Was This Rude?

[LiteBrite]

Something happened to me today, and I'd like to hear people's opinions about whether or not it was rude.

I had been to lunch with a friend at the mall. We both happened to park on the same row, so after lunch we walked out together and stood near our two cars talking for about 5 or 10 minutes.

I was standing facing the mall, which was also the direction traffic was coming from on this row. A woman started driving down the row towards us, and when she was about 7 cars away she stopped and sat there for a few seconds, then started gesturing at me. She was pointing towards cars, then pointing at me, then putting her palms up in the air in a questioning way. At first I wasn't even sure it was me she was trying to communicate with, but eventually I got the message. She was trying to say that it was time for me to get in my car and drive away so she could have my space. Just as I finally decoded this message, she pulled forward to us, rolled down her window, and asked if either of us ladies were about to leave our parking spaces. I said, "Yes, as soon as we're done talking." She then drove forward to the space that had been available the whole time which was probably 15 seonds walking time farther than where we were.

The whole thing just felt really funny to me. Her gestures had a very aggressive look to them, although she did put on a nice voice when she drove up to speak to us. However, asking that question put us in the position of having to choose between cutting our conversation short just so she wouldn't have to walk those extra 5 car lengths, or to basically say no to her implied request (which was, in effect, what I did). Just to make this clear, the empty space she ended up parking in was clearly visible to her the whole time, and there were other spaces available on nearby rows, too - it wasn't like Christmas Eve at the mall, just a regular weekday crowd.

So, was she rude?

 

[LindsayDunn228]

YES!!!!! She was definitely rude.

 

[LadyyRedd]

Personally, I don't think she was rude as long as she didn't have a rude or nasty tone when she asked. Of course, she didn't need to do all the gesturing, she could've just asked to begin with.

Kimya

 

[anewvance]

OMG I hate when people do this! It used to make me so nervous to hurry up since they were waiting. But now I just take my time (but in a quick manner), I usually have kids and packages and diaper bag and strollers to put away. I don't stress about it, especially since usually there is another spot a few spaces down the way.

So yes, the lady was incredibly rude!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

"Rude" is being "polite".

 

[angel659]

Hi

I would definately say she was rude. I wouldnt hurry anyone up if there is another space obviously in view she should of parked there. Whats an extra 5 cars

Dont worry you will experience people like that. Its best just to ignore them and not to let them rush you. Some people can be so lazy

 

[Meezers]

Don't know if I would consider it rude or not....but I would have walked right back in the mall!

 

[Rhonda922]

Personally, I would never bother to stop and pester anyone about where were they parked and asked if they were leaving. I don't see the point in bothering people. I just drive around 'til I find a spot even if it is far away. I don't get people that always need to park in the closest spot to the door.

 

[disneymom3]

anewvance--my DH gets very nervous and hurries everyone along if someone waits for our spot. I wish he would get the attitude change you have. Yeah, I will move quickly but I am not going to be rushing the kids to get buckled just cause some doofus wants to sit and wait instead of using their time to WALK into the store.

OP, I would say she was more rude than weird!

 

[Marseeya]

The way you described it doesn't sound rude to me. I'm just used to that kind of parking lot behavior from where I go to school. It's pretty dog-eat-dog in the parking garage, so you have to "stalk" people to get a spot. People are constantly gesturing to see if you're leaving. I'm always nice and will tell them where to go wait by my car when I am leaving. If I'm not leaving, I just say no.

No big deal.

 

[NAB]

For some reason this woman wanted your spot. You say there was another spot she could see from where you where. Sometimes I don't see other spots until I am walking pass them. I don't think she was rude. You your self said she asked nicely and moved on. Why would you stand and talk another 15 minutes in a parking lot anyway. Why wouldn't someone assume you were leaving.

 

[southernbella]

I think the hand gestures were rude. I would have extended my conversation at that point.

I always manage to get the older groucy person honking at me while I am trying to buckle my 2 DD's into their carseats. Hello, I know I live in Lower Alabama where people let their kids ride in the back of pickups going 75 down the interstate, but that doesn't mean that I have too! Whew, thanks for letting me rant, I feel better.

Sbella

 

[clh2]

anewvance--my DH gets very nervous and hurries everyone along if someone waits for our spot. I wish he would get the attitude change you have. Yeah, I will move quickly but I am not going to be rushing the kids to get buckled just cause some doofus wants to sit and wait instead of using their time to WALK into the store.

OP, I would say she was more rude than weird!

My DH used to do this, and it would infuriate me. He would hop in the car while I got DD in buckled in her carseat. Then I would get in, and DH would back out of the spot BEFORE MY SEATBELT WAS BUCKLED just because someone would be waiting for my spot. DH finally got the hint, that it was important for me to have my seatbelt on too.

 

[TheDisneyTraveler06]

I do think she was very ruide to do this.
Especially if she could clearly see that you and your friend were holding a conversation.

 

[mickeyfan2]

Rude but also LAZY!!!!!!

 

[mtemm]

My DH used to do this, and it would infuriate me. He would hop in the car while I got DD in buckled in her carseat. Then I would get in, and DH would back out of the spot BEFORE MY SEATBELT WAS BUCKLED just because someone would be waiting for my spot. DH finally got the hint, that it was important for me to have my seatbelt on too.

dh does this, or used to do it, all the time. even when we were leaving from our own driveway. I finally started leaving my car door open until I was buckled in. lol.

to the op, it doesn't sound rude to me, but then, I wasn't there so don't know the tone.

 

[LiteBrite]

Thanks for the responses, everybody. Naturally, since most of you validated my opinion, I'm feeling good about it. However, I appreciate the other side, too.

The funny thing that I forgot to mention, was that somehow, right after she parked and left her car, 4 other cars around us left and we were surrounded by empty spaces!

 

[mickeyfan2]

I find it even worse when you are walking to your car and a person follows you in their car. This really annoys me. When this happens I intentionally cut across rows and eventually they give up.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I would have yelled at her to quit being so darned snarky!!!

Really, though, I think her hand gestures were over the top, but she might not have meant anything by them. She should have just paid attention and gone to an open spot. If there weren't open spots then she should have just nicely asked you if you were leaving without her calisthenics.

 

[LoraJ]

I've had people gesture at me all of the time if I am leaving a spot. I never thought of it as rude.