To wonder why you would park right beside someone in a pretty empty car park?

[cheddarcheezeplz]

Not the end of the world before someone comes for me to say you don't own the car park /people can park where they want.

I parked as far away from the shop as I could get as there is no parent and child spaces. Always park in same area due to this. Car park pretty much empty. 10+ spaces either side of me and same the row behind. I parked in the "front" space so I wouldn't have to reverse out. Space has a verge so I can get my child in and out. Someone has parked right up behind me and I could hardly get the pram in the boot. (probably should have picked the "back" space but assumed as car park so empty no one would be beside /behind me) they also have no car seat so can't see why they would need room etc as plenty of disabled spaces etc at shop front.

Why do people do this? I always assume if someone is parked far away / no other cars beside them they have likely done this for a reason.

AIBU to think I have parked "alone" for a reason and it's a bit weird to park right beside cars that have done this?

this is what i was thinking of too, it’s like when you get on a bus or train that’s empty and someone sits right next to you, or in an empty restaurant and someone chooses the table next to you i mean just why?!

I don't park over two spaces but I'd like to be able to get myself in and out, so would generally avoid. If there were no other spaces I'd park there too. My car isn't big so I can also squeeze in if needed... As long as no kids with me.

I was thinking this too 😂

Trying to pay and pack at the self checkout and they're setting their basket down!!

I can’t get too riled up about people parking beside me in an almost empty car park, unless they haven’t left me sufficient space to open my doors properly.

What does piss me off though is the idiots who seem to think because my car is tiny and only takes up half a space, they can use the rest to pull right over the line and make it difficult to access the boot. What they don’t realise though is my boot drops down and I have no problem whatsoever dropping it onto their car if necessary. The worst offenders are the idiots who drive massive trucks that are too big for normal spaces.

Maybe I was in/beside their usual spot?😂

The reason this annoys people is that others whack their car doors open into another car, causing a dent or a scratch or whatever. And it is annoying and it happens a lot.

Fair enough! That's a good point

I’m quite short and it’s very difficult to have a view on the ground with the lines and a decent field of view around me so generally my mirrors are set for over all view rather than angled to the ground.

Ah, someone parks too close to you so that gives you permission to deliberately scratch their car. Seems reasonable

Pretty sure some people just do it to be assertive and be a "billy big balls" especially those huge cars (pick up trucks, Land Rovers, Jeeps etc) that just love to park inches next to your small Fiat or Mini to highlight how big their car is compared to yours and know they'll make it difficult for you to get back into your car. Just utterly horrible passive-aggressive behaviour. Fair enough in a busy car park, but when they do it in an otherwise empty car park, you know they're just playing mind games.

Same in buses, trains, cafes/restaurants, on the beach, park benches etc. People are just trying to "bully" you into moving or having to be uncomfortable. I used to think most of them were just selfish/inconsiderate or didn't think where they were plonking themselves, but I started mentally noticing the "type" of person/people doing it, and soon came to the conclusion that most of them are doing it deliberately to make some kind of demented statement of their perceived superiority.

I first thought it was "single girl/woman" syndrome with random dodgy blokes getting too close, but then I started noticing it was women, couples, families, groups also doing it, but the final realisation when when my DH (then boyfriend) started complaining about the same and regularly telling me that it was happening to him to, so it can't be a "macho man versus woman" thing at all - it's "macho man" (or woman or group) versus absolutely anyone who is trying to be quiet or invisible. They seem to be able to spot such people a mile off and clearly want to intimidate them in some way.

Lots of people use a parked car as a guide when they're parking.

I don't think anyone alive would assume there'd be a problem parking behind someone else's car. You got the pram in the boot, yes? So the space couldn't have been that restricted. And even if it were, you could just move the car forwards slightly without it being a big deal.

Parking is more efficient when it’s systematic, that’s why at festivals and outdoor events there are marshalls directing you into spaces one by one.

I only mind someone parking next to me if they make a hash of it. Good parkers don’t bother me.

Yes, but no one is complaining on this thread about busy car parks. They're complaining about people parking right next to you or behind you in otherwise pretty empty car parks. We all know that you have to "put up and shut up" in a full car park.

It’s a herding instinct for safety, and people also use other cars as a visual guide for parking straight. It’s a recognised phenomenon.

Well they shouldn’t park like fuckwits then should they. Why should I be inconvenienced because people buy stupid cars that are totally impractical for everyday use. And don’t say they probably need them for their lifestyle, I’ve yet to see one with a speck of mud on it.

I had someone come into the toilet cubicle next to me when all the toilets were empty except mine, and there were about 15 toilets on each side of the room, all with their doors wide open. Very odd behaviour in my view.

Although I would never sit right next to someone on an empty train I would sit in the same carriage as them as id be scared completely on my own

They can only park with another car to use as a guide.

In all honesty I just find it easier to park with another card to us as guidance 😂

Also, if it was dark, it would somehow feel safer to park next to another parked car. I realise that sounds very illogical, so I can only presume it's some prehistoric part of my brain kicking in!

i have 4 children and i find people will deliberately sit next to us in otherwise empty places then eye roll or tut any time one of them speak, i genuinely don’t understand people it’s like you had the whole carriage, why sit next to us then! i dont allow them to shout or be noisy but at the same time we are allowed to speak. id sit as far away as possible if it was me but nope we always find people make a beeline for us. and yes i’ve noticed that it’s not generally men that do it.

DH always complains about the same at urinals - several empty, but some moron always has to stand right next to him. He uses a cubicle where there's one free as it annoys him so much!

I always park as far from others as possible, and hate it when others ignore loads of empty spaces and park next to me, which happens a lot.

But then all my beds are up against the wall with the door in, and thinking back, they have been, wherever possible, in every house I’ve lived in. I’ve never given it a thought before! I have to think about other people I know now…

Same when attending work related courses. Often the tables are big enough for 2/3 in rows/columns or in a kind of square/rectangle arrangement in smaller rooms. Always the sodding same. I chose an empty table or a corner of the group setting, and even though there are loads of other empty spaces, some tosser will come and sit right next to me. Again, fair enough if the room is otherwise full, but when it's not, it's just so annoying to be basically within touching distance (or actually touching) when completely unnecessary. It always makes me very uncomfortable and I've been known to move during the break sometimes

If there was a hundred spaces in the car park why would you go next to another one?

Personally I think its because they cant park without using another car as a reference. So when they were learning to parallel park they were always taught certain points to notice in the wing mirror. Without another car they cant park properly. Just wish they would leave enough space for people to open their doors when they're trying to park their elephants.

I usually park a bit far away from the store. To give my car space and yes lot of people for some reason want to park right next to the car.

If the spaces were bigger that give enough space to open the door I wouldnt mind as much.

But these days when everyone is driving what seems like a tank it's not always easy to get back in the car

I'd love to just park in the kiddy parking but would get abuse.

Car park spaces need to be bigger and people with zero parking skills need to should practice more so they don't have to always park next to others.