Some people deliberately park farther away from the door to get more exercise. Others park farther away from the door just because it’s the first reasonably close empty spot they see and walking an extra 20 feet doesn’t bother them. Others need some room to maneuver and have poor enough visibility that having another car close by makes it easier to judge where they are in the space. Others just like to fuck with the person who thinks their car is just too damn nice to park near other people and their vile transports, and the enjoyment they get out of it is well worth walking five extra spaces.
If you’re truly serious about keeping people from parking near you, you’re going to have to park a lot further away than five spaces from the other cars. Out in one of the corners where it’s rather a pain in the arse to walk in would be best–most people aren’t going to park out there because whatever they get out of parking next to you when you’re closer in isn’t worth the inconvenience of walking that much extra distance. It’ll be inconvenient, but most truly effective tactics are.
I don’t think parking far out in the lot implies that your car is better than anyone elses, just that you care more about your cars appearance. It also gets you a little exercise and keeps you out of the pointless exercise of trying to park as close as possible.
Here’s the thing, no matter how shiny and beautiful, new and loved your precious car is you don’t have any say over what car parks beside you. Ever. Same is true if your car is a shit box beater.
I agree that they are doing it to mess with you, and it’s funny. But it only works if you’re so into your car that you think it’s not safe near other lesser cars. Truth is there ain’t no safe place away from lesser cars. If you want to drive and park in public you’ll just have to take your chances like everyone else. Get over it.
This is a good example of human nature in action. There are actually a couple behavioral explanations for such parking, both having to do with less thinking.
First, parking next to another car typically takes less skill - no looking at those pesky lines and trying to get in between them. Simply pull up next to another big metal object and you are done.
The second is a variant of the herding instinct. The driver thinks (possibly subconsciously) “This lot is almost empty… is there something going on here I don’t know about? I better park next to that car, as that must be the safe part of the lot.” It is unlikely that a sabertooth tiger is going to jump out and eat the driver if they park elsewhere, but ancient instincts are hard to overcome.
I have no idea why the OP attracts junky old pickup trucks in particular, though.
I think you are right…this explains those awful crashes on highways (a car plows into a disabled car in the breakdown lane).
As for me, yeah, I just want my doors free of dings…and people who drive beaters aren’t too carefull about letting their doors swing wide.
Words, sure. Of course anyone can talk to anyone else for whatever reason they like. Or leave a note.
But it perplexes me how many people advocate vandalism against the vehicle of any driver who displeases them. Do these people also shoplift when they are annoyed that a store raised its prices? Do they throw rocks through their neighbor’s window if he plays his music too loud? Do they sabotage their employer’s business when they’re mad that they didn’t get a raise? Do they take out their anger toward their friends and family by trashing their belongings (or worse)?
What’s different about cars that makes vandalizing them socially acceptable? It seems it’s mostly recommended for cars that are in some way different than one’s own, or whose owner is perceived as being somehow different.
**When it comes to cars, anyone who does not conform in every possible way must be PUNISHED! ** Is that it?
Go figure. I like to park far away from the venue doors too, unless the weather really sucks. I have an old, small truck with some body damage - all of it cause by people hitting it while it was parked, then driving off. Seriously, if my truck wasn’t old enough that it’s stupid for me to pay $1000 to replace a bumper, my car would be in great shape. Almost evey time I come out, someone in a much nicer, newer car has parked next to me. Often I am now between twin behemoths with tinted windows which make it impossible for me see well enough to exit the parking space safely. More than once I have come out to find scratches & dents in my car doors. I guess people figure it’s an old truck, got a couple dents, who’ll notice a few more.
It’s not cars, other than the facts that security at parking lots is crappy and vandalism is less likely to land you in jail for significant amounts of time than assault is. All the other things you listed are annoying, but they aren’t examples of someone being “uppity,” nor are they examples of the “uppity” person demanding more than their share of common resources like parking spots. The idea behind vandalizing their car, I think, is to bring them down a notch or to punish them for thinking that paying more for their car entitles them to more of the space outside the store.
I think some people are pretty quick to punish those they perceive as trying to elevate themselves above everyone else if they can get away with it. To them, someone who parks far from everyone else in a nice car is automatically an asshole and therefore fair game. Also, remember that pit thread with, I think it was St Anger, and the note? Some people will mess with you just because they can, and parking your car far from everyone else exposes the possibility of a convenient vulnerability.
I drive the junky old pickup. I park far away because over the years people have made it junky. It’s got a long bed and people forget they can’t cut the wheel as soon as they are otherwise used to.
