Why is it that people get so possessive and prissy over their car parking space?

This morning I went to the supermarket. I hate shopping at the best of times and I knew I was going to have problems on a Saturday. When I pulled into the car park it was packed so I drove round for a couple of minutes and saw someone loading their car with their bags ready to leave. They weren't wasting time either. Bags were getting put in the boot of the car at speed. Then they saw me. Waiting patiently. Suddenly it all changed. The bags needed to be moved. The things IN the bags needed to be rearranged. Then mother took her coat off and put it in the boot. She got in the car to drive off. Then got out again to put the coat back on. Once she'd straightened her coat and checked her pockets she got back in, she left the door open while she tuned the radio in and carefully (oh so carefully) put her seat belt on. I'm the most patient person you'll ever meet but I was at melting point by this time. What's your take on it?

I agree with you 100%.
Last week I was parked in a row of cars at the side of the road. When I returned to my car to leave I found that the drivers in front and behind had given me a total of about 12" combined at the front and back. The car in front was empty, but a man was sitting in the driving seat of the car behind. There was nothing behind him. I asked him politely if he could reverse up a bit so I could get out and he refused. He was saying something about "If I do that I might not be able to get out when I want to..."(????)
In the end, I had to manoeuvre backwards and forwards two dozen times before I could get out of the space, the man behind checking constantly that I didn't touch his car. What a prat!

Hahaha! I have actually noticed that, too! It's like people think you are rude for waiting for a spot in a crowded car park.

It's not like I would wait for their spot if there was another one!

Go figure.

People ~ can't live with 'em, can't live ... no wait, you CAN live without 'em ;-P LOL

Cheers :-)

Cant agree with you more car parks at shopping centres have got to be the worse I for one lose my call in these places especially when there is some one in front of you trying to park I'm sure they think they are driving a lorry.

I have the same issue with this behavior as you do.

One possibility is that somehow THEY (mis)interpret your waiting as telling them to hurry up, and so they slow down as some sort of passive-aggressive I'll show them thing. It doesn't make sense, but then a lot of things people do do not really make sense.

Some people no matter what are naturally rude and figure they can waste a few minutes of your time and hopefully ruin your day too...

I say let the ol bat have her few minutes of trying to make someone else miserable and the next time it happens just smile and wave to them as they drive away.

Smiling at someone can piss them off more then cussing at them :)

It's a new pastime some people have adopted, being bloody minded I call it. I don't think that they can help themselves. They have the power and need to let you know it.

People are possessive because they see that someone else wants their space. They feel that they were here first and do not want to be rushed. In fact, since they are still parked, they want to take as much time as possible. It's very selfish and greedy I admit. The key is, they are only possessive when they see that someone else wants it. Suddenly their space is desired and they don't want to give it up because it's in such high demand. To solve this problem I would shop at non-peak times, do not try to park directly in front of the store doors, and if you have to wait for someone, wait for someone that is already in their car.

I can't stand people who follow me in their car while I am walking to mine. And if they are following me anyway, why don't they give me a ride?

As a motorist, you can't really claim ownership to a parking space. If they were leaving and saw you waiting, they should have just been nice to relinquish the parking space.

Some people feel pressured and it's possible you were being rude giving her the evil eye. Next time maybe you could say, "Are you leaving? Take your time!" Then maybe they won't feel as pressured and you won't feel as though you are being taken advantage of.

Or just park farther away and get a little exercise.

She was being a dick. how rude and frustrating.When someone is waiting for my spot I try to be as quick as possible what a silly woman.

I dont do this to ppl in fact if I see someone waiting, esp at this time of the year, I try to hurry up.

But I've actually had ppl HONK at me to hurry up! Let me tell you where I live {tourist town #1 in America} ppl are VERY VERY impatient!!!!

So anyways .... lol ... one time this man was honking over and over and so on... I locked my car back up and went back to the store. As I walked by him he cussed me out... I said " Oh Im sorry... did I have a sign up saying wait for me IM LEAVING?" then I laughed at him and kept walking towards the store... when he pulled into the stale only two down from me I turned around and went back to my car! He was NOT nice to me when I passed him going back to my car but he did watch me leave. I was just trying to teach him a small lesson in life! Am I wrong. ??? lol

Have a better day today ok!!!

i agree with you, i usually am pretty quick when leaving if someone is waiting, but on a few occasions, when i see a person, and they give me the "hurry up look" then i take my time. One time i was just getting to my space and going to open the trunk, and the person rolled down their window and yelled hurry up. I quickly put all the stuff in my trunk closed it and then slowly sat on my trunk. I waved at them. They drove away mad.

Honestly, since then something clicked. Its a little quirk of mine, and i know its wrong. But i hate leaving a space if someone is waiting for me. I blame that rude person.

When people see someone waiting for their parking space, I think they right away assume you are impatient and are rushing them. Maybe she was doing it intentionally to make a point, or maybe you read into the situation too much!