Am I being unreasonable to expect parents to stop their DC flinging open car doors and dinking the next vehicle in car parks?

[apprenticemum]

For 20 years I have put up with driving the family bangers, so when my husband shelled out for a brand new sporty number, I was over the moon. Having never owned a new car, I am especially careful to find spacious parking locations. Never the less, my pride and joy has gained several dinks and judging from the height and position they were done by rear passangers of high, people carrier or 4WD vehicles. Now I may be making assumptions but stand in a car park and watch how children get out of cars. Unless instructed by parents, they will not know that they are causing damage. Why can't parents teach respect for other peoples property? P.S. I am a parent and practice what I preach.

[EggyAllenPoe]

this is why P&T spaces are really useful :)

[GypsyMoth]

its not likely to be kids doing it......most families have chillocks on,so an adult would have to get out and open the door

your theory is flawed

[GypsyMoth]

*childlocks

[honeymom]

my kids always fling the doors I always shout at them. they soon forget.. also when someone parks so close that to squeeze in and put a child in I have been know to not give a fuck if I hit the car

[EvenLessNarkyPuffin]

The last time my car was scratched like this it was the parent who did it. The children (7 ish and 9 ish) had both opened their car doors carefully.

[EvenLessNarkyPuffin]

It was getting in to the car that the stupid man flung the door open.

[ChopMonster]

Last year I saw a child fling his (green) door open into a brand new silver Merc. The father saw, rubbed the door of the Merc, so it must've marked it, but he said nothing to the child. The woman driving then MOVED the car to another space!

[lovesicecream]

A man did it to ours the other day while I was sat in the car

[NickRobinsonsloveslave]

The problem is obvious....parking spaces are getting smaller and cars are getting bigger.
Have literally had to get my DCs back into the car through the rear door as other cars either side are too close for me to open my doors, DCs like climbing over the seats so they think it's great.

[honeymom]

That reminds me. I once watched someone drive straight into a car in a car park. Get out inspect the rather large dent. Get back in their car and drive off to another parking space.

[Happygomummy]

stupid, pointless thread.

to paraphrase "i think, without any forensic or reliable proof, that one section of society is messing with my motor. it could of course be any one of a number of people, but i blame them, tsk"

aaaaargh, why is there not stupid people filter on MN?

[snippywoo2]

What gets me is the 'herd' mentality. You park in a totally empty car park and within five minutes you can guarantee that two arseholes have parked so close to your car you cant open the doors fully even though the rest of the car park is empty.

[NickRobinsonsloveslave]

snippy, that is so true! It's almost as though they know you have DCs and want to make your life as difficult as possible.

[nothingoldcanstay]

So true snippy. Why do people feel the need to get so close. I'm the one on the far side...blocked in by two people assuming I "know something",

[edam]

I'm terrible for flinging car doors open and slamming them shut. Don't think I've ever actually damaged another car (although I admit I have had to stop and check) but dh always shrieks at me 'mind the DOOR' and, tbh, he has a point. Being gentle with car doors just does not come naturally to me...

[LordOfTheFlies]

My MIL used to slam the car door with such force it felt like she was trying to break it.
She always retorts "I didn't slam it" so it got to the stage I would leave the child locks on to ensure DH or I had to open it..
He used to see me cringe.In my mind I yelled 'don't slam the fucking door'.
Until the day I said it out loud without realising.
She never did it again.Result.

[apprenticemum]

Perhaps I should rephrase the thread to why cant people big or small show respect for other peoples property.

[Happygomummy]

i think that is a great rephrasing.

PMT got the better of me last night. sorry.

[breatheslowly]

I had to tell an adult passenger not to fling the door open into another car. I have no idea how he got to the age of about 28 without realising that it will damage the next car.

[redexpat]

Snippy I find it easier to park between two cars than between two white lines. But I promise it isn't me by your car

[pugsandseals]

I got a new car about 9 months ago & this behaviour makes me sooooo mad
In my experience I get a lot more digs in the doors during term time - I'm sure from other parents & kids in the school car park.
I have taken to parking on the grass whenever possible to avoid more digs.
I soooo want these //www.autostylinguk.co.uk/products/ProductList/ASX-Mk1-(10-on)/SCCAR_MPV/PG/GCMIAS1/PRvehicle/FB/FPSIDEB.html

[pugsandseals]

There is NO excuse!

[Earlybird]

OP - I feel your pain.

Like you, I tend to park far away in order to avoid parking next to others. However sometimes (in a garage, etc), it is not possible and you have to hope those around you are careful.

I have a new ding, recently acquired, when dd and I went to a leisure centre and had to park between 2 cars. It is amazing to me that on one of the few occasions I did park next to others, i have a ding to show for it.

[soymama]

To be fair, there just isn't enough room between these spaces!! Ive lost count how many times I have had to reverse the car out the space so everybody else can get in!!!!!

[mamas12]

It is true the cars are getting wider and the spaces smaller, it is didfficult to try not to hit the other car you've parked next too.
So, what I do now is park over two spaces and get enough room then.