What are people doing when they get in their cars and take ages to drive off when I am waiting for the parking space?

[Anonymous]

A newspaper had an article a few years back about a similar issue, but it was parking at a mall at Christmas. They said when a person knew someone was waiting for their spot, they took 27 seconds longer.

These days, I think they are looking for something on their phone, be it a text or email from a family member or work. And I'd like to think they just don't realize someone is waiting. But the reality is, we've become a selfish society, who don't care about anyone but ourself/our immediate family. So they might just see you waiting, and there might not be a spot just a little ways down, but they don't care.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think there was a study that showed people take longer to pull out when they know someone is waiting for their spot.

You are correct.

For all of the maybe this, maybe that, it's interesting that it all seems to happen more when it looks like someone is waiting for your spot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Someone did this to me today. It makes me so angry when people do that.

You aren't owed that spot. Maybe seek help for anger management.

[Anonymous]

First, I will say that of course no one should sit there fuming, feeling entitled to a spot currently occupied by someone else. Move on, really.

Second…do you people never watch the news? Did you never see “Oprah”? Ever hear of carjackings in DC? What is wrong with you? Every second you sit there in a parking lot answering emails, pumping (!), or going through your purse, you are putting yourself at risk for crime. Goodness. Quickly and efficiently take care of business, then get going.

I’ve read a number of news articles about robberies and worse in parking lots, and when the police and other safety experts are quoted about how to stay safe in a parking lot and in your car, I for one LISTEN.

[Anonymous]

Setting up my GPS, responding to a phone call or text, playing Pokémon Go (some of these shopping center parking lots are crawling with Pokémon!), finding a good playlist to play … it can take awhile. That’s why I don’t spot-stalk people. I’ll just park further away and let people be slow about pulling out of their spot.

[Anonymous]

I'm waiting for my car to warm up and meanwhile setting up my GPS. I move as fast as I can when I see people waiting but if my next destination is dependent on talking to someone else (like do I need to stop at the supermarket or go straight home) or needs GPS, I am not pulling out until I have that working.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think there was a study that showed people take longer to pull out when they know someone is waiting for their spot.

You are correct.

For all of the maybe this, maybe that, it's interesting that it all seems to happen more when it looks like someone is waiting for your spot.

+100 it’s a power/control thing even if nobody admits it.

[Anonymous]

I’m either checking messages, punching in address in Google Maps of my next destination, eating my carry out I just got, checking my make up, changing my shoes or dropping off my packages so I can go back out again. I may not be leaving. There are a ton of things I may need to do before you get my space. It’s my space until I leave. Back off and look for another empty space. Would it kill you to walk a little!

[Anonymous]

I always check to make sure someone is not waiting for my spot. If they are, and I really need to call someone or do something urgently in my car, I tell them "sorry, I'm staying". Because the social expectation is that when you go to your car, you leave.

But most people are self-absorbed and don't even think about whether people are waiting for them to leave.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just the passive-aggressive betas around here.

I heard about a study on this. It showed that people are territorial, and will take longer to leave the space when another car is waiting.

[Anonymous]

I'm so annoyed by these people. Don't wait for a spot until you see their reverse lights on! Instead people are huffing and puffing while I buckle my kids in the car seat, return a text message and then look up directions to my next place. Just park 10 spaces further away!!!! I do understand if I'm in the city and there aren't spots, but sheesh.

If I see you waiting, I try to hurry up, but if you honk, I will wait alllllllll day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Someone did this to me today. It makes me so angry when people do that.

Why are you letting some stranger dictate your life and schedule and manipulate you and your emotions like that? Your 'space' is an already empty one that isn't too far away.

Have some self respect and dignity and take control of the things you actually can control and don't let things that shouldn't have any control over you control you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm so annoyed by these people. Don't wait for a spot until you see their reverse lights on! Instead people are huffing and puffing while I buckle my kids in the car seat, return a text message and then look up directions to my next place. Just park 10 spaces further away!!!! I do understand if I'm in the city and there aren't spots, but sheesh.

If I see you waiting, I try to hurry up, but if you honk, I will wait alllllllll day.

Oh yeah, if you honk, I hope you brought a sack lunch because we are going to be here for a while.

[Anonymous]

Some of you guys are being deliberately obtuse. “Just park 20 feet further away!!!11!” like that’s always an option in a city. Do whatever you need to do in your car, just be aware of your surroundings and don’t dawdle.

[Anonymous]

No answers here but I’m an Airbnb host with a webcam pointed at the parking area. I have watched many, many cars sit, idling, for 15 minutes or more. No idea what they can possibly be doing that they couldn’t have done before they left the unit. Some people just like sitting in their cars. I think it’s like “non time” - the only peace they have.