfoxfyre)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pit-snowbirds/479396/18 "2008-12-31T22:44:05Z")
> [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](#): > > Which part of the phenomenon did he not understand? I read the link and don’t see what you’re getting at. It was stupid and snarky, like we should all tolerate obnoxious and ridiculous behavior just because the old douchebags spend money in our economy. Fucking please. Snowbirds are the worst thing about living here, including hurricanes and Charlie Crist. ---
**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:** [December 31, 2008, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pit-snowbirds/479396/19 "2008-12-31T22:52:11Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > My folks live in South Florida year round. Plenty of people do these things who live there - I don’t think it has anything to do with snowbirds. I don’t know – I don’t doubt that by the time I am senescent and addled enough to find Florida an appealling destination, I’ll also lose what little ability I have to behave in public. ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2008, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pit-snowbirds/479396/20 "2008-12-31T22:58:27Z")
Aha! Vindicated at last! My folks have been going to Texas for the winter for several years, and they think that “Winter Texans” are beloved by the locals, and it’s some special club that they belong to. I told them that they probably annoy the ever-lovin’ CRAP out of the locals. See, I was right. (I went to visit them there once, and I swear it was just like Del Boca Vista. Only in an RV park instead of condos.) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-pit-snowbirds/479396.md?page=2)