Whatever forces govern finding parking spaces, they smiled on me today. While I was out running errands at a busy, popular shopping center, I got a truly good parking space, one right next to the handicapped spaces, halfway between Borders, Books, and Music and Panera. Having purchased the wherewithall to feed mind and body, I returned to my car before running one last errand. I stuck my purchases in the trunk and, as I was getting into my car, I noticed someone waiting for my space. I also noticed 3 or 4 cars behind him who couldn’t get around him. Normally, I try to be a pretty decent human being, but I must have been a bit cranky and earlier in the day, I’d nearly been blocked in by someone else who was waiting for a space further up the row. That person had the class to back up when he realized he was blocking someone. I think he was also rather happy to get my space.
This particular person, however, was content to wait while I got in my car, started my engine, and backed out. I don’t know how content the people behind him were. I do know this particular shopping center has a ton of parking and there was no reason he couldn’t drive forward and make use of it. As I pulled out and turned my car the opposite direction, I called out to him, “You do realize there are about 4 people waiting behind you?” His reply was “They’re waiting for you, asshole.”
No, sir, with all due respect, I am not the asshole. If I had taken my own sweet time getting ready to go or decided that no, I couldn’t wait until I got home to start reading Lady Slings the Booze (thanks Polycarp!), then I would have been an asshose. Instead, by inconveniencing other people by making them wait in line behind you so that you could get a first-class, grade-A parking space, in my seldom-humble opinion, you are the asshole. Come to think of it, I’d bumped into a friend in Panera; perhaps I should have gone back and caught up with her a bit?
All that for a parking space (and that includes my contribution)! Sheeesh!
Now if it’s the only available spot, then I can see waiting. But if there are other spots, a little farther on, then you’re just being a fucking prick by making everyone else wait for you.
Last summer I got blocked into my spot by an asshole who was busy waiting for a car two spaces away from me to back out. Only that person wasn’t exactly in a hurry to leave. Meanwhile, I’m sitting there waiting to be let out and two people are waiting behind this clown.
And all the while, he could have gone another two fucking spots down the row and parked in one of three empty spots there…
Oh, did I mention that he called me an asshole and threatened to get out of his truck and beat me up just because I asked him to go past and let me out?
My fiance has come out to the parking lot after a long shopping trip (during Christmas), and noticed a car following him around the parking lot. He got to his car, put his packages in the trunk (car still following him), and started to go back into the mall to finish up. Apparently, Mr. I’m Too Impatient got angry and yelled a few choice words at him. Fiance responded back with “If you can’t walk a little bit further, that’s your problem, not mine.”. He’s much more genteel than I would have been.
I always get annoyed - I’m the first person to park as far back as possible (I lived in Brooklyn for 4 years, and I’ve had to walk 10 times as far to the subway on a daily basis as I do to the end of the parking lot at the mall), but if it’s not busy, I’ll look for a spot about halfway up. I do NOT like being followed, and it bugs me when someone’s sitting right behind my car, not leaving me much room to get out of my parking spot. I’ve had to lean out of my car and ask people to back up so I can get out.
You definitely weren’t in error, here. I hope that guy was happy with his parking spot (and I hope one of the folks behind him gave him an earful).
I don’t think people have the “right” to wait for you to move out. It’s your space, you’re parked there, and if you have to rearrange your keys or bags or something before taking off, that’s your right, just as staying in the store for two hours shopping is your right. They can wait if they want to and nobody’s behind them, but as long as you’re parked in it, your spot is no more available to them than any other with a car already in it. That’s my view. Sometimes I’ll circle close by if I see someone heading towards their car and there’s no parking available otherwise, but I won’t try to hurry them or get angry if someone else reaches the spot first. Parking spots are first-come, first-serve.
This is a peeve of mine too. On more than one occasion I have gotten back out of the car and walked back into the store just spite the asshole holding up traffic. I’ve been honked at and called names for doing it which makes no sense to me at all. What makes these idiots think that I have some obligation to move my car. Fuck them.
To anyone reading this who does that: Why are you like that?
(Siege, you should pulled right back into the spot just to piss him off. It’s quite gratifying, believe me. :D)
Reminds me of the time I was 13 and waiting in my mother’s car while she shopped (the car was not running). I was in the driver’s seat, a friend was in the passenger’s seat, and we were just sitting there listening to music. We saw a middle-aged man in an idling car behind us, and thought it odd, but didn’t connect the dots. About ten minutes later he was still there, and when we both turned in our seats to get another good look at him, he started shaking his fists and yelling at us, and then drove off. We realized he had been waiting that long for us to vacate the spot.
Well, I agree with your position but not your action(s). It was confrontational and served no purpose.
And as far as GMRyujin is concerned (and in the same vain as the comment to the asshose) - don’t you have any other way to exercise power in your life other than that kind of petty shit?
I normally view Dopers as pretty decent folk… but if you’re planning to get into your car and drive away, and you see someone waiting for your spot, if you deliberately lengthen your leaving process just to try to teach that person some lesson of some sort… I can’t view that as anything but lowdown dirty and mean.
I’ve been plenty of places in my life (living in California) where there is literally not a single empty parking space. It’s not that I’m too lazy to walk from the other end of the lot. The whole damn lot is full. If I see someone starting to get into their car, what am I supposed to do, just keep circling and assume that at some point someone else will get into a car just the right distance ahead of me that I’ll drive up as the spot empties but before anyone else parks in it?
Excuse me, County, MaxTheVool, I did not lengthen the process of getting in my car and driving off at all, and I’m pretty efficient about such things. Max, I also don’t do such things when the lot’s full – I learned a lesson regarding that several years ago. As for my remark, county most of the stuff I read from you in the BBQ Pit is worse.
Yes, in an ideal world, I would have kept my mouth shut and did nothing. Sorry, folks, my application for sainthood was denied a long time ago, and I’m not sure I want to re-up.
Well, next time you post an OP maybe you could consider leaving out the stuff that makes you look…not so good, or maybe use some literary license to paint yourself in a better light.
Also, I don’t understand the remark about stuff from me being “worse”
Good lord, amen to this. I know you said you didn’t do this, Seige, but there are plenty who do.
Seems to me that most people just want to park their cars. If the lot is crowded, you can’t blame them for wanting your space. Why be such a jerk about it?
Last time this happened to me - that is, someone waiting for me to leave blocked the entire lane, causing massive traffic problems even though there were plenty of parking spots available - I suddenly realized, after I’d put my packages in the car, that I needed something at the store next door. Made no sense to drive, so I just locked up and walked over there.
Boy, was that woman pissed. She’d been waiting a looooong time.
I’m with MaxtheVool. All of you screaming “they can park somewhere else!” Seem to be selectively reading the posts written by those who don’t advocate such petty and childish behavior. Notice, they’re all referring to…
Lots that are full or very nearly full
I mean, honestly. Why does it bother you so much that someone wants your space? How childish and petty are you? Why does the fact that someone dares to wait for your space (in a lot that is all or nearly full, in case you forgot about that part already) such a bother to you? Get over yourselves. You don’t own the space. It seems very clear who’s being the asshole in that situation. And it 'aint the one waiting for the only space about to become available in the parking lot. Rather, it’s the passive aggressive asshole who gets his jollies from excersing what little amount of percieved “power” he happens to have over the poor schmuck trying to park.
And for those of you who are walking to your car just to put some bags away and notice someone following you in a crowded parking lot? Is it really that hard to turn around and shake your head or give some indication that you’re not leaving to save the person trying to park some time? Or if you’re walking to your car to leave and notice someone following you in a busy or crowded parking lot, to turn around and point to which isle you’re walking to? Betcha didn’t even think about doing something like that, didja? Self absorbed much?
