# Why do they do this? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 14, 2016, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-do-this/768540 "2016-10-14T18:55:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 3
**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:** [October 15, 2016, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-do-this/768540/41 "2016-10-15T14:56:04Z")
> [@Vicsage](#): > > Yes, with bowling they are directed by the counter guy, I just don’t know why the counter guy does put people right next to other people. And I have gone back on occasion to get another lane, but they usually give you an attitude. I also get the feeling that they people you leave notice and can’t understand why I don’t like their 7 year old running into my lane while I’m bowling. OK, I asked my son (the bowler) about this. Especially on a slow night, it’s a way of minimizing work for the attendant. Cleaning/polishing lanes next to each other makes his job easier. Also, leagues prefer to be in adjacent lanes, so keeping blocks of lanes empty and ready to use is necessary. ETA: yeah, what **watchwolf** said. My son dumbed it down for me! ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2016, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-do-this/768540/42 "2016-10-15T15:02:55Z")
I suspect a lot of the clustering comes from people somewhat assuming the person there before them KNOWS something that they do not. You deliberately chose to park at that location when there were lots of closer to the store slots available. Why? Hmm. Maybe you had prior knowledge that for some presently invisible reason the area you chose is BETTER than the rest. And so, by parking/camping close by, I too can benefit from your knowledge. And sometimes this is actually true. There was a time we got a head’s up from a friendly park ranger that the group in a particular area was into playing their music really late and loud. (At least, really late and loud in the context of having younger kids there we hoped to get to sleep at a reasonable hour.) ---
**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:** [October 15, 2016, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-do-this/768540/43 "2016-10-15T15:04:30Z")
> [@Sangahyando](#): > > I feel your pain – and that of other posters in the thread (though as I don’t drive, I can’t be altogether “on that particular page”). It often happens in pubs / bars / restaurants too: the establishment is almost empty; but some new patrons come in, and of all the places in which they could sit, they choose the table right next to yours. I’ve gotten some looks walking into a near-empty bar and taking a seat furthest from the three people grouped together. More walking for the bartender, and I guess an antisocial look on my part. In my defense, I usually do this when I want to do some work on my tablet; catching up on email, reading the news, answering texts, etc. And I tip the 'tender a bit heavier for not bending my ear. ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2016, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-do-this/768540/44 "2016-10-15T15:10:43Z")
It’s nice to see us clustering together here in this thread to Pit people who cluster together … duh … ---
**Author:** ![lorene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/65b543/32.png) [@lorene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorene)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2016, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-do-this/768540/45 "2016-10-15T15:16:19Z")
Hate this at the gym. 30 open treadmills and someone parks right next to me. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2016, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-do-this/768540/46 "2016-10-15T15:17:13Z")
“WhAAAAAA-aaaaaaAAAaaa-aaaaah…! Close to you…!” ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2016, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-do-this/768540/47 "2016-10-15T15:26:23Z")
Actually it seems like the only people who feel the need to sit close to me in restaurants are the ones with children. I mean, I like children, but only if they’re sauteed with butter sauce. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2016, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-do-this/768540/48 "2016-10-15T15:50:26Z")
Happened to me at the movies. I was the first one in, chose my seat. The second person in sat directly in front of me. That was about 20 years ago. I am still angry about it. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2016, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-do-this/768540/49 "2016-10-15T20:08:06Z")
> [@campp](#): > > When Mrs. Campp and I go food shopping, I always tend to mill around quietly while she peruses her selections. I try to pick the most mundane part of the store to stand and mind my own business. > > Only, EVERY SINGLE TIME, someone has to come up, and have the sudden need to get to the shelf I’m blocking. It’s always something ridiculous, like fermented pastrami in a jar, or marshmallow cream. > > The other day, I sat down onto a display of patio furniture. 30 seconds later some guy comes up, and tells me to move because he’s buying the whole set. > > Never fails. Not the same thing you’re doing but sort of, I can’t count the number of times I’ve gone into an aisle to get something only to find it totally empty except for the one person standing right in front of the shelf where the item I want is located, and they’re either dawdling in front of it with their shopping cart, talking about what all they have to get next with their partner or on the phone, or dealing with their kids, or just browsing, trying to figure out which of the many selections available they want to buy. Again, the aisle is _completely empty_ (just like the damn street where I’ve invariably got the only other person in sight right on my ass) except for that one person standing right where I need to be. Drives me nuts! ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2016, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-do-this/768540/50 "2016-10-15T20:26:11Z")
> [@campp](#): > > When Mrs. Campp and I go food shopping, I always tend to mill around quietly while she peruses her selections. I try to pick the most mundane part of the store to stand and mind my own business. > > Only, EVERY SINGLE TIME, someone has to come up, and have the sudden need to get to the shelf I’m blocking. It’s always something ridiculous, like fermented pastrami in a jar, or marshmallow cream. > > The other day, I sat down onto a display of patio furniture. 30 seconds later some guy comes up, and tells me to move because he’s buying the whole set. > > Never fails. You’ve missed your calling in life. Think how much money you could earn renting yourself out to stores with hard-to-move product! ---
**Author:** ![Lucky\_Mike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de053/32.png) [@Lucky\_Mike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucky_Mike)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2016, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-do-this/768540/51 "2016-10-15T21:39:43Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > You might be projecting quite a bit, here. An alternate hypothesis is that since the Honda CRV is a much larger vehicle than the Smartcar, it means that other drivers behind the CRV have less visibility of the road ahead (especially a two-lane road) and thus less certainty of when it is safe to pass, hence fewer of them do. Since it is relatively easy to see around a Smartcar, and the Smartcar is smaller so one can pass it with less concern of accidentally touching it, more people take the opportunity. > > Similarly, imagine putting two pylons fifteen feet apart. Drivers will casually pass between them without slowing. Put them ten feet apart, and even though this is still significantly wider than any car, drivers might slow considerably to make sure they clear the gap. > > It might not be that your smaller car inspires aggression - it’s that your larger car increases uncertainty. There is definitely something to think about here and I find your analysis compelling. But, I also have to add in the “rolling coal”, revving engines, honking and other things that happen 3-10 times more often when I just happen to be in the SMART car. I had one guy (in a four lane city driving experience) who would speed up his F-150, shoot up on my bumper, rev past me super loud on the left (had to be tricked out some way), slow down to get behind me, go into my lane, pull up again fast, rev up, shoot around the left and do it again. He did it at least 4 times over about 12 city blocks. It was really weird. My driving experience changes demonstrably when I drive that vehicle. It is across multiple metrics. Seriously, try it out. A hybrid is not enough. The SMART car is pretty much one of the smallest car on the road in the US and it just really drives people insane. So, rent one or borrow one and drive it. You will be amazed. ---
**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:** [October 15, 2016, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-do-this/768540/52 "2016-10-15T23:08:10Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > You’ve missed your calling in life. Think how much money you could earn renting yourself out to stores with hard-to-move product! Yes, he could start a business. “Professional Reach-Arounds, inc.” ---
**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:** [October 15, 2016, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-do-this/768540/53 "2016-10-15T23:10:57Z")
> [@Lucky\_Mike](#): > > There is definitely something to think about here and I find your analysis compelling. > > But, I also have to add in the “rolling coal”, revving engines, honking and other things that happen 3-10 times more often when I just happen to be in the SMART car. I had one guy (in a four lane city driving experience) who would speed up his F-150, shoot up on my bumper, rev past me super loud on the left (had to be tricked out some way), slow down to get behind me, go into my lane, pull up again fast, rev up, shoot around the left and do it again. He did it at least 4 times over about 12 city blocks. It was really weird. Well, _that’s_ easily explained by America having a significant population of redneck shitheels. ---
**Author:** ![erysichthon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d07c76/32.png) [@erysichthon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/erysichthon)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2016, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-do-this/768540/54 "2016-10-15T23:36:27Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > I really don’t understand the parking thing. I’ll be in a completely empty parking lot but for one other car. I was there first, there’s nothing special about the spot; it’s not the closest to the building, it’s not in the shade, it’s not near the lot entrance/exit, and yet someone _always_ parks right next to me. What the fuck?! I have a friend who always makes a point of parking next to other cars, even if there are acres of empty space in the lot. When I asked him why he did this, he said, “People are more likely to hit you when pulling into a space than backing out of it.” I saw some flaws in his logic (what happens when an adjacent car leaves and creates a nice, inviting parking spot next to your car?) but I didn’t argue. Also, for what it’s worth, I used to make a point of parking a long way from other cars in a lot, just to have all that luxurious emptiness around my car. One night after work, I discovered that someone had taken advantage of the isolation and _stolen a wheel off my car_. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2016, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-do-this/768540/55 "2016-10-16T00:47:19Z")
> [@erysichthon](#): > > I have a friend who always makes a point of parking next to other cars, even if there are acres of empty space in the lot. When I asked him why he did this, he said, “People are more likely to hit you when pulling into a space than backing out of it.” IME, people are most likely to hit your car when they are getting in or out of theirs. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2016, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-do-this/768540/56 "2016-10-17T18:06:46Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > I do this, just to mess with them. Some guys actually stop peeing, move to the next urinal, and resume. Getting your eyes full of cock on the regs I see. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2016, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-do-this/768540/57 "2016-10-17T20:56:38Z")
> [@Vicsage](#): > > I go to play tennis. There are 8 courts. All empty. I take court #8. The next group of people come and take court #7. Happens all the time. Sometimes I take a jug of water and dump it on the court next to me just so idiots don’t use it. I go shopping. Park my car a long distance away so as not to have to worry about being crowded by other cars. I come out and find a SUV crowding my car. There are dozens of empty spot all around my car and this idiot has to park right next to me. I eat lunch in my car. I eat lunch in a huge vacant parking lot. Others do too. Yet with all this empty space, someone will always park right next to me. I like to bowl. By myself. I go when almost no one is there. They give me lane #17. Five minutes after I start, a mom comes in with 3 pre-teen kids. Guess what lane the guy gives them? #18. What is wrong with people? They just love ya, I guess. Next time, ask for both 17 and 18. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-they-do-this/768540.md?page=2)