Cheeky Prof wrote about an encounter with one of those crooked parkers and I didn’t want to hijack her comments completely (which I think is more rude than a bad parking job) so I thought I’d post my complete thought here :)
I think this whole parking crookedly thing is just part of this complete utter bubble of self-involvement that everyone seems to have these days. Talking about really personal things on the cellphones in front of complete strangers in public, playing with the latest electronic gadget in line, and, yes, even being wrapped up in an ipod mental cocoon. I’m not saying these things are bad neccesarily - just, personal communication (aside from electronically at a distance) is at a low tide. A lot of that electronic barrier stuff is for self preservation. I know I use the ipod in public rather than risk overhearing some annoying conversation, or mean remark at places like the gym. And it’s kind of sad that I feel I run the risk of hearing that or that it would affect me such that I need to block it out. But I fully admit I have issues with the social phobia thing and seemingly throwaway comments can sometimes end up torturing me for years.

Anyway, I don’t think the crooked parking is usually an act of defiance or outright meanness - just, as the woman Cheeky dealt with showed, a complete lack of thought for anyone other than herself and her immediate world. Like stopping in the middle of the aisle to peruse the cereal aisle blissfully unaware that people need to get by. In a way, I’m kind of jealous of their ability to be so completely absorbed in their own worlds - not weighed down by concern for everyone else around them. Must be nice to really and truly be the center of your own universe. I know people who spend a fortune on various escapist hobbies and treatments and these folks get to do it for free!