– Taken at 9:23 AM on March 29, 2007 –
AKA: How to tell if your coworkers hate their job by watching how they park their cars.
I’ve been festering this theory…
Personally, when I finally get to work, after getting the kids to kindergarden and driving 20 km, I simply pull into the first available parking spot I can find, get my stuff and heads to my desk to crank out some bad code.
In «parking lot psychology terms», this means that I like my job, as do most of my coworkers.
But every day there are quite a few people that take their sweet time, and actually backs their car into place, a process that takes up to 10 times as long.
I want to go home!
My theory is that the people who back their cars into a parking space like this, simply can’t wait for the day to be over so that they can go back home. They actually spend lots of thought and energy even before coming to work on how they can leave in the fastest way possible.
Check it out for yourself the next time you get to work, and see who among your coworkers would rather be somewhere else… :)
Doesn’t work for me. I back my car when I park every day I go to work. And I love my job. I’m looking forward to go to work every day.
I back my car everywhere I go, even if I visits friends, og go to a movie…
But if you back your car in, you are already thinking about leaving, which is my point. When I get to work the only thing on my mind is to get in there and make stuff.
I back my car in anywhere, because it's a lot safer to back into a parking space than out of it. Many Norwegians do, most Americans don't, it seems. Bot to work I walk / bike. Keeps me from getting fatter.
If everyone backed their car every time, we would save 15% on car insurace (?). When you arrive by car you are well adapted into the driving, and more likely more focused on driving), than you are when you start to drive. My Skoda Octavia already has been marked twice by hit-and-run drivers at mall parking lots. Don´t know wether they hit my car on arrival or departure, though.
People Who Back Cars Into Parking Spaces Vs. Those Who Do Not.
When you see that someone has taken the extra time back into a parking spot BEFORE disembarking at their destination, you can imagine they are aware of their exit. These are «Exit Strategists».
I now know two people who consistently back their cars into parking spaces, garages, etc… as often as possible. I have read that it’s safer to do so as backing in, in the first place, requires the attention of a driver who already sees the coast is clear, while backing out is more dangerous to a driver who has just gotten in the car and may not have full views or know the position of other vehicles.
I think that people who back in are those inclined to «think ahead» on a regular basis. They are habitual strategists or, at least, those who are thinking about their next move. Research would need to be conducted to find out if Back In Parkers are more strategic, but I am inclined to think that they are, along with CAUTIOUS. Not just cautious in the way they drive, but cautious risk-takers and highly considerate of their «moves». Strategists.
So, the next time you see a Backer In’er – remember, they are thinking about the big picture and if you’re in it, they might have their exit already planned. Are you in the car?