Where has the civility gone in our town? Where has the feeling of neighborliness gone? We live in one of the most naturally beautiful spots on earth, so why isn’t there more of an easy disposition towards friendliness? I’ve lived in Malibu for over 20 years and I can remember when it used to be that way.
I had an experience this week that I wanted to share with your readers I had just parked at one of mid-Malibu’s complexes on PCH. I parked in the only spot available, in between a sedan and one of the largest SUVs on the market. No sooner had I pulled into the parking space when the driver of the huge SUV to my right swung open his door and whacked it into the passenger side of my vehicle. I simply looked at him waiting to see what he would say or do in the way of apology. Nothing. Absolutely no response from him! Not until I simply looked at him and said, “Nice.” He then glared at me and asked whom I was there to see, saying he didn’t recognize me. I told him it was none of his business and then proceeded to get out to survey the passenger side of my vehicle. He then told me, very angrily, that I was trespassing. Yes, there were signs posted clearly stating parking was for customers only. However, I was not given the chance to actually attempt to be a customer because this self-appointed, parking warden whacked my vehicle with his car door.
Sure, there are jerks everywhere; that’s a fact of life. I guess, though, in my Pollyanna-esque way, I just don’t expect to find so many here in our lovely community. A lot of people here need to take a step back, take a breath, realize that there’s no need to respond to a situation with such vehemence – especially when they are in the wrong. I will no longer patronize this man’s establishment and shall spread the word amongst my friends here in town to do the same. Shopkeepers in Malibu take note: rudeness and damaging a customer’s property is not the way to win friends and make sales.
Deidre Johnson