AIBU to wonder why people park next to lone cars?

You don't struggle but you can't park straight with another car to line up with? Hand in your licence.

YANBU
I can never fathom why either!!

Lots of sheep around

This.

When my elderly dad had to apply for a blue badge due to poor mobility, it took 3 months from application to finally getting it. He still had to go out during that time, but had to go during quieter times if possible. He would have been completely screwed if some selfish idiot had parked right next to him due to needing to open his car door really wide in order to get in his car.

This is what I was going to say! But also my theory is that they’re careful about their vehicle so parking next to them is lower risk.

I know this is “just a parking thread” but it’s been quite depressing.

That people can hear why some folk might need a bit more room in an otherwise empty car park - mobility issues, injuries, painful ongoing conditions, wheelchair users (non of whom automatically qualify for a blue badge) - and still have the reaction of “Fuck you, I don’t care, I’ll park where I like. I can and therefore I will, and I don’t care how much it affects you”.

YANBU. Especially annoying when you have a baby to get into a car seat

But if someone was going to follow that advice, wouldn’t they choose the busier part of the car park, closer to the entrance to shops? What lots of us are baffled by, is why when we park in a quieter area of a car park and someone parks immediately next to us, when they have other choices.

My friend was advised by the police and insurers to park near other cars after someone smashed into her car, shouted abuse and drove away.

Maybe it's becoming more common so more people are receiving this advice.

Im not very good at typing tonight but hopefully I make sense! 💐

Nothing has changed as a result of this thread. A car parked with 2 empty spaces beside it is a car in a normal space in a car park everyone is free to park in. I wouldn’t choose to park by one far away from the supermarket door in an otherwise empty car park, but one parked with empty spaces beside it fairly close to the door, I would. Because whilst that person MAY have wanted to keep the spaces beside them free, I really can’t live my life according to the potential whims of people I don’t know, who if they have actual disabilities, are free to use their blue badges to park in the spaces designated for that purpose.

I don’t need “parking practice”, as I can park fine. I choose to park in the easiest space which is available for me. I also choose to believe that the actions of other people which inconvenience me, are not intentional. It would be a sad life existing in a state of complaint about the actions of people you don’t know, know nothing about their circumstances or physical or mental conditions, but assume that they must be awful people dead set on making YOUR life a misery. People aren’t like that.

I've lost count of the number of times that's happened to me over the years, and to be honest, it scares the stuffing out of me, like sitting on a bus/train, no other passengers, and one idiot will sit right next to me.

I drive off fast, or move seats, as I think they're being really creepy and in-my-face, especially when it's men!

There’s no malice, my lovely, just a suggestion that now you know something you didn’t before, that you might change what you do to help others out. That’s all. If it’s nervousness about parking skills, I’m sure a bit of a practice getting in and out by using the lines would sort it out for you.

Baffles me too- particularly annoying if I have to open doors wide to let kids or dogs out.
I've been known to drive to another space if this happens as I'm parking!

Yes I say "now" because it wasn't when I took my test, but come to think of it that was 30 years ago! I agree about being a bit bemused about people saying they need another car in order to be able to park straight, hopefully anyone who's passed their test since car park parking has been in it won't have this difficulty.

It’s like when you’re at the gym and you’re on the cross trainer - there’s a row of ten, so the other 9 are all empty. Yet, the person goes on the one next to you! Argh! Whyyyy

It's been that way for ages even when I passed my driving test which was umpteen years ago. I spent so many lessons lining up spaces with my back windows it became second nature (which presumably was the point). Because of that it looks me ages to understand some of the comments.

It probably helps that I don't drive a huge car either.

I look out for people every single day. Have a nice time preaching my dear.

If I went about life thinking about how every normal thing I did MIGHT (but might not) inconvenience someone, I’m afraid I wouldn’t get anything done. I’m a busy single mother with a demanding full time job. I exercise consideration in situations where it is clear that consideration is merited, such as by not parking in parent and child spaces without a child with me, not sitting in the accessible seats in public transport when I can stand. The rest of the time, I’m going about my life with no malice towards anyone. Your militant judgement of that suggests considerable malice and perhaps you should look at yourself before getting so het up about normal people parking in normal spaces

Life feels much more joyful when we all look out for each other and don’t just look out for number one.

Who was saying that people were deliberately doing it to inconvenience others? Because it wasn’t my initial point, which was more a sense of people are weird and not getting the etiquette.

The point about it being deliberate was because you were still saying you’re going to carry on doing it anyway, despite now knowing the effect it can have on others. That clearly makes it deliberate.

You misunderstand the meaning of egocentric. As I explained earlier, I’m able bodied, the only effect on me when people do this is it makes me think they’re a wally. The point I made about it being selfish was in relation others who do struggle and could do with people like you exercising some consideration for others.

I hate to disappoint and inspired by this thread I'm going to make up my own rules about car parking. I'd quite like people to organise themselves by colour so my eyes are pleased by a delightful aesthetic experience each time I have to park. Having to coexist with ignorant strangers who refuse to abide by my wishes leaves me helplessly fuming 😤 😡

Life feels much better and more joyful when you let go of judging everyone, and instead work on the basis that most people are good people, and perhaps they have a reason for parking next to your car which is equally valid as your reason for wanting them not to park next to your car.

Yes I agree @InMyOpenOnion This thread has been a revelation. I did not realise some people can’t park unless they have another car to line up with. That’s very scary. What must the rest of their driving be like? I used to joke that if I parked in an empty field someone would park right next to me. Then that actually happened. I was directed to an overflow car park for a NT property. It was a completely empty field. I parked got out of the car and another car rolled up. I could almost see the dust rising from my car paint work as they squeezed up next to my car in a completely empty field.

My post clearly said that I find assuming that if something inconveniences you, the person has done it for that purpose, is negativity I have no time for. There is no way of interpreting that as “thinking of other people is negative”. I think your attitude is egocentric and negative. Have a lovely day with it.

I have quite a wide car, with long doors and so always try and park away from everyone else to ensure it's physically possible to get in and out. (And to avoid dings, which I've now had 2, but thankfully always have cameras and claimed on other people's insurance even after they flat out refused to believe it was then!)
While you're of course allowed to park next to me, if the car park is empty I do judge you if you park next to me and block access to the driver side door.
If you can't park in an empty car park, you shouldn't be driving. If you need beeps to park, learn to drive. Yes, I'm judging you. Parking in an empty car park is so easy just by you looking, I'm worried that if this causes you problem, you probably shouldn't be on the road at all.