# Nonsensical parking lot experience **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 18, 2011, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nonsensical-parking-lot-experience/593122 "2011-08-18T05:49:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nonsensical-parking-lot-experience/593122/21 "2011-08-18T13:19:30Z")
I understand your concern that the space remain open for someone truly handicapped but once it was apparent the young woman was aware of the situation there really wasn’t anything to be gained by pursuing it. ---
**Author:** ![gallows\_fodder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8c91f0/32.png) [@gallows\_fodder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gallows_fodder)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nonsensical-parking-lot-experience/593122/22 "2011-08-18T13:21:51Z")
I came into this thread for a nonsensical parking lot experience story and am disappointed. Here’s a nonsensical parking lot experience: I work at a university, the same university at which my dad has taught for 33 years. We ride to work together in his car, which has a university faculty/staff parking permit hanging prominently from the rear-view mirror, as it has done for years and years. One morning we pulled into the same parking lot in which my dad has parked since 1978 and got out of the car. Another car pulled up next to us and asked us if we knew that this lot was for faculty/staff only. I said politely, “…Yes. We both work here, and we have a permit [indicating permit]”. The lady continued. “Well, I just wanted you to know that this is only for faculty or staff. Students can’t park here.” I said, “Yes, I know. Neither of us are students. I work in the library and my dad is a professor. We have a permit, we’re allowed to park here.” She kept going. “Well, a lot of people park here when they shouldn’t. [more blah blah blah]” I said very patiently, “Ma’am, my father has worked here for 33 years – if anyone’s earned the right to park here, it’s him. Have a nice day.” I still don’t know what her problem was. We have a permit, my dad is clearly an old professor carrying a briefcase, and I was dressed in business clothes and don’t look like a student, and _we have a permit_. Fuck OFF. ---
**Author:** ![ladyfoxfyre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@ladyfoxfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladyfoxfyre)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nonsensical-parking-lot-experience/593122/23 "2011-08-18T13:24:27Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > There certainly seems to be a lot of anger, hostility, and unresolved issues with you. Crucifying everyone who parks in a handicapped spot isn’t going to undo your injury. QFT. ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nonsensical-parking-lot-experience/593122/24 "2011-08-18T13:32:47Z")
One more question: why even post this story here? Surely you know that most people are going to tell you they think you were being a jerk, in light of other stories you’ve told. Satchmo, jaimemcgarry has a history of berating people for this, and has been banned from a local health club and was in the news for doing so. I suspect his initial approach is hostile, despite the passive-aggressive language in his posts. He certainly seems to piss off a lot of people. ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nonsensical-parking-lot-experience/593122/25 "2011-08-18T13:38:51Z")
> [@Satchmo](#): > > I think everyone here is missing an important point, maybe even **jamie**. If we can assume the permit was issued because of the older person, (which I grant is purely an assumption), then the driver was abusing the permit. The idea behind the law is for close parking for people that are in some way less able to get around, for whatever reason. If the handicapped person is not leaving the car, a good person would not park in the handicapped space. Whether the placard was displayed or not. Same or worse if the handicapped person is not in the car. I don’t know about the US but I’m pretty sure that here in the UK it’s acceptable for the permit holder to be the passenger in the vehicle. ---
**Author:** ![Rand\_Rover](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/db5fbb/32.png) [@Rand\_Rover](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rand_Rover)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nonsensical-parking-lot-experience/593122/26 "2011-08-18T13:39:12Z")
> [@LurkMeister](#): > > [hijack]I’m a bit behind in my urban slang. WTF does the bolded portion of this > > mean?[/hijack] I think “to catch a case” means “to have criminal charges brought against” (here specifically, presumably for assault and battery against our esteemed OP). ---
**Author:** ![Morgenstern](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Morgenstern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgenstern)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nonsensical-parking-lot-experience/593122/27 "2011-08-18T13:41:11Z")
> [@bengangmo](#): > > I gotta second Hilarity here - what business is it of yours? > > You “asked her if she had a permit” which right off the bat is an accusation. I would also have been offended if I got accused by some random stranger. She’s right - she doesn’t have to answer to you. What if he’d seen someone leaning in a car window rummaging through the glove box? Should he walk away silently? What if he’d seen someone snatching the purse of the old lady in the car? Should it also have been none of his business? The idiot should have used the permit, that’s what it was issued for. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nonsensical-parking-lot-experience/593122/28 "2011-08-18T13:44:09Z")
Wait, how did you get banned from a health club? ---
**Author:** ![Satchmo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/satchmo/32/4223_2.png) [@Satchmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satchmo)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nonsensical-parking-lot-experience/593122/29 "2011-08-18T13:47:24Z")
Thanks **Chiroptera** , Ive seen a few of **jamiemcgarry** ’s posts and I know he has a real reputation on the board. I wasn’t trying to hijack the thread, but I suppose I am taking it in another direction and shouldn’t. I’m just trying to point out that something doesn’t have to be illegal to be wrong, and people will continue to do wrong so long as they know everyone else will look the other way. I piss a lot of people off, too. ---
**Author:** ![Satchmo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/satchmo/32/4223_2.png) [@Satchmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Satchmo)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nonsensical-parking-lot-experience/593122/30 "2011-08-18T13:50:22Z")
> [@sandra\_nz](#): > > I don’t know about the US but I’m pretty sure that here in the UK it’s acceptable for the permit holder to be the passenger in the vehicle. See, here you base your life only on what’s legal and illegal, I prefer to use right and wrong, we’ll just have to agree to disagree. ---
**Author:** ![bucketybuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@bucketybuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bucketybuck)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nonsensical-parking-lot-experience/593122/31 "2011-08-18T13:51:29Z")
> [@Satchmo](#): > > See, here you base your life only on what’s legal and illegal, I prefer to use right and wrong, we’ll just have to agree to disagree. What about important and unimportant? ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nonsensical-parking-lot-experience/593122/32 "2011-08-18T13:51:44Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > What if he’d seen someone leaning in a car window rummaging through the glove box? Should he walk away silently? > > What if he’d seen someone snatching the purse of the old lady in the car? Should it also have been none of his business? > > The idiot should have used the permit, that’s what it was issued for. A bit of a qualitative difference between not displaying a handicap placard and snatching a purse from an old lady, wouldn’t you say? ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nonsensical-parking-lot-experience/593122/33 "2011-08-18T13:52:25Z")
> [@](#): > > “I gotta permit bracelet around my ankle!” And she lifted her leg and pointed down towards her foot. Huh? Maybe some medi-alert bracelet? ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nonsensical-parking-lot-experience/593122/34 "2011-08-18T13:54:48Z")
> [@Satchmo](#): > > Thanks **Chiroptera** , Ive seen a few of **jamiemcgarry** ’s posts and I know he has a real reputation on the board. I wasn’t trying to hijack the thread, but I suppose I am taking it in another direction and shouldn’t. I’m just trying to point out that something doesn’t have to be illegal to be wrong, and people will continue to do wrong so long as they know everyone else will look the other way. I piss a lot of people off, too. Again I don’t think there’s anything wrong with challenging someone if you see them doing something wrong, per se. But there’s a right way and a wrong way…and there’s times it simply isn’t productive to do so. > [@](#): > > Wait, how did you get banned from a health club? > **[Search](https://www.mlive.com/search/jamie+mcgarry/)** ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nonsensical-parking-lot-experience/593122/35 "2011-08-18T13:56:16Z")
> [@olivesmarch4th](#): > > Wait, how did you get banned from a health club? [Blocking in a guy who was illegally parked in a handicapped spot](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=613579). The best part is he joined a new gym and did it there, too. ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nonsensical-parking-lot-experience/593122/36 "2011-08-18T14:00:04Z")
Of all the places in the US where you could go around confronting people on the street, Flint, MI has to be one of the most dangerous. What do you want, to end up dead? ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nonsensical-parking-lot-experience/593122/37 "2011-08-18T14:03:12Z")
> [@sandra\_nz](#): > > I don’t know about the US but I’m pretty sure that here in the UK it’s acceptable for the permit holder to be the passenger in the vehicle. People get permits because they have a handicap that makes it difficult for them to exit a car and traverse a long distance to their destination. Presumably, it is acceptable for the permit holder to be a passenger, as a passenger still has to exit the car and go to the destination. If the passenger is not leaving the car at any point during the stop, then their particular handicap is a non issue. It may be inconvenient to craft a law with this level of restriction, but it is clearly a violation of the purpose of handicapped spaces, to use the placard of your passenger, but have them sit in the car. At any rate, put the stupid placard up, the law requires it, and you’re less likely to get into an argument over it. ---
**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:** [August 18, 2011, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nonsensical-parking-lot-experience/593122/38 "2011-08-18T14:06:54Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > If you see someone breaking the law, there is nothing wrong with reporting it. Yep. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nonsensical-parking-lot-experience/593122/39 "2011-08-18T14:13:53Z")
Without meaning to defend how the OP went about it, it’s worth pointing out that you do not, actually, get to park in a handicapped space _because you have_ a handicapped parking permit. You may park there if you _display_ a handicapped parking permit (that you legally have). I agree with **jamiemcgarry** as far as regarding it strange that the Parkers would go out of their way to avoid displaying the permit. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2011, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nonsensical-parking-lot-experience/593122/40 "2011-08-18T14:16:14Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > The idiot should have used the permit, that’s what it was issued for. Well, actually, it’s issued so that proper law enforcement personnel know that you’re entitled to use the spot, and not for the benefit of nosy passers-by. Presumably had there been a peace officer or a patrol car visible, the placard would have been visible. Based on the speech patterns quoted by the OP, it sounds like this may have occurred where poor people live, and where poor people live there is higher crime. An always-displayed handicapped placard would be an attractive target for some poor people who commit crimes, and so if this were such a neighborhood, I’d leave my placard in the glove compartment, too (with my GPS, sun glasses, etc.) unless it were absolutely necessary to display. Short of busybodies, this wasn’t a case where it was absolutely necessary to display. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nonsensical-parking-lot-experience/593122.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nonsensical-parking-lot-experience/593122.md?page=3)