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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To not want to be rushed out of a car park?

603 replies

MsMarvel · 29/01/2020 12:30

Travel around for work, so regularly use public car parks to then work at client sites (hotels, bars etc) always arrive early so never have any issue getting spaces in busy car parks.

Because i work in a public area at a client site, when i get back to my car like to grab my lunch quickly and make some phonecalls before heading home (todays journey is a 2 hour drive home)

Im fed up of people trying to find spaces in car parks seeing me going into my car, amd sitting behind me waiting for me to leave! I normally end up feeling rushed and just leave, but today i decided to sit and eat the steak bake i bought on the way to the car. Woman sits behind me for like 5 mins, then goes past slowly peering into my car giving me proper evils. Should add, engine not on, so not sitting with idling engine.

Aibu to take some time before leaving a parking space??

OP posts:
Oulu · 29/01/2020 16:15

Ah so even worse then because unlike everyone that thought this was fine presumed, you hadn't paid for a specific amount of time. So even more selfish then.

Why? OP could eat before she gets in the car or after - it would make precisely zero difference to when she leaves the car park. Why is one more selfish than the other?

Thestrangestthing · 29/01/2020 16:17

*I didn't say to digest food, I said to digest.

Anyway, seats aren't just for eating.*

Digest what then, your surroundings 😂 when you say after you finish eating, you like to sit and digest, I just presumed you ment food 😂 not life in general, you can do that anywhere.

I think greggs would have a problem with people just sitting in their cafe not ordering anything else, while their other costomers stand about with food in their hands.

If they need to sit to eat, they can check there's spare seats before they order. Or go somewhere else.

Such a selfish attitude to life. Its sad really.

Thestrangestthing · 29/01/2020 16:18

Why? OP could eat before she gets in the car or after - it would make precisely zero difference to when she leaves the car park. Why is one more selfish than the other?

Aw please could people stop asking the same question. If someone is waiting for a space it makes a difference when she moves if she is in the car, if no one is waiting for a space it doesn't make a difference.

DesLynamsMoustache · 29/01/2020 16:20

BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND

As has been said, so many times, if she goes and sits on a bench and eats her steak bake before she gets in the car, that is fine, yes? Of course it is. But if she does it in the car, even if she's in the passenger seat so no one could feasibly think she is about to drive off, it's not OK, even though the amount of time the car will be in the space is the same. How is this logical at all? HOW? It makes no sense. The net result is the same: the car occupies the space for the same time (probably slightly less in the latter case) and no one thinks she is about to leave because she's not in the driver's seat Confused

onionface · 29/01/2020 16:21

Such a selfish attitude to life. Its sad really.

But it's not selfish to expect people to hurry up and get out of your way when you want what they have?

lottiegarbanzo · 29/01/2020 16:22

I don't understand that either.

Lots of people work in their cars e.g. write notes of meetings they've just been in, make phone calls etc, before driving to the next place. Normal.

Thestrangestthing · 29/01/2020 16:24

But it's not selfish to expect people to hurry up and get out of your way when you want what they have?

No not when someone just wants to get on with their day and do what you have just been doing, but are finished just faffing around taking your time. That's selfish.

lottiegarbanzo · 29/01/2020 16:26

Working, eating, are not 'faffing'.

Thestrangestthing · 29/01/2020 16:28

BUT I DON'T UNDERSTAND

I can imagine this applies to a lot of things in your life.

Again it's different because, if you walk back to your car and someone is looking for a space and you jump in the drivers seat and then just sit there while they are waiting for the space, that's selfish. If no one is there waiting for a space it's not selfish. If you sit in the passenger seat or the back, its selfish, just sneakily selfish. If you sit away from your car no one will think you are leaving, because you are not in your car so they won't wait for the space.

Fucks sake

DesLynamsMoustache · 29/01/2020 16:29

I can imagine this applies to a lot of things in your life

GrinGrinGrin This thread is comedy gold

Thestrangestthing · 29/01/2020 16:29

Eating in your car is unnecessary.

hammeringinmyhead · 29/01/2020 16:32

My favourite was when I was still breastfeeding every 2 hours so would get in the driving seat with the baby (passenger doesn't go back far enough due to giant spinny car seat). And yet, people would start hovering. Where exactly do you think I am going to be driving while clinging onto a newborn with one arm?

dognamedspot · 29/01/2020 16:32

I used to be a rep out on the road and would often eat lunch when parked up. (Safer than eating on the move). I generally made myself comfortable in the back. It looks as if you're waiting for the driver then for sure. When appointments were cancelled during the day I've been known to lock the doors, set the alarm on my phone and settle down for a kip. So shoot me now.

Highonpotandused · 29/01/2020 16:32

@BarbaraofSeville

Car parks are for leaving cars parked up and unattended

I just have missed this in the car park rules ConfusedHmm

hammeringinmyhead · 29/01/2020 16:33

Eating in your car is unnecessary.

Is it? When it's a takeaway pasty or sarnie and it's raining?

DesLynamsMoustache · 29/01/2020 16:34

No one wants a soggy pasty

lottiegarbanzo · 29/01/2020 16:35

I can imagine this applies to a lot of things in your life.

If you sit in the passenger seat or the back, its selfish, just sneakily selfish.

OMG. Comedy gold it truly is.

So weird and strangely fascinating to discover what goes inside some people's heads.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe · 29/01/2020 16:37

This thread is weirder by the minute. I think saraclara has it, or is at any rate, the person I'd want waiting for my space. Shock

DesLynamsMoustache · 29/01/2020 16:38

Is anyone else replying to this thread while sitting in their car in a car park?

RaisinsRuinEverything · 29/01/2020 16:38

Just ignore them OP. YANBU to want to enjoy your lunch in peace! Also it’s safer (and legal) to use your phone while parked. As long as you’re not overstaying the time limit I don’t see a problem.

LyingWitchInTheWardrobe · 29/01/2020 16:38

There are also a lot of posters on the thread with 'strange' in their usernames... what a coincidence!

Thestrangestthing · 29/01/2020 16:40

Is it? When it's a takeaway pasty or sarnie and it's raining?

Yes

RaisinsRuinEverything · 29/01/2020 16:41

Oh and it’s more polite to eat hot food in the privacy of your car than in a public place where some people get offended by the smell. Sometimes you can’t win!

onionface · 29/01/2020 16:41

If you sit away from your car no one will think you are leaving

Surely sitting away from your car is even sneakier selfish because you're not only daring to take up a parking space just so you can eat some food, you're also failing to let people waiting know when you'll be back to vacate your spot and you're inconsiderately taking up a seat that somebody else might want Grin

Thestrangestthing · 29/01/2020 16:43

So weird and strangely fascinating to discover what goes inside some people's heads.

Isn't it, but now at least I know the reason the car parks are always full of people hanging about in their cars. I've had an insight into their minds now and I was right, it's mostly for no real reason they are waiting there, just selfishness 🤷‍♀️. Hey, I still wouldn't ask anyone to move.