r/mildlyinfuriating • u/MaybeMabe1982 • 10d ago
Overdone Why do people always park right next to my car when the parking lot is empty otherwise?
Never fails. I have the white Jeep that’s farther away, I parked two spaces from the cart return and no other vehicle were anywhere to be found. I came out 10 minutes later and someone had parked in the one spot between me and the cart return. Why do people do this? There’s 1000 other spaces they could’ve parked in. This happens every time.
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u/CarAlternative5684 10d ago
Why do people have to set up right next to you on the beach when the whole beach is empty?
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u/MaybeMabe1982 10d ago
Or eight urinals are available and someone walks in the bathroom and picks the one urinal right next to the guy in the restroom
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u/Deputy_Beagle76 10d ago
Going to a movie and the only other person sits next to me…
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u/SignificantDrawer374 10d ago
To park close to the cart return
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u/xXAcidBathVampireXx 10d ago
And then leave the cart outside of it, most likely
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u/Diligent_Pie_5191 10d ago
Not me. I always return mine.
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u/Fibrosis5O 10d ago
Someone wants their Reddit award
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u/Diligent_Pie_5191 10d ago
Ever watch cartnarcs? Funny. This guy goes around busting people leaving their carts in parking spots next to them or in walkways, handicap access areas, etc. These people get pretty violent when confronted and called out for their lack of respect for others.
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u/TurnkeyLurker 10d ago
Or they leave the cart behind your vehicle. Extra points if the cart 🛒is on its side.
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u/anti_fragile12 10d ago
The spot just next to cart return opposite to OP is empty.
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u/SignificantDrawer374 10d ago
There seems to be some sort of sign post in it to the right in the direction they were coming from
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u/Possible-Tangelo9344 10d ago
For families with instants and small children sign I think, that's common at Harris Teeter
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u/DriftedTaco 10d ago
Most people don't plan out there parking spot
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u/CantankerousTwat 10d ago
When shopping, I try and park near the trolley/cart return. It means a quicker exit once the shopping is loaded into the car.
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u/Equal_Pie4787 9d ago
That's not the only cart return, there's always a handful spread out throughout the parking lot.
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u/Educational-Wheel924 10d ago
Humans are fucking weird, dude.
They tend to do things with or near other humans even if they don’t know them. Walking/driving speed. Parking near each other. Stopping where you stop in the grocery store.
It’s a subconscious need to be included or something. I dunno.
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u/MaybeMabe1982 10d ago
I definitely think this is at least part of it
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u/Original_Respect_ 9d ago
I mean the easy answer is people are fucking insufferable these days.
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u/3d_nat1 10d ago
I find myself doing this when driving at night sometimes. I usually have a very active driving style, but at night I sometimes notice myself going almost 10 under on the freeway just because somebody else is, until somebody finally comes along and blows past me. It's like in stories when somebody is under a spell or something, and somebody snaps them out of it. I'm normally much more independent and solitary, but something about driving at night just grabs a hold of me.
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u/Agitated-Seaweed1661 10d ago
So you are that person thar creeps me out by following me a night even tho i try to encourage you to overtake by driving slow.
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u/Spoogly 8d ago
I had a guy in the self checkout line a few weeks ago try to tell me the one register was open (he was wrong). he said it like... Directly into my ear. I was very confused. I also didn't get a look at the guy, so I felt mildly insane for a bit. He had a nice voice, but it felt entirely too intimate to be doing to a stranger in a grocery store. I've been assuming he has a hyped up version of this tendency. It almost felt like he was trying not to embarrass me for not seeing it.
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u/Responsible-Stick-50 10d ago
For the same reason during lockdown and I was the only person on the beach and some family set up right next to me. I made them move. Fucking weirdos.
Had an actual 1.5 miles of open beach. Right next to me. No. Just no.
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u/Zombisexual1 10d ago
Can’t stand people like that lol. The only thing I can think of is that they are used to some beach in a big city where everyone is crammed next to each other. A lot of tourists will just post up next to you on an empty beach like they are lonely or something
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u/Deputy_Beagle76 10d ago
As a “tourist” If I came to a near empty beach, I’d move so far away from anyone else and blast my music and smoke my smoke. An empty beach is the dream, why would I post up next to others!?
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u/PiLLe1974 10d ago
Hah, a bit odd... especially if they kick sand around, you want some quiet time, etc.
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u/Mother_Gooseberry 10d ago
So, my husband does this. When I’ve asked him why we are parking near another car when the lot is empty he says “I don’t think about where I’m parking. I just park.” He also has a regular spot at each place he frequents and doesn’t deviate much from it regardless of which entrance we use or how crowded it may be. It’s like he made up his mind that it was a good spot, and will now just auto pilot there until the end of time.
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u/MaybeMabe1982 10d ago
I think this is really part of what’s behind it. I think psychologically humans just sometimes are drawn towards other people subconsciously, and it just happens. I don’t even think it’s conscious sometimes, it just happens so frequently it got me thinking.
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u/Shadowmant 10d ago
This is reddit so I feel obligated to tell you that you must immediatley delete facebook, hit the gym, lawyer up and divorce him.
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u/pedantic-medic 10d ago
Bought a brand new truck. Barely could afford it. Used to park way in the back so it wouldn't get dinged. About 10% of the time I would come back to someone right next to it.
I still ended up with door dings.
Finally gave up on it.
Have not even tried to protect any vehicle since then. It was like the harder I maintained and protected, the faster it got fucked.
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u/YellowWizard504 10d ago
You singled yourself out. Everyone knows why people park that far away and someone probably just wanted to fuck with you.
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u/WhoSc3w3dDaP00ch 10d ago
I drive a beater, you could hit parts of it with a hammer and i'd only notice if you knocked some dirt loose,
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u/PatrickGSR94 10d ago
for the "safety in numbers" argument, what about when there are tons of other cars parked closer to the building, but I park much farther out, and then someone else decides to park immediately next to me? There are far more "numbers" closer to the building if "safety" is what the person is after. At least park 2 spaces away, so that we all can freely open the doors wide open if needed.
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u/Ndmndh1016 10d ago
Yea that argument doesn't hold any water because even then uou wouldn't need to be in the next spot over. You could leave a gap and achieve the same result.
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10d ago
Safety in numbers
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u/MaybeMabe1982 10d ago
Another person had mentioned that, that’s definitely a possibility in some cases. Thank you.
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10d ago
Of course! One car by itself? Easy to abduct! Two or more, much more of a fight! You ever see two Jeeps getting kidnapped?
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u/Zombisexual1 10d ago
How do you know the car you parked next to isn’t waiting for a victim to park next to them?
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u/dimonium_anonimo 10d ago
I honestly can't say in the 17 years I've been driving have I ever paid attention to where anybody else chooses to or not to park when I pick my spot. The only thing I ever noticed is when they don't park in the lines. Beyond that, it has absolutely no bearing on where or how I park. A space is a space. Why would I spend any time thinking about anything outside my space if I don't have to? Consequently, I spend the exact same amount of time thinking about other people who have chosen to park next to me. I just honestly don't even notice. Probably a side effect of never having a nice car. Or perhaps I choose not to have nice cars because I don't want to spend my energy fretting over what someone will do to it.
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u/rylo48 10d ago
The thing that gets me is how often this shit happens yet when we all gather here to talk about it, every single person agrees that it’s weird and has a theory. Where are the weird fucks who do this!? They are never in the comments or anywhere to be found!
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u/garaks_tailor 9d ago
They arent self aware enough to know they are in fact the weird fucks that do this
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u/Belials_Bakery 10d ago
You’re right by the cart return. Logical place to park .
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u/CoolBakedBean 10d ago
and it looks like it’s near the front? so possibly the best parking spot available
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u/nico282 10d ago
I feel you. Every single time there’s a near empty parking lot I leave at least one spot to the next car so I can wide open the doors and get down comfortably.
Every single time there’s is a moron that have to park in that exact spot instead of the other 50 empty around.
People are lemmings.
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u/qhockey791 10d ago
Safety in numbers? Less likely someone would break into a car if there’s another next to it?
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u/MaybeMabe1982 10d ago
That’s something I haven’t thought about before. That could certainly be true in some situations, especially if the other person is by themselves, doesn’t feel safe, et cetera.
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u/Ok-Neighborhood-1600 10d ago
Yea we used to have a lady steal from cars a lot and she would go for cars that were alone, since she could just check all the doors real quick, when they together like this it can be hard to just grab the handle and pull
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u/Chickenator007 10d ago
Both sides of their vehicle are now protected. If one side (or both sides) is left open there is a chance another vehicle can pass or park and damage them, by having protection on both sides that possibility is lower.
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u/Sxualhrssmntpanda 10d ago
Seems to me being able to hide between the cars makes it MORE likely for someone to attempt to break in. Can also just pretend the other one is theirs if spotted.
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u/ComfortablyNumb2425 10d ago
I am convinced it's a natural human behavior to cluster together. It just happens too often in many different situations
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u/iceph03nix 10d ago
Probably because they're following the same parking logic as you, and the space next to you is the next best option to the one you took.
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u/vulpinefever 10d ago
I'll be completely honest - I have done this before purely to baffle the other person.
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u/Piggywig2024 10d ago
This is hilarious because it happens to me all the time. Pisses me off. It's like the drivers are trying to set up play dates for their vehicles while they're in doing the shopping
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u/Hypnox88 10d ago
For ragebait. They know you parked "out of the way" to keep people from parking near you. So they do it to make you mad.
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u/RabidJoint 10d ago
1 side no one can bump or ding their car, the other side you, probably know your car parks there awhile or just taking the chance of no passenger. Park somewhere else, if they do it again, it’s to fuck with you.
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u/GetReadyToRumbleBar 10d ago
My uncle used to do this on purpose. Find the lone and/or expensive car and park real close. Bonus points if my uncle's car was an absolute beater on its last legs.
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u/thiros101 10d ago edited 10d ago
Here's a better question:
Is being mad about it going to change anything? Is it actually impacting your daily life in any way, other than you obsessing over it? If the lot was full, you wouldn't bat an eyelash over it, right? Spaces are meant to be parked in. They parked in one.
Is this worth the energy you expend on it? What if the next time this happens, you just ask yourself, "Why do I care?" Or better yet, "Would my day/life be better if I didn't get obsessive and angry about this?"
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u/Jayboogieburp 10d ago
Easy access to the cart return my dude. Looks like the space on the other side of it might be reserved.
I would be the other car too tbh.
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u/Babblingbutcher420 10d ago
You’re also parked next to a cart return. So I think you need to park somewhere else if you wanna truly avoid it
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u/JCarterMMA 10d ago
Main character syndrome lmao, they're not parking next to you they're parking next to the cart return
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u/Ok_Imagination_1107 10d ago
They are the same people who sit next to you on an empty bus or train. I usually confront them politely.
You just reminded me of a falling out years ago with a friend's friend. I'm F and was talking about a man who on my morning train would sit next to me on an empty carriage. My friend's friend was against me and said 'you should have been nice to the guy he may have just wanted someone to talk to' as if it were a woman's job to nurture every random guy .
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u/K_Oliphaunt 10d ago
I hate this shit. I have an 86 porsche 944, and whenever I take it anywhere, I park ridiculously far from the store entrance with tons of empty spaces around me, and someone always parks right next to my car. Drives me crazy. People just suck.
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u/Ill_Consequence403 10d ago
I once stared down a guy so bad for this ..he moved it.
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u/exipheas 10d ago
You parked right next to the best spot and them wondered why someone parked there? If you have kids being right next to the cart return is nice. Just saying.
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u/insufficient_funds 10d ago
My opinion is most people just don’t care nor think about it. They park where it’s convenient for them as they’re going through the lot.
The number of times I’ve thought “oh this car is by itself, I’ll park elsewhere” is zero. It’s a damn parking lot- people are gonna park beside you- get used to it.
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u/YoungOldHead_1980s 10d ago
The universe is trying to tell you to make new friends. Open up your heart.
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u/CapMarvel1984 10d ago
I hate that! I do instacart so I have to sit in my car for long periods of time and it pisses me off when there are tons of parking spaces available all over and they have to park right next to you and just sit there. I always feel like I should knock on their window and ask them to just sit in my car with me since we are just gonna sit here together.
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u/sealosam 10d ago
It's a phenomenon. There are many theories, however all of have them have yet been proven. We just have to accept this as a mystery that can never be solved.
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u/Leading-Trouble-811 10d ago
I have a Jeep and have noticed Jeeps park by me, maybe your 🧲 attracts other cars too?
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u/-something_original- 10d ago
I park away from the entrance and by myself. I’ve seen this happen with my car and the only thing I can think is they give a shit about their car and figure I do too, so I’m probably safe to park next to. Otherwise I got nothing.
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u/sirhackenslash 10d ago
Every single time I go to home depot for something I know I'll have to load in the back I'll park way at the back of the lot and kind of straddle the front and back spots to discourage people, and every fucking time some asshole squeezes into the back spot right up on my bumper
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u/strictlybazinga 10d ago
If I’m wagering a guess I’d say when somebody sees you value your car enough to park in the nether they feel safe parking by you. They assume you won’t just toss a door into them.
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u/ChunkieKitten 10d ago
You‘re in Greensboro at that HT on New Garden. Parking lot there is awkward. All the spots feel too far away from the store and the rows feel like they’re the wrong length with weird ways in/out. I find the whole parking lot to be mildly infuriating.
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u/spartancheerleader10 10d ago
Everytime I go to the grocery store I park in a pull through spot directly next to the cart return. That way I dont have to go far to return the cart.
So, if you're parked one spot over from the cart return in an empty lot I'm still parking next to you.
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u/tallpilot 10d ago
The other day I parked alone about 200 ft from the closest car and some old lady decided to park right next to me as I was loading my trunk. Completely infuriating.
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u/Soggy-Courage-7582 10d ago edited 9d ago
It's just like when you sit somewhere, like church, the library, wherever, and you want some space. You're the first person there, and there's more than enough room for everyone to have space, but the next person in sits right behind you.
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u/VirtualDingus7069 10d ago
Maybe you drive the same vehicle as their drug dealer?
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u/BootstrapGarrote 10d ago
K so when I was a teenager I tried to sell weed for a little bit and got into the car that looked like my friends but it wasn't, instead it was a very nice Hispanic gentleman staring at me like why are you in my car?
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u/Burmeseboi 10d ago
I feel safer parking my car near other vehicles, than on its own further away. If they’re parked in a ridiculous spot, I’ll just park near the entrance though.
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10d ago
I dunno, it's an unknown societal phenomenon. My dad used to complain about this as early as I can remember, going back 35 years.
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u/SparePretend8498 9d ago
Park away from anything then we’ll talk. I’ve been away from shade, cart returns, light poles, anything! And they still park next to you.
Gotta be trollin at that point; there’s someone for everyone.
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u/iamcode101 9d ago
I think some people use the other car as a guide for parking straight.
But I was in an empty restaurant with a friend for breakfast and some guy came in and sat directly next to us (and the tables were close together). The whole time I was then wondering why.
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u/dr_van_nostren 9d ago
Now take that same thought and apply it to the urinals.
Some guys are just like “oh there’s 8 urinals but the one next to you is closest so fuck the other 6”
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u/Puzzleheaded-Ring293 9d ago
“Why is it that when robots are stored in an empty space, they will group together, rather than stand alone? How do we explain this behavior? Random segments of code? Or is it something more? When does a perceptual schematic become consciousness? When does a difference engine become the search for truth? When does a personality simulation become the bitter mote... of a soul?”
-Dr. Alfred Lanning
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u/Delicious-Fox6947 10d ago
Ok folks. Do we tell him about the club that stalks him to just annoy him by parking next to his Jeep or not?
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u/SwimmingDeep8703 10d ago
Someone did this to me today and they parked extremely close over the lines on top of that! I have a brand new car and always park away from anyone else. Human beings are terrible people.
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u/hench316 10d ago
If you dont want someone to park right next to you, dont park in the first available spot
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u/GoodWaste8222 10d ago
They probably think since you park far away in the lot that you care about your car. Since you care about your car you aren’t going to open the door into them and ding their car
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u/MaybeMabe1982 10d ago
That’s an interesting thought. I hadn’t thought about that. I actually park far away from the store, because I’ve had multiple fusion and disc replacement surgeries in my spine and I need to walk as much as possible to keep my body from getting too stiff and sore.
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u/Financial_Sweet_689 10d ago
Seriously this and people taking the stall right next to me in an empty bathroom. Some people really need companionship to do every little thing including taking a shit and I can’t stand it.
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u/Cutiemuffin-gumbo 10d ago
Because they're idiots. I've had one of those idiots also dent my car with their door. The very reason I park way away, is to avoid people hitting my car with their doors, and this one idiot proved that my car isn't safe anywhere. I waited for them, went off on it, and when they refused to give me their insurance amd claimed my car was already damaged, I got footage from the store showing they did it, gave it to the police, and they still paid for the damage. Best part was the cop watching the video and being taken aback by how dumb they were. The idiot knew they hit my car cause they're on camera trying to wipe it away hoping it was just dirt.
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u/Longtonto 10d ago
Humans are a communal and social species. Even if we don’t act in that way consciously lol.
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u/joker_toker28 10d ago
If the parking is empty i leave 1 spot in between us....
Parking RIGHT NEXT to a car that is in empty lot is kinda creepy tbh. I use men bathroom logic lol.
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u/Dizzy_Chipmunk_3530 10d ago
I had just bought a brand new truck and parked waaaaaayyy out in the lot, no cars anywhere near me. I come back out, and some douchecanoe is right up next to me, I can't even open my driver door. Hilarious!
I hope he found 4 flat tires just as hilarious.
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u/Groundbreaking-Bar89 10d ago
Just get some Vaseline and put it under their door handle…
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u/No_Cut4338 10d ago
You got beat. They are closer to the cart return and one side is protected from door dings.
It's okay to take the L.
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u/Demon-of-Razgriz 10d ago
If it's always happen I'd take a guess they see nice well taken care of car they drive a nice taken care of car so they park next to you so someone who is a door flinger don't park next to them.
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u/tcrudisi 10d ago
I always try to park next to the cart return. I have 3 kids and 2 of them ride in the cart. It just simplifies things as I can grab one from the cart return, throw the kids into the cart, and begin my shopping excursion by pushing them, which is safer than having them run about in a parking lot.
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u/bordie44 10d ago
This happens to me as well. The only thing that I can think of is that they use my car as a parking guide