Duke said:
Torkel said:
Why don't people ever stop and think? Or just look around and use some common sense?
Because 85% of the people you will encounter every day live in a bubble that is about 5 feet in diameter. If it does not directly affect them, usually physically, it does not exist.
I'm going to beat this dead horse some more, because I had a prime example happening just now.
I'm reversing my tow-car+trailer combo in a 90degree bend into a parking lot, aiming for 3 empty spots at the end of the row. I plan on parking diagonally across them, with the ass end of the trailer hanging out over the grass. As I'm reversing thru the bend, a small Kia turns in right behind the trailer and stops. I slam on the brakes... and I wait. Time passes. Enough time for me to step out and wonder what the hell he/she is doing, idling there in the middle of the parking lot. Turns out, the guy is fiddling with his phone...
So I knock on his window, he rolls it down and I ask if he minds moving his car, since he is in my way. He apologizes and says he didn't realize I was going IN!
So... he didn't even realize I was backing up, reverse lights on, almost hit him? Scary. I tell him "I'm aiming for those 3 empty places there, to park the truck and trailer", trying to be overly clear.
He moves his car. I start reversing again and realize... he actually parked in the middle one of the 3 empty spaces. Just for the record, there are PLENTY of empty spaces all over the place. So I walk over again, reminding myself to "Be cool, not everyone is a gear head". I tell him
- "Perhaps I was unclear, I'm aiming for these three spots. Would you mind moving your car, please?".
- "But... why do you need specifically this spot", he asks as he looks around at all the other empty slots.
- "Well, I need some more room".
He stares blankly at me...
- "OK... I can't fit the truck and trailer into just one parking space, see? I need to put it sideways, across several. Are you with me?"
- "Oh.. well... can you do that?
- "You bet I can and I will!"
- "Oh, OK... yeah... what if I park over there?"
- "Sounds great. Many thanks!"
These people have driver licenses. They are allowed to vote... and produce offspring. I sometimes just hate this planet...