I hate door dings - we probably all do. Sure they can be fixed but it's a pain in the ass to deal with. My problem is what it says about other people. There are so many drivers who have so little regard for other's property that they don't think twice about slamming their door open into the car next to them after parking. Of course, leaving a note is so last-century, and it would imply a conscience, which would imply personal accountability - something everyone seems to be lacking these days.
On the occasion when I find a door ding and it obviously matches the car next to me (position of ding, colour of paint, my door paint obvious on their door etc), I'm left with a dilemma. Do I "do unto others" and scratch the hell out of their car, which lowers me to their level? Or do I be the bigger person and just leave? The morally correct answer is to drive away. But I'll admit on more than one occasion, I've done damage to the other vehicle purely out of revenge.
For most people, you wouldn't go up to someone in the street and punch them, or take their wallet, or break into their house. So why is damaging their vehicle not in the same category? And why, on the occasion when people are caught doing it, do they lash out so violently when challenged? As if somehow it's their right to damage your property, and you're somehow in the wrong for catching them doing it?
2 comments:
About a year ago I caught the "villain" in the act, as I was heading towards my car. She was having the rear-left door widely opened and touching my rear-right door, all the while pushing with her fat ass (she was fat, I'm not saying bad words) while lowering her child into the back seat. Needless to say, my car had a nice 3 cm long scratch, right down to the metal.
When I confronted her, she starting yelling, she didn't admit to anything even though I opened her door and showed her the damage matches where her door would touch my door. She then locked herself in the car and called her husband, threatened to call the police (which I invited her to do; of course she did not do it).
During her 5 minute call, I took pictures for the insurance company; this was again a reason for her to lose her mind.
Finally she agreed to fill in the document for the insurance company, but she did not fill in everything and it was really hard even for the insurance company to reach her.
It was all solved in about 3 months.
I feel your pain, I even "invented" some magnetic padding to place on my car sides to prevent the dings. The interesting question to me is whether you/me are wrong to assume that offenders are truly in the wrong. I mean if 90% of drivers feel its OK to let their door push onto your car then maybe we are being unreasonable in our expectations.
For now I just park way away from everyone, at least in my city parking isn't insanely tight. A little extra walk justifies more french fries too.
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