What made you smile today?

[Animeniax]

That right there is a great example of why you are such a likable individual Ani. You see the truck pull up, you believe that he is going to hit your car with his door but instead of taking some action to prevent this. You go outside, as your post implies, specifically so that you can witness him hitting your car because then you would have to talk to him and make a scene. This is just golden, this is George Constanza level angst. I applaud your honesty.

No, when I first noticed the truck was parked next to my car, I went outside to see how close he was and whether or not I'd want to move my car. Outside I noticed the truck was indeed parked too close to my car, and that the driver was still in the car. What you're suggesting is that I should have walked up to the driver and asked him to be careful not to ding my car, or to move his truck and park properly in the parking space. That is why you live in a dream world. In the real world that kind of confrontation would only cause more problems, as the truck guy could easily take offense. The way I handled it, I left it up to him if there would be a confrontation, as he did not even notice me walking past and he did not know it was my car next to his truck. As it turns out, I made the best choice, gave the guy a chance to be a good guy, and happily found myself proven wrong (albeit only anecdotally in this one instance) as he showed himself to be a decent human being and considerate of others' property by carefully exiting his vehicle without striking mine. That's the end of the situation, as it should be.

[Abdula]

Ani, if the wording of your post was misleading that is on you.

No, when I first noticed the truck was parked next to my car, I went outside to see how close he was and whether or not I'd want to move my car. Outside I noticed the truck was indeed parked too close to my car, and that the driver was still in the car.

So I did not misunderstand that. You noticed the truck was too close and that the driver was still in the truck. You thought it was very likely that he was going to ding your car but you took no preventive action. Not even simply speaking to him or moving your car.

What you're suggesting is that I should have walked up to the driver and asked him to be careful not to ding my car, or to move his truck and park properly in the parking space. That is why you live in a dream world. In the real world that kind of confrontation would only cause more problems, as the truck guy could easily take offense.

Ah, I see. Someone who was likely to flip out simply because you warned him not to hit your car would also be, as you said, cautious, consider and courteous enough to take steps to avoid hitting your car.

The way I handled it, I left it up to him if there would be a confrontation, as he did not even notice me walking past and he did not know it was my car next to his truck.

This is just funny. You didn't handle it. You did nothing! That is not handling it. It was your prerogative to protect your car but you left that up to him. It is humorous that you mention he did not know that you were even present or that it was your car. Given the situation I would think that making him aware of your presence and indicating that it was your car would have made him cautious of hitting that car. That would have required nothing move that you unlocking, approaching or entering your car.

I keep walking, waiting to hear a thunk when he INEVITABLY opens his door and dings my car, at which point I'd have to talk to him and make a scene. To my surprise, the truck door opens slowly and cautiously and a big burly guy gets out, but he's taking care not to hit my car with his door. He edges his way out past my car and walks off, leaving me flabbergasted, a bit ashamed for assuming, but mostly happy that people can be considerate and courteous. That made me smile.

As it turns out, I made the best choice, gave the guy a chance to be a good guy, and happily found myself proven wrong (albeit only anecdotally in this one instance) as he showed himself to be a decent human being and considerate of others' property by carefully exiting his vehicle without striking mine. That's the end of the situation, as it should be.

Pardon me for reading your posts and coming to the wrong conclusion.

Seeing Abdula post made me smile

Hey Arch. It does feel good to be back.

[Animeniax]

Ani, if the wording of your post was misleading that is on you.

With your history on the forums? That's a knee-slapper.

So I did not misunderstand that. You noticed the truck was too close and that the driver was still in the truck. You thought it was very likely that he was going to ding your car but you took no preventive action. Not even simply speaking to him or moving your car.

Ah, I see. Someone who was likely to flip out simply because you warned him not to hit your car would also be, as you said, cautious, consider and courteous enough to take steps to avoid hitting your car.

How could I know that he would be cautious and courteous until after the fact? To start he parked his big truck too close to my car.

This is just funny. You didn't handle it. You did nothing! That is not handling it. It was your prerogative to protect your car but you left that up to him. It is humorous that you mention he did not know that you were even present or that it was your car. Given the situation I would think that making him aware of your presence and indicating that it was your car would have made him cautious of hitting that car. That would have required nothing move that you unlocking, approaching or entering your car.

Sometimes inaction is the best action. Jumping the gun or jumping to conclusions can get you in much worse situations. As demonstrated here, doing nothing led to the best outcome.

Pardon me for reading your posts and coming to the wrong conclusion.

No problem, we're pretty used to it here .

[Abdula]

So there still isn't a specific thread for posters to just have at each other and engage in pointless circular arguments for the entertainment of everyone else. That is a shame, it really would have boosted activity and minimized the need to go off topic back when this place was thriving.

With your history on the forums? That's a knee-slapper.

Ah, funny but it does make my point.

How could I know that he would be cautious and courteous until after the fact? To start he parked his big truck too close to my car.

How am I to know. I don't know the guy. Please this is about you, my point was that you assumed he would not be and you were prepping yourself to confront him instead of taking any action that would have made a confrontation unnecessary. At best you seem passive aggressive.

Sometimes inaction is the best action. Jumping the gun or jumping to conclusions can get you in much worse situations. As demonstrated here, doing nothing led to the best outcome.

Indeed, now if only you had not used terms like inevitably, flabbergasted (who uses that anymore) and ashamed for assuming. Proving that you had already jumped to a conclusion.

No problem, we're pretty used to it here .

Hardy har har, can't break kayfabe.

[Kraco]

instead of taking any action that would have made a confrontation unnecessary. At best you seem passive aggressive.

To be fair, Ani's intentions aside, as soon as he walked in front of the cars, he had already done probably enough. Some crazed fellow might still throw the door open heedlessly denting the neighbouring car, but I'd guess most people, upon noticing there's somebody watching, would pay extra attention and be more careful. Who knows, without Ani walking there, trying his best to look like an innocent bystander (but obviously failing), the man could have been more careless. After all, he was careless enough to park outside of the lines.

[Animeniax]

To be fair, Ani's intentions aside, as soon as he walked in front of the cars, he had already done probably enough. Some crazed fellow might still throw the door open heedlessly denting the neighbouring car, but I'd guess most people, upon noticing there's somebody watching, would pay extra attention and be more careful. Who knows, without Ani walking there, trying his best to look like an innocent bystander (but obviously failing), the man could have been more careless. After all, he was careless enough to park outside of the lines.

Actually I think he didn't notice I was passing by, which makes it all the more commendable that he acted considerately even when he felt no one was looking. That was why I was happy with how the situation turned out... at least until Abdula tried to play psychiatrist .