I won't budge till you do!
By squaretile
@squaretile (3778)
Singapore
July 30, 2007 4:27am CST
Well, that was what two cars seemed to be saying to each other today.
we witnessed that at the side of the road, where we could see from the place we were eating lunch. startled by a few loud honks, we looked up from our yummy food to see what the matter was.
turned out that there was a red MPV that was honking at a black toyota that was in a parking lot. the red mpv was slightly obstructing traffic and looked like it was trying to get into the parking slot.
the black toyota wasn't moving. and it was this stalemate for like 10 minutes. the red one would honk and not budge and be an obstruction. we thought the two drivers would get out and start a fight. then after what seemed a really long time in this equivalent of a staring competition, the red car gave up. it moved, but not without moving slowly to the side of the black car and making some rude gestures and I'm sure mouthing some unpleasantries.
then, within 10 seconds, the black car moved out of its lot and drove away! by then the red car had found another lot further up front and couldn't reverse to park in this lot.
then it became clear to us, that the red mpv must have noticed that the black car was moving out, and signaled its intention to take the lot. but for some reason the red car must have offended the black car driver and he just simply REFUSED to budge, preferring to waste his time occupying the lot just to irritate the other driver! isn't that just amazing and a reflection of human character?
what do you think of this whole affair and have you witnessed similar spats? quite childish i thought, though quite amusing from a bystander's point of view!
2 responses
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
7 Aug 07
I read something about this kind of behavior before. Correct me if I am wrong, I think it is call the territorial syndrome. It describes the situation where ones claims a space as his own and he/she will try to prove to everyone else that that is their space and you can do nothing about it.
It is commonly observed in the car parks where one stakes a claim on that space where one parked his/her car by parking their car there.
During this observation, many times when there is no one to vie for the same parking space, the owner usually will be very quick to vacate the lot once he/she gets up the car. But once there is someone waiting nearby, the owner of the car will suddenly have a lot of things to do before he/she vacate the lot. Things like fixing up your ear piece to the phone become important. Adjusting the rear view mirrors. Making sure the seat belt is buckled properly. Hair is not messy. Bags are positioned properly in the back seat.... etc etc. The list is endless.
All these just to prolong the time they are staking their claim of ownership of that lot.
I have witness it many times already, especially in crowded car parks where lots are scares during peak periods.
Even at the car park where I live, I have observed such behavior.
IMHO, I find these acts are just plain provoking fights. It is just a matter of time before it happens.
1 person likes this
@squaretile (3778)
• Singapore
7 Aug 07
haha, I've not seen it myself. I'm just so grateful when someone comes to get his car that he could take 5 mins it's ok, better than not knowing whether i have to wait 20 mins more or 30 mins more.
there was once in east coast park near the seafood where there were loads of cars waiting for spaces and finally 2 tour buses left and it was SUPER. so many spaces they were taking up cos they parked horizontally.
@ahgong (10064)
• Singapore
8 Aug 07
5 mins I can tolerate it too.
It is when they start to KL and take their own sweet time to scratch their butts... smell their fingers and starting doing all sorts of nonsense when they know full well that some one is waiting for them to vacate their lot. Those are the ones that really grates on your nerves. You know, like the hokkien saying goes... Kiam Pak ones.
I guess it is just typical behavior of some snobbish people who think the world revolves around them.
1 person likes this
@whyaskq (7523)
• Singapore
30 Jul 07
Such things are definitely amusing to watch. It not only happens to vehicles on the road. It can be seen in food courts. Try observing people who are about to finish eating while there are people hanging around just to grab the seat in the first instance! It was really fun to watch, and at times, I enjoy having fun too. I decide to go buy dessert to test the reaction of people who have been hanging around me, much to my displeasure!
1 person likes this
@squaretile (3778)
• Singapore
7 Aug 07
yeah, the foodcourt thing definitely happens. people really shouldn't assume that those sitting down won't have dessert.
