Was I an asshole, or was the screamer over the top?

[Anonymous]

Or a little of both?

I had return something really heavy to a furniture store that is in one of those outdoor malls, like the Reston Town Center, but not. I could walk a few steps with it, but not park and carry. The shopping area is set up with shops on either side of a grassy median. There are 3 lanes on either side of median, the lanes closest to the shops are for parking. Traffic goes up one side of the median and down the other. So on the side where I needed to drop off this box, ordinarily there is one-way traffic in 2 lanes, side-by-side.

On Friday nights, they block off lanes on the right of the median and make the left lanes two-way traffic. I didn't know about this, but in preparation to return this heavy item, I called the store 1 minute before I got there and asked if they could meet me outside, that I would double park and hand them the package and then find parking. Ordinarily, someone could just go around me as there are 2 lanes of same direction traffic, but by the time I realized this special Friday night situation, I had already called the store and knew someone was outside waiting. So, I double-parked, threw on my hazards and quickly got the box out of the trunk and scurried back in to my car, as there were 3 cars behind me at this point.

I got a lot of honks and someone even yelled out the window, "COME ON, MOOOOOVE!!!" I literally was stopped for maybe 15 seconds tops. Plus, traffic was so slow...it isn't like they were going to make a light or get anywhere in a hurry.

Am I an asshole or was the yeller the asshole? I guess I'm thin-skinned but I'm not used to being screamed at!

[Anonymous]

1. Somehow I doubt you are estimating the time correctly.

2. Yelling was rude.

3. Blocking traffic was rude on your part.

It really annoys me when people inconvenience others on the road but I wouldn't yell out the window - I have more class than that. I think you were both wrong.

[Anonymous]

No, you are an asshole for starting a long winded thread just to give the chance for the rest of us to know what an asshole you are.

Confused? So am I after reading your post.

[Anonymous]

How can it possibly be 15 seconds?

[Anonymous]

Put car in park, fling open door, run to back, open trunk, hand box to person waiting, shut trunk, run back to driver's seat, shut door, put car in drive. Count to 15 and picture it. You could easily do it.

[Anonymous]

Were you blocking up the area in front of World Market at Pentagon Row on Fri night? I get people being annoyed, but honestly, if you CAN go around, I just do and let it go.

[Anonymous]

Well I think people get irritated anytime they see someone deliberately blocking traffic. You stopped in a lane of traffic and got out of your car. The cars behind you have no idea what your intentions are so they will honk as you are stopped and blocking a lane. I wouldn't yell either but I would be irritated because you put your convenience ahead of everyone else - if it was light enough for you to grab out of the trunk in seconds then it was likely light enough for you to carry. I also doubt it was 15 seconds. Probably more like 30 minimum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Put car in park, fling open door, run to back, open trunk, hand box to person waiting, shut trunk, run back to driver's seat, shut door, put car in drive. Count to 15 and picture it. You could easily do it.

If it's too big to carry from a parking spot, no I cannot.

[Anonymous]

Not big, just really heavy.

[Anonymous]

Most stores have back delivery doors. You sound rather entitled, OP.

[Anonymous]

You should have picked up the guy and both carry the item to the store.

The aaahole is YOU.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Or a little of both?

I had return something really heavy to a furniture store that is in one of those outdoor malls, like the Reston Town Center, but not. I could walk a few steps with it, but not park and carry. The shopping area is set up with shops on either side of a grassy median. There are 3 lanes on either side of median, the lanes closest to the shops are for parking. Traffic goes up one side of the median and down the other. So on the side where I needed to drop off this box, ordinarily there is one-way traffic in 2 lanes, side-by-side.

On Friday nights, they block off lanes on the right of the median and make the left lanes two-way traffic. I didn't know about this, but in preparation to return this heavy item, I called the store 1 minute before I got there and asked if they could meet me outside, that I would double park and hand them the package and then find parking. Ordinarily, someone could just go around me as there are 2 lanes of same direction traffic, but by the time I realized this special Friday night situation, I had already called the store and knew someone was outside waiting. So, I double-parked, threw on my hazards and quickly got the box out of the trunk and scurried back in to my car, as there were 3 cars behind me at this point.

I got a lot of honks and someone even yelled out the window, "COME ON, MOOOOOVE!!!" I literally was stopped for maybe 15 seconds tops. Plus, traffic was so slow...it isn't like they were going to make a light or get anywhere in a hurry.

Am I an asshole or was the yeller the asshole? I guess I'm thin-skinned but I'm not used to being screamed at!

I always find it funny when DCUM posters feel the need to change insignificant details of their story. As if there are legions of people stalking you and they will be able to identify you by the fact that you visited a huge shopping area.

[Anonymous]

Eh, doesn't matter who the a-hole is. You did it, it's done. The screamer screamed. Anger issues. You probably won't do it again. Stop replaying the scenario over and over in your mind. Be at peace and let it go.

[Anonymous]

I agree with the idea of letting it go, but I can understand why someone would be frustrated. There are so many inconsiderate drivers out there who think they are the most important thing in the universe, so each incident of being inconvenienced taps into a wellspring of accumulated irritation. At the same time, nobody has any patience anymore. A wait of 15-30 seconds is not going to change anyone's life, and next time it could be them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree with the idea of letting it go, but I can understand why someone would be frustrated. There are so many inconsiderate drivers out there who think they are the most important thing in the universe, so each incident of being inconvenienced taps into a wellspring of accumulated irritation. At the same time, nobody has any patience anymore. A wait of 15-30 seconds is not going to change anyone's life, and next time it could be them.

Agree - I'm sure you weren't trying to be an asshole OP and we should all have more patience, but let's admit there are so many people who act like the world revolves around them that it's sometimes hard to remember not everyone is like that!