Cultural Quirks no 634: saving parking spaces

(and I don't really like that term since all Americans are equal regardless of how long they have been American). There are idiots in every nationality. Unfortunately some like to advertise their nationality :-(

I refuse to drink the kool-aid! -- PM

LOL pm, I wouldnt know about that , He all yours

Hi, Alexa, so true, they should have a few probatory years for conduct clearance

It sounds like he needed one, in addition to a good spanking :-)

I refuse to drink the kool-aid! -- PM

PM - The 'bushy browed elf' clan obviously and the ones who gave him his green card :p

run him over ..... LATER ON SAY " sorry "" ........LOL

What kind of idiot thinks being an American -- or ANY nationality -- entitles him to any privilege?

I refuse to drink the kool-aid! -- PM

LOL

Not very recently, my sisters kids were in the car just outside jareer bookstores parking lot, and this guy in this early 20's agressively backed his car up almost bumping into the kids who were in the process of getting into the car.

The familys driver yelled "hey you can't you see!!"

Obviously irked that the indian driver that 'dared' to yell at him, resulted in his coming out of the car and stomping his little elf feet as he peered over the drivers window, bushy eyebrows and all as he started to scream every 4 letter profanity at the driver while the children watched in shock!

The eldest of the family spoke back and said you should watch your language and respect the country you're in.

To this the Elfen snorted back "im an American I can do whatever I want"!! - he was of arab decent and either excited about his green card or amercian nationality) then he stomped back and screeched off in his Elfmobile

Well , the driver well trained jotted down the licence plate number and reported it.

On the day of the court hearing the daddy elf was there with his very nicely brought up son.

Needless to say they both were apologetic and asked that the case be dismissed, which I didnt mind doing on the condition that 'bushy brow Elfen' boy kisses the driver on the head and appologises infront of all as he must aknowlge whom he has wronged and hopefully gain something positive from the experience, he did and that page was turned.

However I find it quite disheartening being subject to the adopted attitudes of some people when they belive they are slithering upwards in life, and a reminder that it isnt a rank or title one holds that distinguishes people, but how one respects onesself when one chooses to respect others regardless of nationality, position rank or title.

I usually not wave to anyone to follow in a parking lot, coz you might find someone waiting there. Instead of driving around in a parking lot I prefer to wait for 5 – 10 minutes at one spot and 9 out of 10 I am lucky.

For the idiots reserving parking space by standing in the middle I pay little respect, most of the time they are reserving a parking for their wives driving the oldest car they can buy. Thanks God my wife doesn’t drive.

It has happened to me 5 - 6 times and each time I just drove the car giving the person a signal that if he didn't move, he will be under my car. And yes it scares them, they jump like anything aside and the space is yours. Then they shout a lot at you, but I just ignore as I know he can't do anything as I have not done anything wrong in all this !!

I don't care if the guy is a Qatari or not. If any one is a Qatari, doesn't make him any superior. It's your atticates that make you better.

Adeel Ali

but this spot was literally the first one by the entrance so I can't see how that would work. The guy came out and got in his car and then wouldn't let the first 2 people in line take his place.

I refuse to drink the kool-aid! -- PM

A lot of the times, if a car sees you leaving with a trolley full of groceries from CC, they stop and ask if they can follow u to ur car and if you can give them ur parking space.

Maybe it was coincidence that both parties were of the same nationality (or appeared to be) and that the driver was just saving the spot for some guy who had asked him earlier.

All the other drivers were men.

I refuse to drink the kool-aid! -- PM

I sometimes wait until a girl comes to park in my spot. Men can always drive around until they find a spot.

Just block him in. Go 3/4 of the way or near to where he is stood. Lock your car. Take a picture of him on your mobile and smile ;-)

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Man makes plans...............God smiles ;-)

Walah! I stand in parking before for reserving spot for one friend. It is nice, some people stop for chatting, then my friend come and we go shopping. Nobody shout at me, only they ask for my mobile number. Wallah!

What comes around, goes around....

A car with its reverse lights was waiting in a parking space. I was 4 cars back from the first one who was wanting to go in that space. The driver waved him off but kept his car in reverse. The 2nd car was also waiting and flashed his lights several times. The driver of the parked car waved him on again. The 3rd car was driven by someone who appeared to be of the same nationality or region (and I don't mean Qatar) and the guy then backed out to give him the space.

What is that about? Do we now let race or nationality dictate who gets a parking space? Or is something else going on here that I don't understand?

I refuse to drink the kool-aid! -- PM

If you don’t know where you’re going, you’ll never know how to get there and when you get there!

rounding the parking area for almost an hour.. actually finding one.. patiently, patiently and so obviously waiting for the driver to free up the parking slot.. then a landcruiser just cuts in and takes your slot!

brit -lol your incorrigable! and in dire need of crainial formatting *hands you a hammer*

I refuse to drink the kool-aid! -- PM

Too late.. The image is already burned in my brain :o(

lol you freaks! That was meant for truthvisitor as (im assuming) hes a man and equipped should the occasion arrise

bonnet of a car and 'opening fire'....

Peverse ?

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I think you have me confused with someone who gives a sh1t.

I can't really picture any of ladies resorting to "peeing" on the car..

Its best to avoid any confrontation and park spmewhere else..

'Zactly!

Mandi

over.

I wouldnt want to damage my car over a pathetic person like that.

Just park elsewhere and walk.

Simple.

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I think you have me confused with someone who gives a sh1t.

Jeeze, guys, is this the same QL that constantly bemoans the lack of civility in Qatar and decries any aggressive actions on the part of drivers? These are some great ideas on how to escalate a situation into one that rapidly becomes downright dangerous. Rather than ruin your whole day over a parking space (FFS), and risk damage to your car and/or your person just let him have it! I really hope this is just steam-release or hyperbole. Time for a reality check here - kicking ass, keying the car, running him over, calling the cops and punching him out are all over-reactions to the situation. (I DO like Qatarita's idea of peeing on his car.)

Mandi

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I think you have me confused with someone who gives a sh1t.

A-If you've been blessed with the required intimidating height and girth, then you dont really need a thoube to pull off Blue's approach....high probability you get what you want instantly

B-If not then I'd suggest 'force1' keying the friends car once its parked....ingenious and teaches a lesson.

C-If A and B tactics result with no avail then you could always revert to more primative methods by walking up to the the guy and simply 'marking' the said territory , he'll think your crazy enough to NOT consider keying your car for want of not running into you again with the fear of what you could do next!...Et Voila! A+B all in one :)

the parking space than the person standing has to "reserve" it. If it were first come first serve which it is NOT (merely luck of the draw in Qatar where constructing parking space is an afterthought), he was there first. Anyway, don't sweat the small stuff...especially parking and traffic in Qatar if so your stay of a few years will take off years of your life. Just resign yourself to the fact that there are no traffic rules in Qatar that apply across the board and stay safe.

come on folks, you wouldn't call the police over this!

bleu - thanks for the tip, I'll keep a thobe in the glove compartment just in case this happens again.... :-)

If u got the time, just block the parking there and call the cops... when his friend arrives u too say the same... then lets see what he wud do?

No, you let the guy's friend park and then go scratch his car.

Even if the idiot was able to let his friend in the parking, I'd get out, bang on his door until he reversed out, and gave me back my parking space... My car was there first.

stone cold wat if his father really does own the parking lot??/

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you have not lived until you have found something worth dying for

Yea jspec, but like mentioned before, you can't shop or watch a movie or w/e in peace. You'll always be wondering if that person has given your vehicle a couple of flat tires. Sometimes this folks can get pretty artistic on an impulse and leave a nice key stroke painting on your vehicle.

If it is a li'l kid and a parent then it is fine try to get em out of the way but if it is someone in the late teens or early twenties, I'd avoid and just look for another space.

I'd kick his a$$..... that parking is ment for cars not people and who ever comes 1st with his/her car take it.

ohh no!

never happened to me before... But I have to say... I'm guilty of thinking about DOING IT once or twice... you know... you go around for 15min and you just can't have it anymore, then all of a sudden you see a free spot.... right on the other side!!!!! I've thought about running to it and stand there.... luckily, I'm always either by myself or with kids, and I won't send them to stand there! So I'd never done that...

If it ever happened to me.... I always get away with my way, I can be pretty ugly when I'm super upset hehe

XD

I have been to a worst one where, you are trying to reversed parking and they sticked their nose in so that you cant move in anymore.... hu hu hu

It happened to me once when at the City Center. I found a parking spot, then this teen came and stood in the space. I was intending to reverse my car into the parking space, and he still didn't move. He said someone was coming. So, I simply pulled my window down, and held down my horn for the longest time ever. The other Cruisers were cheering me and that is how I managed to get away with it. I finally parked. When I walked down, he looked at me and asked me if I was crazy? -- So I simply said,, I was crazy for not running over you : S..

But its all ok :) My car was safe too ..

Then I climb out of my car and they see I am vertically challenged! lol

I refuse to drink the kool-aid! -- PM

Bleu, I think I've seen you before!!

PM...do the "teacher death face" ....always works for me...My kids used to know I meant business when I put it on...

If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you; that is the main difference between a dog and man.

-Mark Twain-

Although I have been told I can pull a very intimidating face -- lol

I refuse to drink the kool-aid! -- PM

PM, you need to be a Qatari in full Qatari-dress.

The guy standing is usually either a non-Qatari, or a Qatari teen, and he just gets scared by my frowning face.

I have to learn that trick!

I refuse to drink the kool-aid! -- PM

Happened to me 4-5 times, I don't allow it. I'd just get out of my car with a "special" face, I'm kind-of scary.

He walks away and I take the space.

I might tell the person that I am calling the police and see if that works, but ultimately parking spaces aren't worth an altercation.

I refuse to drink the kool-aid! -- PM

Calling the police is the better idea, if one is around.Sure problem solved. Afterall the paking lot dosen't belongs to his father

run him over, he has no right in doing that and they don't own the parking lot anyway.

'SO DARK THE CON OF MAN'

The problem is that if you mpark and walk away, the bugger could scratch / damage your car..

he could even rip off the fake air scoop from my KIA :o(

It had occurred to me to just park there anyway but didn't want to find a car key had been swiped all over my bonnet when I got back..

the nerve! run him over, check if he gets up, run him over again.. :P

I would push him gently at very low speed till the car is fully parked :)

Just ignore him and park and walk away..

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HE WHO DARES WINS

Run him over! Seriously.

Omg - that would aggrevate me SO much!! I really don't know what I would do.. The nerve of people here - I don't know if it is just me, but in general the driving has got worse these past couple weeks

tell him that "this is a first come first serve basis"!

there is no reservation allowed unless if he already paid for that parking space..

You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving!!!