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Joined: February 13 2004
Status: Offline
Points: 6898
Posted: February 06 2010 at 11:04
Atavachron wrote:
hoping this was 'The challenges of parallel universes'
That's what I was expecting. It seems that Montreal isn't the only place in the world where people get their driver's licenses out of cereal boxes. I'll only drive in the wee hours of the morning in this basket case city. And even then you have to look out for the drunks.
When I applied to fly in the air force part of the selection process was a series of psych-motor skills in a simulator. Maybe they should have something like this for driving schools. My kid sister drives around until she finds somewhere easy where she can just slide it in forwards. what is so difficult about this very basicdriving maneuver?
Edited by Vibrationbaby - February 06 2010 at 11:12
Joined: October 02 2005
Location: .
Status: Offline
Points: 46838
Posted: February 06 2010 at 10:01
I could see that.... it is hard with Raff though and probably why I am forced to toss the gum out when walking. Talking with her is quite the experience. She has a mind that never stops turning, I thought I was deep, but I've nothing on Raff and it is such a joy to talk with her and hear her thoughts on life, politics, and especially her thoughts on life here from an European perspective. If I didn't concentrate so hard behind the wheel I'd be just like those f**kers that try to drive all while yelling at the kids, tuning the radio, and bitching at their spouse on the cellphones.
The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip
Joined: April 26 2005
Location: Belgium
Status: Offline
Points: 10616
Posted: February 06 2010 at 09:40
micky wrote:
Moogtron III wrote:
Raff wrote:
BaldFriede wrote:
Henry Plainview wrote:
It's pretty embarassing, but I never learned to parallel park at all. For three months when I was working at a restaurant, every shift I would park by a 7/11 that was supposed to only be two hour parking because I was incapable of parallel parking on the street. I never got a ticket, though!
Windhawk wrote:
Some people, more often than not women
That was a stupid, sexist thing to say, and I'd tell you where to put your head, but I'm afraid that would fall under the personal attacks rule...
I have to admit it is true though. And since I am a woman I can say it without being sexist. The average woman has less skills of spatial orientation than the average man; all those jokes about us using maps or parking have a basis in reality. On the other hand women are much better at multi-tasking than men. It probably goes back to the days of hunting and collecting. The males needed to be good at spatial orientation when they were out hunting and collecting. The women had to be multi-tasking in the caves or wherever they dwelled (looking after the kids while grinding flour and baking bread, for example. That does of course not mean that ALL women are bad at spatial orientation, there are even women who are outstanding at it. I am talking of averages here. While I perfectly find my way around a map I definitely have problems with parallel parking. That woman in the car could have been me; only I don't wear blonde wigs.
Count me in as one of those women who have no problems whatsoever with finding their way around a map. I remember that once I was told by one of my colleagues at work that it was quite unusual for a woman, which may very well be true. On the other hand, now that I'm married I've noticed that the multitasking thing is also quite true. I can do two or three things at the same time, while Micky concentrates so hard on what he is doing that sometimes he doesn't even hear what I say.
Looks like my marriage. Practical multi task woman meets dreamy cave man, and they fall in love. I do try to concentrate on the words of my wife which I'm sure are important if I could hear them, but once a train of thought comes by, I catch that train and forget the world around me. Now, parallel parking is another story.
yes... that has been an adjustment for Raff... I'm especially bad when I drive keeping on topic. I'm sure that Raff has noticed that when I drive she might as well be talking to brick wall. The people here can not drive and love nothing more than cutting you off or hitting the breaks for no reason other to f**k with the people behind them. I am simply not a mult-tasker. I tend to be a dreamy, flighty type normally and overcompensate when I have something I need to concentrate on and completely focus on what I am doing to the point where I won't even chew gum while walking
What I've become good at - and I'm sure a lot of other people recognize this - is to say "yes" and "no" at the right time, completely subconscious, and finding out after a minute or two that a. your wife is actually talking to you; b. you didn't pay attention and c. you have no idea what the actual content of her words were; sounds terribly anti - social but my mind wanders off extremely easily. Having tricky traffic situations means not being open at all for any communication.
The chewing gum phenomenon: I recognize that. I often eat and drink fast to get it over with so I can use my conscious energy undividedly for more important things. Like dreaming
Joined: October 02 2005
Location: .
Status: Offline
Points: 46838
Posted: February 06 2010 at 08:47
Moogtron III wrote:
Raff wrote:
BaldFriede wrote:
Henry Plainview wrote:
It's pretty embarassing, but I never learned to parallel park at all. For three months when I was working at a restaurant, every shift I would park by a 7/11 that was supposed to only be two hour parking because I was incapable of parallel parking on the street. I never got a ticket, though!
Windhawk wrote:
Some people, more often than not women
That was a stupid, sexist thing to say, and I'd tell you where to put your head, but I'm afraid that would fall under the personal attacks rule...
I have to admit it is true though. And since I am a woman I can say it without being sexist. The average woman has less skills of spatial orientation than the average man; all those jokes about us using maps or parking have a basis in reality. On the other hand women are much better at multi-tasking than men. It probably goes back to the days of hunting and collecting. The males needed to be good at spatial orientation when they were out hunting and collecting. The women had to be multi-tasking in the caves or wherever they dwelled (looking after the kids while grinding flour and baking bread, for example. That does of course not mean that ALL women are bad at spatial orientation, there are even women who are outstanding at it. I am talking of averages here. While I perfectly find my way around a map I definitely have problems with parallel parking. That woman in the car could have been me; only I don't wear blonde wigs.
Count me in as one of those women who have no problems whatsoever with finding their way around a map. I remember that once I was told by one of my colleagues at work that it was quite unusual for a woman, which may very well be true. On the other hand, now that I'm married I've noticed that the multitasking thing is also quite true. I can do two or three things at the same time, while Micky concentrates so hard on what he is doing that sometimes he doesn't even hear what I say.
Looks like my marriage. Practical multi task woman meets dreamy cave man, and they fall in love. I do try to concentrate on the words of my wife which I'm sure are important if I could hear them, but once a train of thought comes by, I catch that train and forget the world around me. Now, parallel parking is another story.
yes... that has been an adjustment for Raff... I'm especially bad when I drive keeping on topic. I'm sure that Raff has noticed that when I drive she might as well be talking to brick wall. The people here can not drive and love nothing more than cutting you off or hitting the breaks for no reason other to f**k with the people behind them. I am simply not a mult-tasker. I tend to be a dreamy, flighty type normally and overcompensate when I have something I need to concentrate on and completely focus on what I am doing to the point where I won't even chew gum while walking
The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip
Special Collaborator
Retired Admin and Amateur Layabout
Joined: May 13 2007
Location: Europe
Status: Offline
Points: 37575
Posted: February 05 2010 at 08:22
Driving in general is not something I want to be a multitasking activity, regardless of how able anyone thinks they are, guiding a 1˝-tonne metal projectile at 70 miles an hour in the presence of many other projectiles of similar mass and velocity is not something that should be accompanied by anyother task, however trivial. SatNav is a god-send, now people can concentrate on the road in front of them rather than craning their necks looking for street signs - all of the acidents I've been involved in were caused because the other driver "didn't see me" - how the hell can anyone miss a 14 foot long bright red car? (well, obviously they didn't miss it at all, they managed to hit it quite accurately inspite of not seeing it ). And as any parking shows, it's not just at speed or the inability to parallel park either - both our cars show the signs of dents and scrapes from people who can't serial park.
...anyway, this from the brilliant Green Wing tv series:
Joined: April 26 2005
Location: Belgium
Status: Offline
Points: 10616
Posted: February 05 2010 at 07:48
Raff wrote:
BaldFriede wrote:
Henry Plainview wrote:
It's pretty embarassing, but I never learned to parallel park at all. For three months when I was working at a restaurant, every shift I would park by a 7/11 that was supposed to only be two hour parking because I was incapable of parallel parking on the street. I never got a ticket, though!
Windhawk wrote:
Some people, more often than not women
That was a stupid, sexist thing to say, and I'd tell you where to put your head, but I'm afraid that would fall under the personal attacks rule...
I have to admit it is true though. And since I am a woman I can say it without being sexist. The average woman has less skills of spatial orientation than the average man; all those jokes about us using maps or parking have a basis in reality. On the other hand women are much better at multi-tasking than men. It probably goes back to the days of hunting and collecting. The males needed to be good at spatial orientation when they were out hunting and collecting. The women had to be multi-tasking in the caves or wherever they dwelled (looking after the kids while grinding flour and baking bread, for example. That does of course not mean that ALL women are bad at spatial orientation, there are even women who are outstanding at it. I am talking of averages here. While I perfectly find my way around a map I definitely have problems with parallel parking. That woman in the car could have been me; only I don't wear blonde wigs.
Count me in as one of those women who have no problems whatsoever with finding their way around a map. I remember that once I was told by one of my colleagues at work that it was quite unusual for a woman, which may very well be true. On the other hand, now that I'm married I've noticed that the multitasking thing is also quite true. I can do two or three things at the same time, while Micky concentrates so hard on what he is doing that sometimes he doesn't even hear what I say.
Looks like my marriage. Practical multi task woman meets dreamy cave man, and they fall in love. I do try to concentrate on the words of my wife which I'm sure are important if I could hear them, but once a train of thought comes by, I catch that train and forget the world around me. Now, parallel parking is another story.
Joined: June 22 2004
Location: England
Status: Offline
Points: 16130
Posted: February 05 2010 at 07:46
I've not really encountered any problems with women being unable to parallel park, but almost every woman I know seems to have no overall sense of direction. A female friend of mine drove me to a neighbouring town the other week, less than 4 miles away, and via a very direct route. She needed her SatNav to get her back home!! If she was new to the area, I'd understand, but she'd lived there for 30 years!
Joined: July 29 2005
Location: None
Status: Offline
Points: 24429
Posted: February 05 2010 at 07:41
BaldFriede wrote:
Henry Plainview wrote:
It's pretty embarassing, but I never learned to parallel park at all. For three months when I was working at a restaurant, every shift I would park by a 7/11 that was supposed to only be two hour parking because I was incapable of parallel parking on the street. I never got a ticket, though!
Windhawk wrote:
Some people, more often than not women
That was a stupid, sexist thing to say, and I'd tell you where to put your head, but I'm afraid that would fall under the personal attacks rule...
I have to admit it is true though. And since I am a woman I can say it without being sexist. The average woman has less skills of spatial orientation than the average man; all those jokes about us using maps or parking have a basis in reality. On the other hand women are much better at multi-tasking than men. It probably goes back to the days of hunting and collecting. The males needed to be good at spatial orientation when they were out hunting and collecting. The women had to be multi-tasking in the caves or wherever they dwelled (looking after the kids while grinding flour and baking bread, for example. That does of course not mean that ALL women are bad at spatial orientation, there are even women who are outstanding at it. I am talking of averages here. While I perfectly find my way around a map I definitely have problems with parallel parking. That woman in the car could have been me; only I don't wear blonde wigs.
Count me in as one of those women who have no problems whatsoever with finding their way around a map. I remember that once I was told by one of my colleagues at work that it was quite unusual for a woman, which may very well be true. On the other hand, now that I'm married I've noticed that the multitasking thing is also quite true. I can do two or three things at the same time, while Micky concentrates so hard on what he is doing that sometimes he doesn't even hear what I say.
Joined: June 02 2005
Location: Germany
Status: Offline
Points: 10266
Posted: February 05 2010 at 07:16
Henry Plainview wrote:
It's pretty embarassing, but I never learned to parallel park at all. For three months when I was working at a restaurant, every shift I would park by a 7/11 that was supposed to only be two hour parking because I was incapable of parallel parking on the street. I never got a ticket, though!
Windhawk wrote:
Some people, more often than not women
That was a stupid, sexist thing to say, and I'd tell you where to put your head, but I'm afraid that would fall under the personal attacks rule...
I have to admit it is true though. And since I am a woman I can say it without being sexist. The average woman has less skills of spatial orientation than the average man; all those jokes about us using maps or parking have a basis in reality. On the other hand women are much better at multi-tasking than men. It probably goes back to the days of hunting and collecting. The males needed to be good at spatial orientation when they were out hunting and collecting. The women had to be multi-tasking in the caves or wherever they dwelled (looking after the kids while grinding flour and baking bread, for example. That does of course not mean that ALL women are bad at spatial orientation, there are even women who are outstanding at it. I am talking of averages here. While I perfectly find my way around a map I definitely have problems with parallel parking. That woman in the car could have been me; only I don't wear blonde wigs.
Joined: June 23 2005
Location: The Tardis
Status: Offline
Points: 8543
Posted: February 05 2010 at 04:58
I lived in New York City for awhile and my girlfriend at the time had an SUV which she was unable to parallel park, so needless to say that task always fell to me. I got skillz. If you can park an SUV in NYC, normal parallel parking is no challenge.
Edit: Would like to comment on the whole sexism thing. While men and women on average share the same overall level of intelligence, men are better at some things and women are better at others. This is simply the way it is. In fact, this really has nothing to do with intelligence, but with depth perception (a visual matter, not an intelligence matter). Men generally have better depth perception than women. Not always, of course, but on average. But for crying out loud. When we can't even make a small amount of fun of the opposite sex for our differences or make a little fun of anyone for anything, then there goes all humor. A humorless world is not one in which I care to live, thank you very much.
Edited by The Doctor - February 05 2010 at 07:29
I can understand your anger at me, but what did the horse I rode in on ever do to you?
Joined: March 12 2005
Location: Neurotica
Status: Offline
Points: 166183
Posted: February 04 2010 at 22:56
Haven't done it once since my driving test. *knocks on wood*
Don't like it at all really. I have no problem walking the extra block or whatever if that means finding a space I can park normally in.
Dig me...But don't...Bury me I'm running still, I shall until, one day, I hope that I'll arrive Warning: Listening to jazz excessively can cause a laxative effect.
Joined: October 02 2005
Location: .
Status: Offline
Points: 46838
Posted: February 04 2010 at 19:23
man alive... I hate parallel parking. Can do it... often have to in this urban jungle we live in. But close my eyes every time I do in my scratch-less, dent-less vehicle... and of course always do it with reckless abandon when driving the company vehicle.
The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip
Joined: April 29 2006
Location: Atlantais
Status: Offline
Points: 29630
Posted: February 04 2010 at 12:15
Gamemako wrote:
Slartibartfast wrote:
I can't parallel park for crap.
You live in Atlanta; you'd never have to.
But yes, it's true at this juncture that women are not as effective parallel-parking. However, men get in more highway accidents anyway, so in the end, the lack of parking finesse on the part of women is balanced by the excessive aggression of men. Car insurance companies prefer parking lot bumps to highway pile-ups, by the way.
If I had to parallel park on a regular basis, I'd drive a big car like Kevin Kline did in A Fish Called Wanda and just ram the other cars out of the way.
Released date are often when it it impacted you but recorded dates are when it really happened...
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The challenges of parallel parking
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Atavachron wrote:
). And as any parking shows, it's not just at speed or the inability to parallel park either - both our cars show the signs of dents and scrapes from people who can't serial park. 
If you can park an SUV in NYC, normal parallel parking is no challenge. 
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