Does having a baby make you special and give you special rights?

[VAisforlovers]

I was at a jam-packed parking lot and spent about 15 minutes circling back and forth for a spot. I finally found one and a lady was unloading her kid from the back seat (not an infant so the child can get out and walk just fine). She was at the end of a row so there's all this space that she can use on the other side to unload her child where no cars can park, but she is using the side where an empty car spot is. I waited for a few seconds but there was enough space in between cars that I felt that I could park in with no issues. I park, get out the car as I'm in a hurry after circling the parking lot for the past 15 minutes, and she starts giving me attitude and yelling like I committed some unthinkable crime.

First of all, there's all that room on the other side but she couldn't think to use that side if she cared that much about being considerate to others?

Second, does the world have to wait for her while she takes her time and everyone else's time constraints suddenly don't matter?

Third, it was a jam-packed parking lot. I would've certainly waited if I hadn't spent the past 15 minutes circling for a spot. Have some awareness of the surrounding and not be so focused on your entitlement.

 

[Phoenix86]

Old enough to walk doesn't really tell us anything. 4 or 14?

Did they have a car seat? Car seats are usually on one side of the car, so they kind of have to exit on that side.

How is she supposed to know you were driving around for 15 minutes? Maybe you just pulled in.

You probably should have waited more than a few seconds, typically doesn't take that long to get a kid out of a car seat. She probably shouldn't have bitched. Like most things in life, shades of grey.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Don't shop at Walmart.

 

[Artdeco]

Why do you hate tiny humans?

 

[PowerEngineer]

Regardless of how old they might be, I never pull into a parking spot when there are people getting into or out of cars on either side. It's just too dangerous. Their safety seems more important than the minute or two I have to wait. IMHO it's not a question of "special rights", but a matter of common courtesy.

 

[ultimatebob]

Yeah... kids need help getting out of their car seats until they are at least 4 or so.

How long it takes to get the kid out of the car seat varies on the kid. Getting my 2 year old out of the back seat of my Mini Cooper can take over a minute depending on her temperment and where her toys and snacks ended up.

So, yeah, the lady might have had a good reason to be pissed at you.

 

[TwiceOver]

You were in the wrong.

Just FYI.

 

[lxskllr]

It would take a lot to get me into a packed parking lot in the first place, and I don't play the drive in circles game. I'd rather park... we'll say 1/2 mile away without giving it thought... than dick around with a clusterfuck of a parking lot. That's assuming I *had* to be there. Rescheduling at a more reasonable time would be my first choice.

That said, people are inconsiderate fuckholes. The woman in your story may or may not have been, but I've seen enough people that think the world should stop what it's doing to make way for their greatness :^S

 

[SSSnail]

Thread backfire? Yup, thread backfire.

 

[VAisforlovers]

Old enough to walk doesn't really tell us anything. 4 or 14?

Did they have a car seat? Car seats are usually on one side of the car, so they kind of have to exit on that side.

How is she supposed to know you were driving around for 15 minutes? Maybe you just pulled in.

You probably should have waited more than a few seconds, typically doesn't take that long to get a kid out of a car seat. She probably shouldn't have bitched. Like most things in life, shades of grey.

The kid was between 6-8

No idea about the car seat but she couldn't have the kid get out on the other side? Why not? They were sort of standing there afterwards with the doors open so I had no idea what they were waiting for. I thought they were reserving the empty spot for someone else but I waited to see and pulled in when I realized they weren't.

There was enough space in between for them to do whatever they're doing and for me to park and go on with my business.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Obviously not in her mind.

 

[VAisforlovers]

Yeah... kids need help getting out of their car seats until they are at least 4 or so.

How long it takes to get the kid out of the car seat varies on the kid. Getting my 2 year old out of the back seat of my Mini Cooper can take over a minute depending on her temperment and where her toys and snacks ended up.

So, yeah, the lady might have had a good reason to be pissed at you.

The kid was like 6 - 8 years old.

So let me ask you, if someone cares so much about others being considerate, but how come it doesn't apply to that person? She could've been considerate and have enough awareness of the parking lot situation to use the other side.

 

[Phoenix86]

The kid was between 6-8

No idea about the car seat but she couldn't have the kid get out on the other side? Why not? They were sort of standing there afterwards with the doors open so I had no idea what they were waiting for. I thought they were reserving the empty spot for someone else but I waited to see and pulled in when I realized they weren't.

There was enough space in between for them to do whatever they're doing and for me to park and go on with my business.

So still in a car seat.

Why not the other side? Because that's reaching across the car to undo the straps. Then pulling the kid across the opposite way. Do you exit the passenger side if you're the driver? Same reason.

Pulling into a spot when someone is exiting their vehicle is unsafe. You should have waited until the door was closed.

It has nothing to do with a special right, it's call (un)common courtesy.

 

[Phoenix86]

The kid was like 6 - 8 years old.

So let me ask you, if someone cares so much about others being considerate, but how come it doesn't apply to that person? She could've been considerate and have enough awareness of the parking lot situation to use the other side.

Because they were there first. Do you even know how to queue? Clearly not British.

Thread backfire indeed.

 

[WelshBloke]

Regardless of how old they might be, I never pull into a parking spot when there are people getting into or out of cars on either side. It's just too dangerous. Their safety seems more important than the minute or two I have to wait. IMHO it's not a question of "special rights", but a matter of common courtesy.

This

You were in the wrong.

Just FYI.

That

Don't shop at Walmart.

Also this

/thread

 

[VAisforlovers]

So still in a car seat.

Why not the other side? Because that's reaching across the car to undo the straps. Then pulling the kid across the opposite way. Do you exit the passenger side if you're the driver? Same reason.

Pulling into a spot when someone is exiting their vehicle is unsafe. You should have waited until the door was closed.

It has nothing to do with a special right, it's call (un)common courtesy.

Using the passenger/driver side example is completely wrong as there's a lot of obstruction in between. But if I'm in the back seat and there's some reason why I should exit the other side, I always do. Most normal people do as well.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

What part of her being there first don't you understand?

 

[WelshBloke]

Using the passenger/driver side example is completely wrong as there's a lot of obstruction in between. But if I'm in the back seat and there's some reason why I should exit the other side, I always do. Most normal people do as well.

Youve tried climbing in the back of a car and strapping/unstrapping a kid in a car seat then? Its a shit ton easier from the outside.

 

[lxskllr]

Youve tried climbing in the back of a car and strapping/unstrapping a kid in a car seat then? Its a shit ton easier from the outside.

To be fair, anyone greater in age than young toddler should be handling that themselves.

 

[Brainonska511]

What part of her being there first don't you understand?

 

[VAisforlovers]

So if I pull into a gas station to pump gas, as long as I have a baby, I can leave the doors wide open and stand around to block others from exiting as long as I was there first right? Now I see

 

[ultimatebob]

The kid was like 6 - 8 years old.

So let me ask you, if someone cares so much about others being considerate, but how come it doesn't apply to that person? She could've been considerate and have enough awareness of the parking lot situation to use the other side.

Those car seats now are like goddamned five point racing harnesses. I can't get her out of that seat without being right in front of it.

But, hey, this wouldn't have been a problem for me. The doors in my Mini are surprisingly long, and will swing out into the other parking space if I open them up all the day. You probably wouldn't have even been able fit in the space next mine without taking my door off

 

[shortylickens]

I dont think it gives you special rights.
Nor did my parents. Or grandparents.
Are my friends parents.
Or teachers.


But that was the 80's. And it is no longer the 80's.

 

[WelshBloke]

To be fair, anyone greater in age than young toddler should be handling that themselves.

Some of those buckles are a pain in the arse to undo.

OP would probably be whinging that some kid had swung his door into OPs car and why was the kids mother allowing him to get in/out on his own if she let him do it himself.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

You weren't at a gas station. You weren't exiting, you were entering. You need to have a little patience. Just because you had already circled the lot for a few minutes doesn't mean anything.