"Are you coming or going?"

[Trekker4747]

How much time does it really take to put on gloves, a helmet. start a motorcycle a move? A minute? Two?

 

[Tiberius Jim]

Well I for one agree with the OP. People that follow you to your parking spot are annoying and kind of stalkerish. It's even worse when there's people waiting in both directions, and they are both trying to take your spot. They make it practically impossible to actually get out. I enjoy disappointing them by dropping my stuff off and then going back inside the mall to shop some more. In any case I would think it's obvious who's holding up traffic, and it's not the person who's parked.

Also, if there's no motorcycle parking I don't see anything wrong with parking in a regular spot. What else would you do?

That's exactly what I'm talking about: the people who stalk you to your spot to see if you're leaving and just sit there, and like you said, sometimes end up fighting someone else over the spot. I get that it's a product of the massive amount of people all vying for a spot but it seems like people could go about it differently. And yeah, many times I have been blocked from exiting by the very person who wants my spot. It makes me wonder if they appreciate the irony of the situation.

How much time does it really take to put on gloves, a helmet. start a motorcycle a move? A minute? Two?

Have you ever ridden a motorcycle on a regular basis? Especially in cold weather?

First had to get the gloves out of my saddlebags, which is when the guy guy pulled up. Opening and closing them can take a few seconds, especially with cold hands. I then had to grab my key, unlock my forks, then put it in the ignition. Then I put on my neck warmer because it was about 32 F out that day. Then I had to unlock my helmet, then stow the lock. Then put it on. Then put on my gloves. Then start the bike, which needed to warm up for a few seconds. So no, it's not exactly a quick process where I can just hop on the bike and go, which is why I backed out of the spot before I had even put on my neck warmer.

 

[Amaris]

How much time does it really take to put on gloves, a helmet. start a motorcycle a move? A minute? Two?

The problem is when you're trying to do so, and you have people behind you trying to push you into hurrying. For someone waiting on a parking spot, ten seconds might as well be ten minutes. I've had people push in closer toward my car after only a few seconds. That's dangerous enough, but if one is on a motorcycle and that happens, it's a good way to get someone hurt.

 

[Tiberius Jim]

Plus, there's no way in hell I'm going to let someone rush me when I'm putting on my (potentially life-saving) gear. Part of why I backed out when I did was also so I could gear up on my own time.

 

[doubleohfive]

This seems like a strange thing to have a rant about.

Welcome to any one of Flux's threads.

It's not so much that people wait for spots, it's when they begin to wait so prematurely that the person they're attempting to replace is still a good 4-5 minutes away from becoming mobile and subsequently block traffic behind them as well.

Perhaps you are unfamiliar with the holiday season and the fury with which some people fight for parking spaces.

Did you miss this story last weekend?

CBS News wrote:

CLAYPOOL HILL, Va. – Two men were arrested Thanksgiving night at a southwest Virginia Wal-Mart after one stabbed the other over a parking space.

Christopher Jackson, 35, and Ronnie Sharp, 61, allegedly got into a fight at around 6:30 p.m. Thursday after arriving at the store to shop, according to NBC affiliate WVVA.

The confrontation reportedly started out as a small verbal argument over a parking space but then turned physical when Sharp threatened Jackson with a rifle.

The point is that your polite response to the guy and his polite response to you is completely undercut by your sudden concern for everyone else allegedly waiting for him to move his car to your spot.

Who cares? It's the holiday season. Parking is going to be crap no matter where or when you go.

More over, it was nice of you to move your bike and things so he could park. But complaining about it after the fact feels like an unnecessary expenditure of time and energy. It'd be great if people went to shopping centers and parked on the roof first, or in the outer spots first and worked their way in, but it doesn't work like that.

So, ultimately, I have to ask...

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAA1xgTTw9w[/yt]

In this particular lot, the cars queuing up behind the guy eventually ended up having to swing around him in the oncoming side of the aisle, but it wasn't happening in a very orderly or consistent manner.

I am fairly certain even the California DMV instructs learning drivers how to handle situations such as this.

I was physically shopping because my wife had seen an item the previous day that she liked but didn't buy since we were shopping for others, so I wanted to grab it while she was at work.

That's very thoughtful of you. I hope she enjoys it.

If the lot is crowded, or at a peak time, it's unsurprising someone might wait for a spot that's going to become available. Especially so, if it is somewhat close to the entrance someone wants to go to.

This spot wasn't particularly close to the entrance at all. The issue is not so much the waiting, but the choice to wait for someone who isn't even close to leaving yet.

Again - who cares? The guy made plain that he didn't mind waiting. What's so bad about that?

More importantly, how many times have we all waited for a parking space on a busy day when we know the other driver is clearly leaving, but still takes their sweet time to go? I think you guys handled the first part of this admirably, and it was even nice of you to move in the interest of everyone else. That kind of thoughtfulness is rare these days, but to come here and bitch about it like a child totally takes the wind out of those thoughtful sails, man.

Flux you seem unnecessarily stressed over a very common occurrence. Don't worry if the guy is being rude, just wave to him and say "I'll be going in a minute, just getting ready! Happy Holidays!" And then when you do go give him a big waving him on in wave to the parking space.

As traffic piles up behind him and now I'm the jerk who is taking his sweet time getting ready? No thanks. I'd rather be the martyr and let it be obvious who the jackass was in this situation holding everyone up.

Except, he wasn't a jackass. He asked if you were coming or going and you told him you were going but you'd be a few minutes. I am absolutely not seeing what the big deal is, nor how it makes him a jackass for being ok waiting for you to go.

Is it inconvenient to make others wait while he waited for the spot? Yes. But you yourself said (and its clearly visible in the google map image you showed above) that other people could have passed if they didn't want to wait.

Still not seeing what the fuss is about. It's Christmas! Holiday cheer. Good will toward men and all that. Maybe instead of getting pissed off, just feel good that you helped make the guy's day a little easier at little expense to yourself.


Finally, our personal conflicts aside, I would submit that perhaps you would do well to consider in the future that as is often the case with your threads, the typcial "Flux + Unkown 3rd Party = ZOMG CRISIS" has become a demonstrable pattern here. It's like there's not even any capacity (pun intended) for you to acknowledge that you might be wrong, misreading the scenario, or that you are only bringing your own side of it to discuss here. In this particular instance, it is obvious that you're the only one who is upset, and it's hard to not just interpret this as another instance of your making a mountain out of a molehill.

 

[iguana_tonante]

cage drivers

Why so grumpy?

 

[Trekker4747]

How much time does it really take to put on gloves, a helmet. start a motorcycle a move? A minute? Two?

The problem is when you're trying to do so, and you have people behind you trying to push you into hurrying. For someone waiting on a parking spot, ten seconds might as well be ten minutes. I've had people push in closer toward my car after only a few seconds. That's dangerous enough, but if one is on a motorcycle and that happens, it's a good way to get someone hurt.

Plus, there's no way in hell I'm going to let someone rush me when I'm putting on my (potentially life-saving) gear. Part of why I backed out when I did was also so I could gear up on my own time.

Well, I was partially genuinely asking.

I, personally, have never been one to wait-out good spots in parking lots and will just take whatever one I can find. Granted this time of year the mall parking lot can be pretty crowded which many necessitate waiting one out or simply driving around until you happen to catch someone pulling out as you pull up. But unless it's a VERY dire circumstance I don't think I've ever stood there and watched someone get in their vehicle, dick around and then finally back out. And, well, there's times I *do* wonder what takes people so long. I can get in my car, buckle-up, start the car and start backing out inside of 30-seconds. Some people seem to take a pretty long time to do all of that.

Motorcycles I can't say as I've never really waited one out. I mostly find myself more annoyed with them thinking a space is open only to see a bike parked in a full-sized spot for a car. (Though motorcycle parking spots aren't very common. They should be.)

The few times I've been waiting on it's never bothered me too much nor do I try and to "hurry up" for the person waiting. It does annoy me when they're stopped too close to me to back-out safely.

 

[Sector 7]

I ranted because I find it rude that I now have to rush to get ready to go, or in the past have had to rush to stow my purchases all because someone has laid claim to my spot before I've even gotten in the damn car. Would you do that for a table at a restaurant? Perhaps I shouldn't ask, because I once had someone do that exact thing to us once, in the very same manner as this guy waited for the parking spot.

I once had it happen when I was going out to my car simply to place my jacket inside, as it had gotten too warm to wear and too cumbersome to carry while shopping. The guy asked if I was coming or going, as well, and I replied with, "Staying, actually. Sorry." and walked away. He gave me a dirty look and sped off.

YOU are the one "rushing"/"feeling rushed". It seems like a matter of placing your own feelings upon the shoulders of another person. In psychology it is called "projecting" = blaming others for what you feel.

Be happy those motorists are waiting patiently, signaling their intent. It could be much worse. You could be a disabled person like me, my godson and others who need a handicapped space close to the store. There are never enough of them and lazy, able-bodied people often use them illegally.

 

[Sector 7]

When I read threads like this it I am pleased that I am a non-driver. I find catching buses relaxing and economical and I don't have to worry about parking.

I agree, miLady, but I live 2.5 miles past the end of the nearest bus route.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

While I have encountered situations like the OP describes and I find them somewhat annoying, I would never consider making a thread on a discussion forum about it because it has got to be the least interesting topic imaginable.

 

[doubleohfive]

While I have encountered situations like the OP describes and I find them somewhat annoying, I would never consider making a thread on a discussion forum about it because it has got to be the least interesting topic imaginable.

 

[Amaris]

Well, I was partially genuinely asking.

I, personally, have never been one to wait-out good spots in parking lots and will just take whatever one I can find. Granted this time of year the mall parking lot can be pretty crowded which many necessitate waiting one out or simply driving around until you happen to catch someone pulling out as you pull up. But unless it's a VERY dire circumstance I don't think I've ever stood there and watched someone get in their vehicle, dick around and then finally back out. And, well, there's times I *do* wonder what takes people so long. I can get in my car, buckle-up, start the car and start backing out inside of 30-seconds. Some people seem to take a pretty long time to do all of that.

Motorcycles I can't say as I've never really waited one out. I mostly find myself more annoyed with them thinking a space is open only to see a bike parked in a full-sized spot for a car. (Though motorcycle parking spots aren't very common. They should be.)

The few times I've been waiting on it's never bothered me too much nor do I try and to "hurry up" for the person waiting. It does annoy me when they're stopped too close to me to back-out safely.

Yeah, I'm much more likely to just take a parking space farther out. I figure it's good for me to walk a little further every once in a while. Plus, I always figure if I park really closely, and some disabled little old man or little old lady can't find a good handicapped parking spot, by parking farther out I give them a better chance of finding a decent spot closer to the store.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

While I have encountered situations like the OP describes and I find them somewhat annoying, I would never consider making a thread on a discussion forum about it because it has got to be the least interesting topic imaginable.

Well done.

 

[doubleohfive]

I
I once had it happen when I was going out to my car simply to place my jacket inside, as it had gotten too warm to wear and too cumbersome to carry while shopping.

The guy asked if I was coming or going, as well, and I replied with, "Staying, actually. Sorry." and walked away. He gave me a dirty look and sped off.

THAT ASSHOLE! The nerve!

 

[Scout101]

Eh, it's about at the same level as being in line to put gas in the car, and the guy in front of you finishing, getting in, and then putzing around for a minute before starting the car and driving away. Annoying, slightly, but worth a thread, diagrams, and generally being worked up over? Not in the slightest. In fact, I'd be hard pressed to remember it had happened when i got home most of the time.

Flux, some odd road rage situations you've got going on. You seem overly fixated on everyone else, and want to act as the Courtest Police for some reason. Even though half the time, you're part of the problem or at least not helping matters.

When the lot is full, and you find someone about to leave, waiting for them isn't unusual OR rude. What's the problem?

 

[MacLeod]

Of course the person who is waiting for another person to leave could already have been driving around the car park for several minutes looking for a spot. You simply don't know.

 

[Locutus of Bored]

 

[Saito S]

cage drivers

Why so grumpy?

Wait...

At the time I assumed that was just a weird typo or something.

Was that actually intentional, and supposed to be some kind of dig at enclosed car drivers vs. the freedom of a motorcycle?

 

[Robert Maxwell]

cage drivers

Why so grumpy?

Wait...

At the time I assumed that was just a weird typo or something.

Was that actually intentional, and supposed to be some kind of dig at enclosed car drivers vs. the freedom of a motorcycle?

I see you missed Flux's treatise on the virtues of motorcycling.

I hope you accept motorcycling into your life.

 

[doubleohfive]

Why so grumpy?

Wait...

At the time I assumed that was just a weird typo or something.

Was that actually intentional, and supposed to be some kind of dig at enclosed car drivers vs. the freedom of a motorcycle?

I see you missed Flux's treatise on the virtues of motorcycling.

I hope you accept motorcycling into your life.

Take note. He's not just a civilian, he's a civilian patriot.