The A to Z English Podcast The A to Z English Podcast | Am I the jerk for taking a parking space?
Situation:
You're running late for an important meeting and are desperately searching for a parking spot. As you turn into a crowded parking lot, you spot an available space. However, another driver is also eyeing the same spot and begins to approach it from a different direction. You speed up and manage to get into the spot just before the other driver can.
Now, you're left wondering if you might be perceived as the jerk in this situation. What's your take on it?
Transcript:
00:00:00
Jack
You're listening to the A-Z English podcast.
00:00:13
Jack
Welcome to the A-Z English podcast. My name is Jack and today I have another episode that I like to call. Am I the jerk?
00:00:24
Jack
So here is the situation.
00:00:27
Jack
You're running late for an important meeting.
00:00:30
Jack
And are desperately searching for a parking spot.
00:00:34
Jack
As you turn into a crowded parking lot, you spot an available space.
00:00:43
Jack
Another driver is also eyeing the same spot and begins to approach it from a different direction.
00:00:51
Jack
You speed up and manage to get into the spot just before the other driver.
00:00:58
Jack
Now you're left wondering if you might be perceived as the jerk in this situation.
00:01:05
Jack
What's your take on it?
00:01:09
Jack
Well, here's my take.
00:01:12
Jack
In my opinion.
00:01:16
Jack
A parking lot.
00:01:18
Jack
Is a jungle.
00:01:24
Jack
That means it's the rules of the jungle.
00:01:28
Jack
Whoever gets there first gets the spot.
00:01:33
Jack
That's how I feel about it.
00:01:37
Jack
In English we say.
00:01:39
Jack
By hook or by crook.
00:01:44
Jack
You get the spot.
00:01:45
Jack
OK, now there are a couple of.
00:01:48
Jack
What we call.
00:01:49
Jack
In English caveats, OK, exceptions to the rules.
00:01:55
Jack
One exception would be did you do something illegal?
00:02:00
Jack
In order to get the spot, for example, did you drive the opposite direction down a one way lane?
00:02:10
Jack
OK, so if you if you went in the opposite direction of a one way lane where you broke the law.
00:02:19
Jack
In order to grab that space then I would say yes, you are a jerk. But if you followed the rules and you got there faster.
00:02:33
Jack
OK.
00:02:35
Jack
Then it's your spot.
00:02:38
Jack
It doesn't matter if someone else eyed it first. If you get there first, it is yours.
00:02:47
Jack
The rules of the jungle apply.
00:02:52
Jack
Now here's another exception I would say.
00:02:56
Jack
If the other car.
00:02:59
Jack
Was just waiting for a car to pull out.
00:03:05
Jack
And so that car stopped.
00:03:09
Jack
Put put the blinker on.
00:03:12
Jack
And was just waiting for another car, the car to pull out so that he or she could take that spot. And then you zoomed in and took it away, stole it. Then yes. You are a jerk in that situation because the other car was there first.
00:03:34
Jack
I consider whoever is there first.
00:03:37
Jack
It's their spot, OK?
00:03:41
Jack
Those are the rules of the parking lot. It's a jungle out there, especially in a in a busy city like where I live.
00:03:49
Jack
You have to. You have to be quick. You have to be smart. You have to be ruthless. OK, ruthless.
00:04:00
Jack
Which means sometimes almost cruel.
00:04:03
Jack
In order to get a spot.
00:04:07
Jack
Another expression we use in English is nice guys finish last.
00:04:14
Jack
OK. Nice guys, finish last.
00:04:18
Jack
If you let everybody that's looking for an open spot go first, you will never find a spot. So if you get there 1st and you can fit your car in there.
00:04:32
Jack
It is your spot, even if the other person saw it first. Doesn't matter because your car got there first. OK, if you got there first.
00:04:45
Jack
In my rule book, it is your spot and no matter what the other person says.
00:04:52
Jack
It doesn't matter. You followed the rules, the rules of the jungle and you got there first. You were the Wildcat and the other driver was your prey.
00:05:04
Jack
OK, OK. And so you win and sometimes you win, sometimes you lose in a parking lot situation and everybody has to just accept that that's the way it is. Everyone's fighting for a free parking space.
00:05:25
Jack
And if your car gets there 1st and you didn't break the law, you followed the rules. You know you didn't, you know, run over 5 people in order to get to the spot as long as you followed the rules and you didn't, you know, hurt anybody or put anyone in danger.
00:05:44
Jack
You were driving safely, but you got there more quickly.
00:05:49
Jack
Then I believe that is your spot and you are not the jerk.
00:05:56
Jack
So that's my opinion. Let me know what you think. Send us an e-mail at at OC englishpodcast@gmail.com or leave a comment on our website A-Z englishpodcast.com.
00:06:10
Jack
You can join our WhatsApp group by clicking the link in the show notes, the show description or you can also join our WeChat Group and with that said.
00:06:20
Jack
We will see you next time drive.
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