Yes, I have been offline a bit this week, my time consumed by reading your thoughtful comments on “The Last Ride.” Thank you for your kindness. We are already thinking about another dog, but it will have to wait until we move into our new house in November. I wonder if I’ll ever stop hearing the jingle-jangle of his dog collar in my mind.Far be it from me to remain solemn for long. I return in a blaze of blasphemy to call out the dregs of society — those who back into parking spaces. Yeah, I’m talking to you, old man. You and your red Silverado with the foam cactus on the antenna. Your motivations are unknown. Your regard for my time is zero. And yet, you go to great lengths to inconvenience me by backing into your parking spot.
Perhaps you feel that after you make your appearance, you will need to make a quick getaway. Had I known that Leif Garrett was in my midst, I would’ve thrown my size 10 control-top panties with the withering elastic into the bed of your truck. Or maybe your machinations are of the evil ilk and you’ve got an Glock hidden in your glove box, nestled between the Wet Ones and your map of the Show-Me State. If this is the case, as you were my friend. As you were.
Regardless of your intentions, I must point out the obvious — it takes no more effort to back out of a spot than it does to back into a spot. In fact, I’m pretty sure the difficulty level and risk for collision are higher when backing into a spot that’s surrounded by other vehicles.
If you or someone you know is a parking spot backer-inner, please tell me why. What is the benefit? Do you know it drives others crazy? Then why oh why do you still do it? Personally, I think it’s passive-aggressive behavior and all practioners need to remove the corks from their respective asses.
I am not a backer-inner, although I am a puller-througher when possible, especially with the new car. I think the backing in has to be age correlated; I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone under 60 (probably even 50, really) do it. Perhaps they figure since they have the time now…
I back into a place in the parking garage at work ONLY because there are two spaces situated on one side of the side-by-side up (from the lower story) and down (from the upper story) ramps. I also get there between 6:30 and 7:00 AM so no one is there to be inconvenienced by said backing-in. This way when I depart, I can pull out without having to back up down a ramp in order to get out of the structure.
And I HATE backing up. I can parallel park like a champ but takes a few attempts to back up straight.
Maybe they’re all just crazy; after all, crazy is as crazy does. I would have to rank backer-uppers as a 7 on a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being the worst). What ranks as a 10 on my scale you ask; why, my worst enemies, all you sideways parkers. I get downright livid when I see a car parked like this. Oh how I wish I had the balls to pull in sideways right beside you!
The Cranky Faced Bitch from Hell at work backs in. Always. With her new Infiniti. Her husband picked her up (in the new Gigantor Truck) yesterday and HE backed in. I guess it is the backing-in family. I would ask her, but that stick-up-the-ass look she has has precluded me from ever speaking to her.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a female backer-inner. I always assumed it was a middle aged male thing
I am a female backer inner, although I much prefer a puller-trhough.
The rationale is that in busy spots, there is usually someone waiting for your spot, so you can speedily leave them to it.
I would much rather back up into a set space than into moving traffic.
I really don’t have a stick up my arse though.
My driver’s ed teacher insisted that we always back in, because it is apparently the only truly safe way to park, ie, you can see when you have visibility as you pull out of the space as opposed to backing out and not being able to see anything.
Of course, I’ve been driving for 4 years now and I never back in and I’d have a have a hard time if I had to do it…
My husband is a backer-inner, and he’s not even 30 yet. I have no idea why he does this. He claims it’s for convenience when he leaves, but he won’t pull through, which has the same end result. This leads me to assume backing in is some kind of testimony to his masculinity or some such crap.
I generally back in so I can make a quick escape, and to try to avoid those 2-3 seconds when you’re backing out of a parking space with no ability to see what’s coming, taking it on faith that nobody’s gonna slam into your backing-out rear end. I will say that I do it very quickly and neatly, and don’t often need more than one shot to get it right. But if the parking lot’s mobbed, I don’t do it as a matter of courtesy and not holding up the party. Oh yeah, I’m a mid-30’s female so I guess I buck the backer-inner demographic!
I’m a puller-througher from way back, but not a backer-inner without major justification. That’s not because I have a problem backing up — I just usually don’t see the need to do it. However, I think probably 75% of the backer-inners of the world have done so because they have found a great parking place, but they’ve gone down the aisle the wrong direction, so unless their vehicles are double-jointed and able to execute a U-turn from hell, backing in is the only way they can get rewarded for stupidity — getting a good parking place even if they DID go the wrong direction in the parking lot.
I’m a girl in my 30s and I always back into spaces - because I only have rear packing sensors on my car and am too scared to park without their assistance! I may also be English, which is a bad start I know, but I honestly don’t have a cork up my arse!!