Respecting others' cars

[x]

About 8 years ago, I had the distinct pleasure of watching someone sit on the fender of my '81 MC SC ... uninvited ... at a local S Elgin cruise night. I slowly made my way back to my car ... and just stood there ... watching him ... wondering how long he was planning to plant his rear end on my car's fender. I didn't wait too long; his buddy suddenly noticed that I was staring at them ... and motioned for him to move. He looked back at me, shrugged and walked away. I didn't say a word, though when I saw him leave in a spotless older (late 1960s early 1970s as I recall) Dodge, I wish I had. You really think I'd have survived unscathed had I sat on HIS car?

Now, sure ... my '81 MC SC (like all of my Monte Carlos) is FAR from perfect ... so a new scratch on an already-scratched fender is NOT a big deal. And, given the shape of the paint on it and my other MCs, I suppose I shouldn't be all that concerned...or complain too much. However, it is the principle. Too many times, people disrespect other peoples' property ... without a thought.

Something similar happened just this past late April. I walked out of work one afternoon, to find a car parked next to mine with a flat tire. As I walked up to my 87 MC LS/CL, I calmly took note that the people changing the tire were very close to my car. Then, as I walked past the front to the driver's door, I noticed a guy put his wallet on the hood of my car ... gliding it over the hood as he reached into it. I opened the door ... watching him as he left the wallet on the hood of my car. The girl with him happened to notice my stare ... and motioned for him to remove his wallet. He did ... and actually apologized, saying, "Oh, sorry, sir." I just nodded...and then shook my head as I got into my car.

Then, the first Monday in May, I came out of my doctor's office ... to find a center cap on my '87 MC LS/CL's honeycomb/checkerboard wheels missing. All 4 were on the car when I went in for my appointment, but only 3 were left when I got back to the car. The one missing ... driver's side front....

Maybe it's just me ... but I treat everyone else's car, whether I like it or not, as if it were my own. I don't lean on them, I don't sit on them, I don't even TOUCH them ... unless told it is OK. Why others don't have a similar mentality ... especially car enthusiasts ... I do not understand. In some ways, I don't even understand non-car enthusiasts not understanding this concept....

*sighs*

Anyone else have similar experiences?



Cort | 35swm | "Mr Monte Carlo"."Mr Road Trip" | pig valve.pacemaker ...Chitown #2 = 07/25/09
WRMNshowcase.legos.HO.models.MCs.RTs.CHD = www.chevyasylum.com/cort
"All around me are familiar faces" ... Tears For Fears ... 'Mad World'

[twomanymontes]

Some people have no respect, Last year February when 87 Monte LS, 95GTS and Myself entered an indoor car show, our cars were at the corner of the show, there was a section cleared for a mini concert deal [some local Doo Wop band], well even though our cars were ropped off, Joe and I still had people leaning on the cars. One guy got pissed because I moved him off Doug's car twice, then stood there until the concert thing ended. I know Joe saw people on his car too.

[85t5mcss]

Cort,
this is something where you don't have the mental capacity to understand. You, I, and most people respect other people's cars, houses, property and so on. We can't understand the concept of disrespect because we were raised with better morals, learned better morals, or were just born that way. Unfortunately, those people exist and we can't do a thing about it except keep them parked and locked up in your own garage or museum. Which defeats the purpose of a car IMHO. I'm sorry to hear that u have had to deal with inconsiderate asses like that. It's aggravating and makes no sense. They just don't have the respect for people and they just don't care. Typically, people like that never have anything nice. They prefer to just bring others down to their level.

Mine is not perfect either, but that does not mean that I cannot treat it like it is. I don't need others helping make it worse.

[x]

Yikes, Dave ... why'd they have the concert so close to the car show or vice versa?

May 23, 2009 20:51:10 GMT -5 85t5mcss said:

Cort,
this is something where you don't have the mental capacity to understand. You, I, and most people respect other people's cars, houses, property and so on. We can't understand the concept of disrespect because we were raised with better morals, learned better morals, or were just born that way.

AMEN!

85t5mcss said:

Mine is not perfect either, but that does not mean that I cannot treat it like it is. I don't need others helping make it worse.

Exactly.

I treat my MCs, well the older 4, anyway, as if they're 100% show cars. They aren't; more like ... 10% show cars ... but they are garaged and kept clean all the time. If I can ever find an acceptable daily driver, the '87 MC LS/CL will receive the same treatment. I do take care of it, but obviously it gets a bit more rough.... .



Cort | 35swm | "Mr Monte Carlo"."Mr Road Trip" | pig valve.pacemaker ...RT 66 = Sept 5-16, '09
WRMNshowcase.legos.HO.models.MCs.RTs.CHD = www.chevyasylum.com/cort
"These times I've spent, I've realized" ... EMF ... 'Unbelievable'