Rude Or Illiterate?
There are two spaces at the Santa Monica Public Library for people to pull in and return their library books. Not a whole lot of complicated language on the signs beside them, either.
I drove around the library to pull into one. And around and around. No dice. Two cars parked there. This asshat with a fancy-schmancy silver brand new-looking Mercedes two-seater had his flashers on.
Grrrr.
The logic of people who park assholishly but put on their flashers is reminiscent of that of kids who cover their eyes and think you can't see them -- as if use of flashers makes one's car invisible, and helps it defy the laws of physics.
But, let's give the guy the benefit of the doubt. Was he, perchance, returning a book to the Y across the street? Because that's the building he trotted over from to get his car. Eventually.
Or...did he pay so much for the flashy car that he couldn't afford a quarter for the parking?
Rude Or Illiterate?
Neither. Entitled.
Doobie at August 25, 2007 1:22 AM
Actually, rude and entitled.
Doobie at August 25, 2007 1:29 AM
The guy needs a cat.
Dave at August 25, 2007 7:49 AM
What a maroon.
Flynne at August 25, 2007 7:56 AM
A cat?
Amy Alkon at August 25, 2007 8:10 AM
Yeah, a cat.
In his car.
With no litterbox.
Actually, a couple of wasps' nests in his car would be better.
I like the sound of that.
wasps' nests
It's fun to say.
Deirdre B. at August 25, 2007 8:22 AM
A cat would teach him humility and clean off his chin.
Dave at August 25, 2007 8:26 AM
The look on his face "Is this hot chick really trying to hit on me????"
Dave at August 25, 2007 8:29 AM
Thanks for the hot chick reference, and actually, I wanted to slap him and get $50 for my time and aggravation.
Wish I knew his name so I could post it.
Amy Alkon at August 25, 2007 8:58 AM
Yeah, the look on his face is priceless. What did he say to you, Amy, when you took this picture? No, better question...what did you say to him?
duckyglass at August 25, 2007 12:33 PM
Actually, I took these a few weeks ago and forgot to post them, so I forget what I said.
I did just send the link to the YMCA, and ask them to tell the guy if they know him.
Amy Alkon at August 25, 2007 12:48 PM
I try hard not to be biased, but every case of road-entitlement I've seen has been committed by someone in an expensive car or an SUV (which are expensive by default).
Yeah, these cases pisses me off, but even more I wonder if arrogance is an evolutionary advantage and humility a disadvantage.
I think arrogance is so last megennium. Isaac Asimov argued (and I think Nash gaming theory proves) that cooperation is the most effective strategy.
Let's hear from the ladies: are you more attracted to competitive men or altruistic ones?
DaveG at August 25, 2007 3:17 PM
Dave G
I believe the research shows that following the other participant's lead on the prior move leads to maximum gene presence in the population. If the other participant cooperates on the prior move, you cooperate on this one. If the other participant does not cooperate on the prior move, you don't cooperate on this move.
All the studies with which I am familiar are dyads have the initial move a cooperative one. Does anyone have any knowledge of more participants or an initial uncooperative move?
Machida at August 25, 2007 4:10 PM
dyads and have the initial move a cooperative one.
Machida at August 25, 2007 4:50 PM
This reminds me of the people who park their expensive/new cars across two spaces in a crowded parking lot.
Rebecca at August 25, 2007 7:11 PM
Machida,
I'm not familiar with the research you're citing. Can you give references or links?
Thx.
DaveG at August 25, 2007 7:19 PM
I try hard not to be biased, but every case of road-entitlement I've seen has been committed by someone in an expensive car or an SUV (which are expensive by default).
They know they can get away with it, or at least think they can, while everyone else is expected to follow the rules. And they would scream like hell if someone else did it to them, 'cause they're special.
This reminds me of the people who park their expensive/new cars across two spaces in a crowded parking lot.
They might as well put a "key me" sign on them.
Doobie at August 25, 2007 7:28 PM
Axelrod, The Evolution of Cooperation
http://www.amazon.com/Evolution-Cooperation-Robert-Axelrod/dp/0465005640/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-6958960-3804715?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1188126014&sr=8-1
Machida at August 26, 2007 4:01 AM
DaveG
Here is an overview of the book.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Evolution_of_Cooperation
Machida at August 26, 2007 6:29 AM
A good chapter on this in "Passions Within Reason" by Robert H. Frank:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0393960226?ie=UTF8&tag=advicegoddess-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0393960226
Amy Alkon at August 26, 2007 6:51 AM
And here's a talk of Frank's that I blogged from the Human Behavior & Evolution conference in Philly a few years back:
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2006/06/keeping_up_with_1.html
Amy Alkon at August 26, 2007 6:54 AM
Thanks everyone!
I couldn't find Asimov's essay online, but here's where to find it:
Nice Guys Finish First
Subject: violence versus cooperation
First Published In: Apr-80, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction
Collection(s): 1981 The Sun Shines Bright
Link to Asimov essays:
http://www.asimovonline.com/oldsite/Essays/society.html
Dr. Asimov was funny and coherent and could make any subject interesting.
DaveG at August 26, 2007 10:18 AM
DaveG -
Thanks for the link. I actually used to have about four years or so of Fantasy and SciFi. Asimov's essays were the biggest treat. You aren't kidding about his ability to make just about anything interesting. Unfortunately, he is far better known for his fiction, he is too oft forgotten as a great popularizer of science.
DuWayne at August 26, 2007 11:34 AM
WHat pisses me off are the assholes who park in handicap spaces. Back in colledge there was this prick who did it all the time. The local police wouldnt come onto the campus for a parking ticket and the campus police wouldnt do anything about it because the guys parent's were huge finacial supporters. So a couple of my friends and I got together, we pried the hubcaps off of his wheels and filled them with sardies, and we molded a huge handicapped symbol of the roof and hood of his car with with wet toilet paper and filled in both molds with raw eggs.
lujlp at August 26, 2007 4:38 PM
Entitlement and expensive cars. I love it.
Reminds me of the time I used to work at a convenient store, third shift. Some jerk gave tried to get all uppity with me because I wouldn't turn the gas pumps on. I wasn't allowed to at night. Not without the payment or deposit in advance.
But of course, this guy has a BMW and he walked right up to my door, after I announced over the intercom, "We do require payment in advance before we turn the gas pumps on, sir."
Well, he marched right up to the door and holding a 50 dollar bill, saying that he drives a BMW and he's got a 50-dollar bill, so I had to turn the pumps on.
"We do require payment in advance," I repeated.
"Well, I'm not going to do that, because then I would have to make two trips."
This I didn't understand at all, because he had already walked all the way to the door. Two steps more would have brought him right to my counter. He would have two trips anyway, since he had already made one to chew me out...that is, IF he planned on paying.
"If you're not going to turn the pumps on, I'll just get my gas across the street."
His loss. Ours was cheaper.
"Yes, sir!" I said, bowing stiffly, meaning that he was certainly free to go get his gas across the street. The girl I was working with went into hysterical laughter at this.
So, he did. Who cares? I obeyed my boss and told a stuck-up jerk where he could go.
Patrick at August 26, 2007 6:07 PM
...he had already walked all the way to the door. Two steps more would have brought him right to my counter. He would have two trips anyway, since he had already made one to chew me out...
A classic trifecta: rude and entitled and dumb...
soleil at August 26, 2007 6:47 PM
Reminds me of the time one of my brothers and his friend and I had gone to the mall in our town. The mall had just redone a lot of their parking spaces and added new ones for handicapped people. (We parked at the back of the lot, because god forbid someone nick his precious '68 Camaro.) While we were walking up to the entrance, this blonde woman in a brand new Escalade drives by, and zips into a handicap space. She sat there redoing her make-up and hair, and my bro and his friend were walking around the car, looking high and low at it. It was obvious she was loving the attention. (She didn't realize they were looking for her handicap permit.) She got out, just in time to hear my bro's friend say, "Oh I get it, she's got a MENTAL handicap!" Well, she did turn a deep red, but she still left her car there and walked into the mall!
Flynne at August 27, 2007 7:12 AM
And what about those "Designer Pickups"? Escalades and Navigators with cabs and short beds. I bet the owners/drivers have never wiped their asses with leaves in the woods. Remember the SUV Camp in the "outtakes" at the end of Pixar's "Cars"?
I've never heard or read of anyone who depended on their pickup for a living complaining about this, but how many farmers / handymen want a pimped-out ride with CD changer, plush interior, captain's chairs etc. for $30K?
DaveG at August 27, 2007 1:11 PM
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