Skip to main content

Parking Garage Madness - Is there a "Space" for manners?

By Stephen C. Schultz


It's Saturday night and my wife and I just came out of a movie. The theater was at the mall, so we parked in the parking garage. Cars were prowling around looking for an open space. (Obviously we weren't in the parking garage that is pictured below. But, that is one cool garage!)

I get in the car, put my foot on the brake, and start it. Immediately two cars emerge on either side of my space, each wanting to pull in when I leave. Each car has a couple, probably in their early to mid twenties. My guess is, that they are arriving to see a movie as well. Both vehicles have their blinker on signaling their desire to turn into my space when I leave. As I started to back out, they each started inching forward, hoping to effectively beat the other into the space.


I looked over my left shoulder and slowly started backing out to my left. The problem was, that I could no longer continue backing out. The car to my left was inching too close to the rear of my car. I started to turn my wheel to the right and pull forward, but the car to my right had moved in as well and was blocking the front of my car. It was a stalemate, and I was stuck in the middle. For the car in front of me to back up and allow me to pull forward, would be to let the car behind me have the space. For the car behind me to back up and allow me to back up further, would be to allow the car in front of me to pull in and get the space.

So, I inched forward turning my wheels, then backward, then forward, then backward. I must have done this ten times and finally created enough space to squeeze by the car in front of me. What I found interesting was that each couple simply sat there watching me maneuver with no apparent concern for the situation my wife and I were in. The car behind immediately started to maneuver into the space. The car in front of me laid on the horn and honked solidly for at least 30 seconds. (In a parking garage, 30 seconds is a long time!)

Whatever happened to manners? What ever happened to politeness? Whatever happened to "Do unto others..."? I look at society in general sometimes and I'm saddened at what I see. This experience reminded me of some research I read where Empathy among college students has decreased 40% since the year 2000.

Over the course of my career, I have had the opportunity to interact with hundreds of young people and their families. The one issue that seems to be consistent is the "Center Of The Universe" mentality they have developed over their relatively short lifetime.

I'm interested to know your thoughts on this topic. Don't hesitate to leave a comment.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Young Boy and the Rattlesnake

By Stephen C. Schultz (Editors note: This is a story used in a Wilderness Treatment Program for Young Adults . Many come to this program having struggled with substance abuse and interacting with unsavory friends.)   Many years ago there was a young Native American who lived in the very land you are residing in. He decided to seek wisdom by journeying to the top of Indian Peak. As he approached the base of the mountain he came across a rattlesnake that slithered beside him. The snake coiled as if to strike and the young boy moved back quickly in fear of being struck by the snake’s deadly venom. At that instant the snake spoke to the boy saying, “Don’t be afraid of me, I mean you no harm. I come to you to ask a favor. I see that you are about to traverse to the top of Indian Peak and was hoping that you may be willing to place me in your satchel so that I don’t have to make the long journey alone.” The young boy surprised by the snake’s request quickly re...
3 comments
Read more

Video Games, Anxiety and ADHD - Free Family Resources

 By Stephen C. Schultz This guide provides resources for parents navigating the challenges of ADHD, anxiety, and video game management in their teens and young adults. ADHD Resources The following books and websites can help you better understand and manage ADHD: Recommended Books: Russell Barkley : Taking Charge of ADHD Hallowell & Ratey : Delivered from Distraction Harvey Parker : The ADD Hyperactivity Workbook for Parents, Teachers, & Kids Bradley & Giedd : Yes, Your Teen Is Crazy!: Loving Your Kid Without Losing Your Mind Michael Gurian : The Minds of Boys: Saving Our Sons from Falling Behind in School and Life Mohab Hanna : Making the Connection: A Parents’ Guide to Medication in AD/HD Helpful Websites: CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) Help for ADHD American Academy of Pediatrics American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Anxiety Resources: The following websites provide support and information for mana...
15 comments
Read more

When Seizures Strike: A Story of Resilience, Love, and Hope

 By Stephen C. Schultz  As a father, I never anticipated seeing and emotionally supporting my daughter through 50 seizures a day, for days on end. Each seizure brings with it a stiffened left arm and leg, convulsing motions, eyes rolling back to the left, and her head contorting to the right. Her breathing stops for the duration. The most harrowing aspect is that she remains conscious and aware of her surroundings. She can hear people talking, but her body simply does what it does. After 15 to 30 seconds of not breathing, a panic begins to set in. What if the seizure doesn’t stop? It’s a horrific experience to endure time and time again. It is nothing short of torture, with the emotional and psychological trauma that accompanies it. There were four seizures in the car on the way to the emergency room, all within about 20 minutes. After 10 hours in the emergency room, she was admitted and immediately hooked up to an EEG. There was a computer screen displaying graphs and a video...
Post a Comment
Read more