Hatrack River Forum: WHACK!!!

This is topic WHACK!!! in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
http://www.hatrack.com/ubb/main/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=2;t=035998

Posted by unicornwhisperer (Member # 294) on :

I would just like to send a message into cyberspace apologizing to all the car owners whose cars I have accidently whacked with my own car door....

It's especially hard when you have a toddler in a car seat to get out.

Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :

Oh...it's okay.

[Grumble]

Although I WAS kind of hoping to never get a door ding, it sort of goes with the territory. I'm trying to learn not to obsess over material things.

Is it okay if I scratch my acceptance of your apology onto your trunk lid using my ignition key?

Posted by unicornwhisperer (Member # 294) on :

I highly doubt I'm the one who actually did it to your car... seeing as I've never been to Texas......ever.. [Razz]

Posted by Farmgirl (Member # 5567) on :

..except Bob's no longer in Texas...

Posted by unicornwhisperer (Member # 294) on :

[Eek!]

Posted by KarlEd (Member # 571) on :

I have 6 nieces and nephews visiting this week. I took them all out for ice cream. While I was holding a 1 year old while helping a 3 year old put on a shoe, a 6 year old let the car door (of my little Hyundai) swing open and tap the tire of the SUV next to us. Next thing I hear is "Excuse me! Your CAR DOOR" coming from a face in a side-view mirror with a look that might turn Medusa to stone. I appologized profusely, but all I could think was "It's a frickin' tire for heaven's sake". [Roll Eyes]

Posted by romanylass (Member # 6306) on :

Karl, how did you get 6 kids in a Hyundai?

Posted by breyerchic04 (Member # 6423) on :

5 were in the trunk?

Posted by TMedina (Member # 6649) on :

*snicker* I obsessed over my new car for a week and I noted when I got my first ding.

After that, I stopped caring. [Big Grin]

Oh yeah - how is Uncle Karl holding up? [Big Grin]

-Trevor

Posted by 0range7Penguin (Member # 7337) on :

Never dinged anyone...

Don't have kids though.

Posted by unicornwhisperer (Member # 294) on :

Maybe the rest of the Karl's nephew and neices were in another car?

Not driving of course...

Maybe I should change the name of this thread to DING! because I haven't really WHACKED a car that hard....

Still I feel bad...
But what can you do? Go in the grocery store and yell
"Whoever owns a burgandy PT Cruiser with a license plate that says 'Pete'. I'm sorry I accidently put a ding in your car!!"

Posted by Bob the Lawyer (Member # 3278) on :

Karl, I prolly woulda said something like, "Maybe if you didn't own a ridiculously over-sized SUV that you don't actually need because you only do city driving this never would have happened. But I'll pay for your tire ding if you'll pay for any medical expenses caused by the filth your vehicle belches into my air."

It'd be a good lesson for the youngens.

Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :

[ROFL]

Here where it snows, people have much healthier attitudes about cars, I think. I mean, the darn thing's going to be rusted through and through before too long anyway. And those door dings? Well, it's just like the lines on an old character actors face.

Seriously, I'm much better than I used to be about this kind of thing. I would NEVER yell at anyone though unless I thought they were just being completely flagrant. Having kids in tow is reason enough to be unable to control the occassional door swing. It just goes with the territory.

Still...if the car is brand new or well-maintained, perhaps a moment's guilt is in order.

The real answer is do your best not to do it. If you have no choice but to park close to other cars with a car-load of kids you don't trust to open the doors carefully enough, then you probably shouldn't trust them to get out of the car on their own in a busy parking lot either. I'd be more worried about the kid's safety, really. But if your kids have learned not to run ahead of you in parking lots, they're old enough to learn to be careful opening car doors, no?

If you've got a carload of kids you don't know, maybe it'd be better to park away from other cars (at least one space on each side) if available. If not, then you could try telling the kids not to open the doors until you come and get them. Or remind them to open the doors slowly.

Or, put rubber protectors on your door edges so you do less damage to the cars next to you. I had a car with VERY POINTY door edges. I got a plastic thingy that stopped the door from really hitting other cars. It cost a couple of bucks and saved me from feeling guilty or having to remember ALL THE TIME that the door was a problem.

I think this stuff is unavoidable, but if you are feeling guilty about it, then the above are some possible steps.

Not sure whether anyone could ever do much with toddlers and car doors. Once they learn the principle of how to open them, they are going to do it no matter how much you remind them. Slightly older kids are probably going to be easier to train/remind.

The other problem, of course, is that little kids don't have the strength to really control the door. They generally have to put all their weight into opening it. Then it shoots away from them like a shuttle launch.

It's why I like parking next to minivans with thos sliding doors. The kids can whack that door open with all their might and all it'll do is eventually wreck the rubber stop at the end of the slider.

Posted by Morbo (Member # 5309) on :

quote:
Originally posted by unicornwhisperer:
Still I feel bad...
But what can you do? Go in the grocery store and yell
"Whoever owns a burgandy PT Cruiser with a license plate that says 'Pete'. I'm sorry I accidently put a ding in your car!!"

You could write a note and stick it under the windshield wiper of your victim.

"To the owner of the puke green Hummer:
Sorry I dinged you with my door. People are staring and muttering so I thought I would write this fake apology note.
So long and thanks for all the fish."

[ June 30, 2005, 03:37 AM: Message edited by: Morbo ]

Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :

Heh, when I saw this thread title, I thought you'd decided to bring the penguin game back to life. That's honestly the first thing I thought of.

Does anyone know what happened to that?

Posted by Allegra (Member # 6773) on :

When I was about 6 I was getting out of the car and I accidentally hit my door against the car next to me. The guy who owned the car happend to be nearby.
He started screaming at me. I am sorry that I scratched his car, but I am not sure yelling at a little kid was the mature way to handle it.

Posted by The Rabbit (Member # 671) on :

There is a simple solution for people who are worried about getting their car dinged. Park where no one is likely to pull in next to you. Way out in the back of the parking lot, or maybe on a curb down the street or maybe at home in the garage. If no one parks next to you, then no one can ding you with your door.

People need to recognize that there are trade-offs with every choice.

Posted by unicornwhisperer (Member # 294) on :

You said it, Rabbit!