Courtesy is dead.. Run in with 20 something in parking lot

Self | 12/28/2011 | Self

[cableguymn]

It's been building.. No one opens doors for anyone any more, thank yous are few and far between. But today.. I am just blown away.

I am sitting in my van, enjoying some white castle while reading FR.

I hear a loud BANG on the side of my van. Look over and out the passenger window to see a 20 something kid who looks like he is a LONG way away from the beach. We lock eyes. He had banged his door in to the side of my van.. So I wait for him to walk around to the drivers side of my van.

and wait..

I look in my rear view mirror. He's headed for the door to the restaurant.

I open my door, and ask "hey, aren't you going to at least say sorry?!?!?"

"it's just a little paint man, my car is ok!"

(WTF!!)

It's a old work van, one more door ding is not going to kill me or it. However, his statement just floored me!

And yes, his stuffed Honda Civic had a Zero bumper sticker on it. Both 08 and 12.

[cableguymn]

welcome to the club!

I highly suspect he was joking. You on the other hand..

[Drill Thrawl]

A little dab of petroleum jelly on the wiper blades, or just remove the blades themselves. It's produces this marvelous rainbow effect on the windshield.

Then there's the old potato up the tailpipe.

Spray the door handle with pepper spray, he's bound to touch is face at some point soon after getting in.

Rocks in the hub cabs is always a crown pleaser.

The last three have the advantagle of not being damaging but are highly annoying.

[Allegra]

What a self-centered little jerk that guy is.

That deserves at the very least a potato jammed into his exhaust pipe.

Not that I've ever done anything like that.

[Sudetenland]

First, I don't think this is anything new. I have had any number of new cars. I have never had a car trade in without door dings or parking lot scrapes. This isn't a sign of modern times as much as it is of an immature ill-raised youth. They've been around as long as time.

Second, the reactions you are getting is proof of the declining maturity of our general population and how they react to such situations--of course much of that reaction is just pipe-dream bravado. Not many of those who say, "You should've . . ." would dream of actually doing so. I think it is venting a generally held frustration with the direction our society has taken.

It reminds me of the old W.C. Fields movie in which he gets rich and buys a bunch of new cars with drivers to follow him around. Every time someone makes him mad, he simply wrecks his car then gets out and moves to the next one in line. Or the dream that many have of buying a half-track and even a tank to drive through the traffic and teach bad drivers a lesson.

Stuff happens. The proper way to handle it is the way it has always been properly handled, confront the kid, get his driver license number and report it to your insurance company and his. File a claim against him--or simply come onto FR, tell your tale of frustration, and then with a minimum of grumbling, move on.

Life it too full to let some idiot youth's action give you ulcers.

[reed13k]

I know exactly how you feel. I make it a habit of opening the car door or the entry door for my wife when I’m with her - to the point she sometimes waits till I catch up (else I mention it) - she didn’t grow up with it nor expect it when we first dated in Japan.

Now I also hold the door for any lady or gentleman who happens to be near the door at the same time (only older gentlemen not younger that is their duty). I cannot tell you how many times I’ve had the ladies thank me with a big smile - but I’ve had nearly as many snarl at me as though I was somehow lashing them with a whip. I always smile and nod and say ‘have a good day’ or ‘happy (insert holiday here)’. Cashiers tend to get suprised too when I say ‘you have a nice day’ (the grumpy ones are most astounded it’s a shock to their system I think).

I offered to help a couple change their tire - they looked at me like I was Jason come to slash their throats. I just smiled and said it was no trouble t’all. The elderly gentleman thanked me and assured me he could handle it.

I try to kill them with kindness - though I’ll admit when I’m having a bad day the ones who recognize me seem know right away that the energy just isn’t there - most times the regulars try to smile more so has to ease whatever is bugging me - and it works....though it takes a loong time before they finally figure out they can be nice too. What irks me most though is no sooner I get one trained up right then they leave or get moved to another shift or something and I have to start all over again....ah well it keeps me on my toes.

[goseminoles]

That reminds me of something I used to do to my friend as a kid. We would go salt water fishing in Clearwater, Fl. I would always slip a live shrimp under his car seat on the way to our spot. Man, did his car stink after a few days. I feel bad now. He died at 29. But those were the days... a jew with a stank 280z...

[KittenClaws]

http://youtu.be/kXZs3mjGlQU

[KoRn]

His ass would have walked out of the restaurant to find 4 deflated tires.

Would be tempting to leave a note with it:

“It’s ok man, it’s only air asshole. My tires have plenty”.

[goseminoles]

Love it!!

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

Masking scent! Get it a the sporting goods store. The skunk scent is truly stupefying!

[KittenClaws]

I know that the youtube wasn’t showing courtesy either, but I thought of it immediately! LOL!

[meatloaf]

Valve core tools are cheap. I’ve had more fun with one than you’d believe. The smallest ones have aluminum shafts and take up very little room in your pocket.

[snowstorm12]

He should probably be taught a lesson, but not damage the car..... like deflating the tires.

My ex-boyfriend would’ve blew his stack, that’s all I know. He would’ve wrote some nasty offensive message on his car in permanant marker.

[cnsmom]

This Dec. I had a very unpleasant parking lot experience. Unfortunately, I was having a VERY bad day. I pulled out a lipstick and gave her windshield a piece of my mind. My daughter told everyone so I got an earful about how other people have dealt with these situations. I heard a story where someone took off the offenders license plates and threw them under the car.

[cornelis]

The Gambler

[Eldon Tyrell]

Its a leftist thing.

I had one of these assholes park within inches og my Alfa Spider. NO WAY he could get out the door without hitting ,y car.

I waited for him - and asked WTF he was doing. He said “You shouldn’t drive a car like that if you can’t afford the damage” - note the similar language - as if my property had anything to do with his actions.

It is just that loser leftists are more common now.

Anyone stupid enough to think a 15 year old Alfa Spider is a “fancy car” - (I have owned ot for >20 years - and it is worth more than I paid - it is CHEAP to own) - isn’t worth the time of day.

But the culture is a bit bizarre to hear in person.

[Mears]

I love old cars.

An idiot who parked blocking a driveway in a public area was scratched deliberately by me from stem to stern by my old Oldsmobile Delta 88.

Don’t get mad,get even.

[coolbreeze]

I think I would have got out to stretch my legs....exiting out of the passengers side with a good swift swing of the door.

[Freedom_Fighter_2001]

Yes, I am the 6%.

[gilor]

The last few years I've enjoyed seeing how happy I can make some people by simply holding a door with a smile and showing manners (yes, please or thank you).

I also enjoy not holding the door for jerks, especially during the 'hot coffee' season now upon us.