Auto Etiquette: touching someone's car/motorcycle
Lead Lap
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,593
Likes: 5
From: CA
I think it's a blatant sign of disrespect to touch, lean, or put objects on a vehicle which is not your own. I once saw a lady put her foot on a bumper to tie her shoe - I was hoping the would roll back and run her over the whole time... I knew for a fact that it was not her own car.
Pole Position
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 211
Likes: 0
From: CA
I hear a lot of "tough guy" talk on here but in all reality it's simple a car. You think when you park the car un-attended other people will stay away? Most don't care and go about their business. I've had old ladies swing their car into my car while I was in the car. What would you guys do? Go into a tirade and assault an old lady?
I've learned that most people don't care about a car and it's simply a method of transportation. Life is too short to get mad over these things. Either park FAR away and hope nothing happens or don't drive your car.
As for the OP's questions at car shows, if you worry so much about your pride and joy then DO NOT go to a car show. There will always be parents with kids that want to touch things. I have two toddlers and have taught them well HOWEVER kids will be kids and will have momentary forgetfulness.
I would remind kids to keep their hands to themselves but if they forget not much I can do and if some ignorant car owner decides to verbally insult my kids I will defend them for sure and not be happy.
Once I was at a car show with many expensive exotics and it was an open house party. Some 3 year old throws an ice cube across the room and skims an R8. The child's dad is a good friend of mine and also car owner, he was extremely mad at his son for doing it but only so much you can do as a 3 year old will not listen or remember ALL THE TIME.
I've learned that most people don't care about a car and it's simply a method of transportation. Life is too short to get mad over these things. Either park FAR away and hope nothing happens or don't drive your car.
As for the OP's questions at car shows, if you worry so much about your pride and joy then DO NOT go to a car show. There will always be parents with kids that want to touch things. I have two toddlers and have taught them well HOWEVER kids will be kids and will have momentary forgetfulness.
I would remind kids to keep their hands to themselves but if they forget not much I can do and if some ignorant car owner decides to verbally insult my kids I will defend them for sure and not be happy.
Once I was at a car show with many expensive exotics and it was an open house party. Some 3 year old throws an ice cube across the room and skims an R8. The child's dad is a good friend of mine and also car owner, he was extremely mad at his son for doing it but only so much you can do as a 3 year old will not listen or remember ALL THE TIME.
Pole Position
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 211
Likes: 0
From: CA
let me tell you a story..
in 2005 I bought a new motorcycle. big fat cruiser with chrome pipes, phat tire conversion 6° rake, the works.
I went to the mall, and when I came out some idiot was letting his brat sit on my motorcycle.
I get that it isn't the kids fault, just stupid disrespectful parents.
I walked over and asked what he thought he was doing, the father responded, oh my kid just wanted to sit on it..
I calmly pointed out that it was a $20,000 vehicle and I doubt he would be very happy if I went and say, sat on or in his car while he was in the mall. I also pointed out that the pipes get very hot and his kid could burn himself or get hurt if the bike fell over. I wasn't over the top, I was calm, but I was pissed and he could tell.
So he tells his little brat to get off, and what does this kid do, he climbs down by stepping on the pipes, and melts his shoes to my pipes.
At that point I let loose on the moron, to whit his wife called mall security. Probably the worst thing she could have done, you see in my town the mall security is manned by the city police cadets, they aren't rent a cops but LEOs in training, and they tend to address things more like a LEO and less like a mall cop.
So the mall security comes over, hears the complaint, writes Mr. Moron a ticket for vehicular vandalism, which is recognized by the local PD and Court, and they take all his vehicle insurance information and advises me in front of him to file a claim to have my pipes repaired.
---
now had Mr. Moron been a parent and explained to his little snot box that touching someone else's vehicle is a no no, then he wouldn't have had to pay the citation, nor explain to his insurance company why they were buying me a set of $1200 exhaust pipes.
My kid has been around car shows since she was an infant, she knows very well not to tough any vehicle, even at shows like the manufacturer auto shows where she is allowed to get in the vehicle, she still asks the attendants before jumping in.
in 2005 I bought a new motorcycle. big fat cruiser with chrome pipes, phat tire conversion 6° rake, the works.
I went to the mall, and when I came out some idiot was letting his brat sit on my motorcycle.
I get that it isn't the kids fault, just stupid disrespectful parents.
I walked over and asked what he thought he was doing, the father responded, oh my kid just wanted to sit on it..
I calmly pointed out that it was a $20,000 vehicle and I doubt he would be very happy if I went and say, sat on or in his car while he was in the mall. I also pointed out that the pipes get very hot and his kid could burn himself or get hurt if the bike fell over. I wasn't over the top, I was calm, but I was pissed and he could tell.
So he tells his little brat to get off, and what does this kid do, he climbs down by stepping on the pipes, and melts his shoes to my pipes.
At that point I let loose on the moron, to whit his wife called mall security. Probably the worst thing she could have done, you see in my town the mall security is manned by the city police cadets, they aren't rent a cops but LEOs in training, and they tend to address things more like a LEO and less like a mall cop.
So the mall security comes over, hears the complaint, writes Mr. Moron a ticket for vehicular vandalism, which is recognized by the local PD and Court, and they take all his vehicle insurance information and advises me in front of him to file a claim to have my pipes repaired.
---
now had Mr. Moron been a parent and explained to his little snot box that touching someone else's vehicle is a no no, then he wouldn't have had to pay the citation, nor explain to his insurance company why they were buying me a set of $1200 exhaust pipes.
My kid has been around car shows since she was an infant, she knows very well not to tough any vehicle, even at shows like the manufacturer auto shows where she is allowed to get in the vehicle, she still asks the attendants before jumping in.
This is a case of disrespectful parents for sure - definitely not the kid's fault as I have pointed out in my post above. Anyone who tries to belittle kids is a disgrace to himself as kids simply don't understand. As parents we try to monitor our kids the best we can but only other parents will know it's not 100% guarantee.
Forgive and move on is usually the best path to take
.
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