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And we have our first snow-related tire slashing
By adamg on Mon, 01/25/2016 - 10:33am
Posted early this morning on the East Boston Open Discussion on Facebook (you have to be logged into Facebook to see it and its comments):
TO THE PERSON THAT SLASHED MY TIRE YOU LEFT YOUR FINGERPRINTS ALL OVER THE TRASHCAN YOU LEFT TO SAVE YOUR SPOT AND I HAVE YOUR TRASH CAN IF YOU WANT IT BACK COME GET IT THE POLICE WILL BE KNOCKING AT YOUR DOOR TODAY IT IS A COMPANY TRUCK AND I AM NOT WORRIED THE TIRE CAN BE REPLACED
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Comments
Small amount of snow
All this took place over such a small amount of snow.
Time for more popcorn
Time for more popcorn.. we knew this was going to happen.
and
And inexplicably, some people in that thread STILL defending the practice of leaving a piece of trash in the street to mark one's territory, particularly in a case where there is no snow emergency.
Yup
I defend the system and I use a space saver. Someone slashing someone's tires is a crime and has nothing to do with the use of space savers. The space saver system works quite well in many neighborhoods and is used by many if not the vast majority of people who have to park on the street and shovel their own space.
All you people who either don't own a car or don't have to park on the street or are too lazy to shovel....just chill.
well
i own two cars, park one in the street, and have to shovel. i still laugh at space savers. especially for this pathetic amount of snow.
talk about laziness? space savers are actually hilariously more lazy. they say that you want your own private parking spot but are ~*too lazy*~ to purchase, rent, lease, or move to a place where that desire can be accommodated.
the flip side to this is that appropriating a parcel of land because it is convenient and improves quality of life, while simultaneously butting heads with your neighbors about it, is possibly such an american tradition they should find a way to fire it off a barge in the charles instead of fireworks every 4th of july.
Chair
You don't even use capitalization, you don't get to call others lazy. Also you basically admit to using public property even though you have a driveway to park your cars, which also implies you don't even live in one of the urban areas most affected by this.
i live
on a street that is primarily street parking and pay a premium for the ability to have a(1) guaranteed spot.
that you're deciding to conflate the fact i elect not to use my shift key with the practice of space savers leads me to question your judgement.
but then, i suppose you knew that your reply was garbage, or else you might have had the sack to attach a name to your post
That you don't even bother to
That you don't even bother to use the shift key, which is such a simple thing to do, as you imply, speaks volumes about the lack cogency of your comments.
If you are going to call people lazy, it helps if you don't habitually flout the most basic grammatical guidelines. That's how it relates to your spurious argument about space savers.
what if
the lack of capitalization is an affectation? because i certainly type fast enough that applying a shift key is effectively no more effort.
it does draw out and allow me to laugh at people that would use grammar in a blog to try and justify, well, literally anything besides a debate about grammar.
What if
are just lazy and are calling other people lazy?
Grammar Shaming Is The Last Refuge Of A Scoundrel
scoundrel
its such a romantic sounding word, i always assumed they'd be up to something more interesting than worrying about shift keys
Keying?
No one's worrying about shift
No one's worrying about shift keys, rather pointing out that while you are calling other people lazy you look awfully lazy yourself not capitalizing letters.
sigh
For God's sake, grow up.
It's completely relevant to
It's completely relevant to the discussion. Criticizing someone for making an argument does not invalidate the argument.
Sack?
Unless your real name is squmquistador, you're just the same as anon.
Not really, anon
True, nobody knows who is behind the persona, but it's a consistent persona (and one only he can wear since he's locked the name by registering it). Somebody who visits the site regularly will recognize him, his opinions and his posting style and will treat him accordingly. In contrast, there are a gazillion "anons," saying all sorts of things in all manner of voices and so the content of your message becomes really, really important (well, as important as posts on UHub get, at any rate) if you want it to stand out.
It's sort of like reading an article sourced from the Boston Globe and one sourced from some anonymous Twitter feed. You either trust the Globe article more or you discount it immediately because you hate the Globe with the fiery passion of 10,000 suns, but there's a name recognition that comes with that in either case, even if you have no idea who the author of the article really is.
Obviously, I still see value in allowing anonymous posts, for several reasons I could bore you to death with, but at least he's registered an account, which, in as inchoate as a community as we have here, still counts for something.
My real name is Adam Gaffin, and I approved this message.
He implied it took courage to
He implied it took courage to post under the name scumquistador. It really doesn't in the grander scheme of things. This is an argument about space savers after all. But, you are right, it is a name of sorts.
When you made yourself an
When you made yourself an arbiter of other people's laziness, your own emminantenty lazy lack of capitalization makes others question your judgement in that same trait.
The name scumquistador is not a serious name that lends any gravitas to your argument.
You have not explained how someone who spends hours shoveling their car out of a lot of is lazy. You can't in this context, because it is an inherently less lazy act than simply taking a space that someone else shoveled out.
I'm submitting this again because the other comment appears to have not posted.
Hours?!?
Anyone living in this city who spent hours shoveling a car out of that dusting we got the other day, needs to move to Miami fulltime.
The post you are replying to
The post you are replying to and the ones above it were speaking generally about the space saver practice, not this single incident. You either didn't care and wanted to reframe the argument to suit your needs, or just didn't read closely enough.
Isn't it kind of lazy...
Isn't it kind of lazy, not to mention pompous, to use big SAT words like "eminently" without making the effort to look them up? Especially since every web browser in the universe helpfully points it out when you screwed it up.
(go ahead, ding me for a sentence fragment, do)
It helps if you know the
It helps if you know the definition of a word yourself before criticizing someone for using it.
Eminently: to a notable degree: very
As in, lazy to a notable degree.
Also, sorry if you think that "eminently" is a "big fat word". You are just completely wrong.
Yeah, but what does...
..."emminantenty " mean? ;-)
It means spell check didn't
It means spell check didn't catch a typo, which is much less of an issue than accusing someone of not knowing the definition of a word while not knowing it themselves.
Eminently can mean "very", so
Eminently can mean "very", so it works in that sentence.
Except you spelled it "emminantenty."
Except you spelled it "emminantenty."
Do you not proofread or do you just not know how to spell?
If you delete parts of words
If you delete parts of words then retype them its very easy to add double letters of syllables, as happened in that instance. Keep scraping the bottom of the barrel.
Good for you. Now explain
Good for you. Now explain how it that word doesn't make sense in that sentence.
using no capitalization is much better than USING ALL CAPS
It's a public street
If you want a private spot you can shovel out just for you, you're welcome to pay for one
A space saver user calling
A space saver user calling someone else lazy. Now I've seen everything. Space saver users are the definition of lazy. Instead of looking for an empty spot or using public transit they steal public property and threaten their neighbors.
Space savers are used to save
Space savers are used to save spaces because they know it will be extremely difficult to find an empty space after they shoveled out their car, you don't even seem to know anything that situation.
Many people don't work near public transit.
Extremely difficult!
...and because they're narcissistic twats who can't possibly imagine anyone else being in the same situation, or couldn't possibly care if the did. Has it occurred to you that anyone parking in "your" space probably lives in the neighborhood and shoveled out another space in order to move your car? So, go park there.
If they are "in the same
If they are "in the same situation", then they have their own space they shoveled out of.
Unless, of course, they didn
Unless, of course, they didn't use a space saver, or they did and someone moved it...
Sigh... not this again.
In the downtown neighborhoods, there are 5x as many valid on-street parking permits as there are street spaces. That means that everyone's fair share is one fifth of a parking space. If you park overnight but take your car to work during the day, you are using about one half of a space. If, while you are gone, you try to leave a space saver in the space (that would otherwise be available for someone else to use), you are using twice as much. That's way more than your share.
Hoarding is sociopathic behavior.
It's narcissistic for people
It's narcissistic for people to take spots immediately after someone else shovels them, which is what the space savers are for, putting this specific instance aside.
"immediately after"?
Really? So, let's follow this scenario:
1. You shovel out, drive out, and leave a space saver.
2. An hour later -- not "immediately" by the definition of anyone who's not a paleontologist -- someone comes by and needs a spot.
3. This person removes your space saver, parks in your spot, is entirely justified, and not only is not a narcissist, but you have no problem with it whatsoever because it wasn't "immediate".
That sound about right?
what's funny
Is this guy was arguing with a poster who has a chronic obsession with hating cars and anyone who drives him. Then the guy who's been notoriously vocal about space saving but admits they don't live in the city swoops in to reply. The comments on this site get funnier every day. It's not irony, but it's something.
If its extremely difficult to
If its extremely difficult to find a parking spot then putting garbage in the open spots only makes things worse. Common sense and decency seem lost on you.
Which is why they can shovel
Which is why they can shovel out their own space next time and then they can put their own space saver in their own spot.
No they can't.
What about the people who weren't lucky enough to find an on-street space the day before the storm, or who work night shift and arrive home at 8AM after a snowfall? There are no spaces for them to shovel out if every single space has either a car or a space saver in it.
That's easy, you remove the
That's easy, you remove the space saver from the spot that was not shoveled. I always seem to find spots that are full of snow, were never touched with a shovel, I have no problem moving the space saver.
Dupe!
Dupe!
"Decency" is not taking a
"Decency" is not taking a spot shortly after someone spent ours shoveling it out, speaking about this issue of space savers in wider terms.
You lack understanding of a simple, fundamental concept
It isn't your spot.
It is a public spot.
It is on public land.
It is not your personal driveway or personal parking spot.
You do not own it.
You have to share it.
You are allowed to store your private property there for free, but only while your car is actually there. When your car is not there, it isn't your spot. It is fair game.
So you probably shouldn't be pushing your luck here with the entitlement speech or somebody else who doesn't own a car but pays plenty of taxes may start demanding the right to have a personal garden space or patio or other private use of that public land. One that doesn't involve a motor vehicle.
All you did was repeat the
All you did was repeat the same argument. Nothing you said changes that it can take a lot of effort to shovel out snow.
Also, a lot of people pay for all sorts of things with there taxes that they never use. Try again, or better yet, don't.
It takes effort to shovel snow anywhere
Shoveling out your car is hard work, HOWEVER ... shovelling is NOT what gives you the right to a space!
Owning the land under the car (or renting it) gives you the right to the space!
Shovelling only makes it possible to use your car in either situation.
You do not own the street. You have to share it. Otherwise, you should not be allowed to have a permit if you can't follow simple rules of sharing.
If this nonsense keeps up, the city will be forced to limit permits.
It really is that simple.
None of this is relevant SG
We use space savers in Boston.
We have for a long time.
We will in the future.
The system usually works.
I don't know if it works in Medford.
But I do know it works in Boston.
Most of the time.
What's so special about snow?
Why is it that people seem to think that spending half an hour digging out a space entitles them to save the space. What about in the summer, the person who spent half an hour driving around looking for a space. Is he entitled to use a space saver, also?
Here's the difference Bob
OK. I'll play.
In the summer I may have to drive around for 30 minutes to find a spot, but finally I do find a spot.
In the winter, those last spots just are not there if they are covered in snow. Last winter there were literally no spots, none, except the spot I shoveled and marked with a space saver. The city doesnt plow the streets to the curb and until enough snow melts, only a limited number of spots are available. Those are the spots that people like me shoveled.
I use a space saver when necessary, and I'[m not ashamed as many Uhub suggest I should be. I shoveled my spot and it's mine until the snow melts. And by; the way, almost all my neighbors use them too. Its a system that works, at least on my street.
From what I understand of
From what I understand of this "space robber," he is on the elderly side, maybe with a bit of mental health issues, and has a very ill wife. So don't be so quick to call him lazy. There was ZERO need for space savers for this storm. And for someone to be that incensed to slash tires over a 2 inch snow storm says more about the saver than the robber.
One problem is....
One problem is that when many people shovel their car, they pile the snow immediately behind or in front of their car. Even with the little snow we got this week, these piles tie up maybe 20% of the street, reducing parking for everybody.
So, you, Mr Space Saver, got your spot, but you tied up a bunch more of the street, and your spot sits empty for the 10 hours you're at work (or more hours seeing how non-lazy you are), limiting delivery trucks, workers visiting the area, or anyone else.
Someone should chuck your old furniture back up in your yard or just throw it away.
Whats the solution Neighbor 4?
So Neighbor, on streets where you see this practice, where do you suggest we put the snow?
Yeah there really isn't an
Yeah there really isn't an easy solution to that.
flamethrowers
are not illegal in MA
You know why I use space savers?
Hint: It has nothing to do with shoveling out a spot. It's because if I don't, I won't have a place to park. There are a lot of us out there who think it's a stupid concept altogether, but have no choice but to partake.
And no, I didn't use one this weekend/today, which I'll probably regret when I get home.
Smug and spaceless
Yup. I did not save my space as there wasn't that much snow and more importantly there was no snow emergency, so no space saving is supposed to happen. I had no space when I returned. Found another un-saved space for a bit and when I finally returned for the night ended up having to park in the High School parking lot.
I'm pretty sure that I'm suffering from PTSD as a result. At least that's the excuse I gave when the cops caught me pinching a loaf on all of the space savers on my block.
Tragedy of the commons
This predicament pretty much defines the tragedy of the commons.
I HIGHLY
Doubt BPD with be fingerprinting a trash can over a slashed tire.
Eastie trash collector
...implicated in surge in winter-time automobile vandalism.
I laughed when I saw that.
I laughed when I saw that. Some people watch way too much CSI.
- local cop
space savers
Boston is one of the most arrogant self entitled town there is. Right down to their sports teams. This whole space saver thing is a joke. Who cares if you shoveled out a spot. You had to anyway to get where you had to go otherwise you would have just left the car there to begin with. That being said. Doesn't matter if you have a trash can with finger prints on it or not. Unless you have a witness it means nothing. Police really don't care and aren't going to get involved.
Then
Move if hate it and its people so much!
Logical fallacy detected,
Logical fallacy detected, penalty 10 yards.
....what?
.
It's only a matter of time
It's only a matter of time before someone is killed in a spot saver altercation... and quite frankly, after last winter's snowfall and scarcity of parking, I'm surprised it didn't happen.
BPD forensics
heading over with a crew? it sounds like an open and shut case with the fingerprints on the trashcan.
I'll just check with the boys down at the Crime Lab
They got four more detectives working on the case. They've got us working in shifts!
Well, you never know
If there is somebody on that block that the cops hate and think might be involved, running the prints would be a good way to have an excuse to go after that somebody (particularly if they are on probation).
boston/metro area
is one of the windiest populated areas in the entire country "of course my fingers prints are on the trash barrel your honor, every trash day everybody's barrels blow all over the sidewalk/porches/street/whatever/etc and we all have to move them"
i mean i dont know why i bothered even being that specific, but yeah, nobody is proving anything about slashed tires with fingerprints on a trash barrel, for a number of reasons.
If that's the case, I doubt
If that's the case, I doubt the cops would need the fingerprints to go hassle whoever they feel like hassling. More likely, it's one of their high school buddies.
Can't wait for the "Making a
Can't wait for the "Making a Tire Slasher" documentary on Netflix.
Wouldn't hold out much hope for the tape deck...
... or the Creedence.
Yeah, well
Yeah, well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
this is a great post
because its got layers and layers of what i assume have to be jokes, bravo
What are the chances
The criminal mastermind wore gloves?
Or...mittens
Durp
Thanks Marty for enabling
Thanks Marty for enabling this crap with official policy.
The first murder over this townie stupidity is on his hands if the city doesn't grow a pair and put and end to infantile space savers.
Unfortunately..
..Mayor Marty is a townie himself. He condones this crap.
No more townies as Mayor!!! We need new blood with new ideas.
Mahty
The Mayor is not from Charlesrown. You yuppies want to live here, get the terminology right.
I think you meant to thank Tom
Since it is the previous mayor's policy, continued.
And you better believe there have been slashed tires in Boston for decades before Walsh was elected.
I'll "thank" whomever's in office
Walsh is the mayor. It is currently his responsibility to create and enforce the City policy on space savers. When he is voted out of office next year, I will look to the next mayor to make and enforce a policy.
When Menino was mayor, I wrote him about his backwards policy. Now he's no longer mayor. Among other reasons I'm not asking him to change the policy.....
Yes
Because (1) there will emerge a candidate who will make this the cornerstone of their campaign and (2) the citizens of Boston, who support space saving (remember that poll last February that showed a lack of support for Boston2024 but a large support for putting cones out after one shovels) will decide that they are wrong.
Menino was okay with this, as was Flynn, as was White. If they were doing it when Collins was mayor, he probably would have been okay with it, too. Don't hold your breath that whoever comes after Walsh will be any different.
Several Illogical Jumps
I don't expect a space saver policy to be the cornerstone of a mayoral campaign, but it is an issue that generates a lot of emotion, I think they'll be asked about it during the campaign, and I will consider a candidate's stance on it before casting a ballot. Do not worry though, I know I can't hold my breath until the next election, so I won't try.
I don't remember the poll that you reference or the results. I do think the issue is perfect for a referendum as it's a simple issue that does not require extensive voter education. I also think a referendum would give a mayor political cover, which I think is important, as I consider Menino's and Walsh's gray policies to be political attempts to split the baby. In fact, I've already written Walsh suggesting a referendum.
As others have noted, the logic behind space savers has changed as Boston has become more dense and there is no longer always a spot to shovel out. So stances on space savers from before 2000 don't really interest me. I think the voters of Boston and their opinions are ever changing, so I'm optimistic.
I've been lazy today
Here's the poll. I'm bummed Boston2024 is not a part of the story, but they polled both at the same time.
They didn't do a neighborhood breakdown, but my bet is that space saving is more popular in areas that Walsh carried in 2013, while it is less popular is areas Connolly carried (with perhaps the exception of West Roxbury.) This means that if Walsh moved on this, he might lose his "base" while not necessarily pick up new support. It's all politics, my friend.
Thanks
Thanks for the link.
As a Connolly supporter from Charlestown against space saving, I agree on all fronts.
EDIT: Wow, I'm surprised by the huge support (70%) for space savers. I'll wait for a larger sample size or more information about statistical significance here before I give up the fight, though.
Menino
Menino was a coward, as was Flynn, as was White, as is Walsh.
Yeah, we're going to stop
Yeah, we're going to stop everything and send over the CSI unit solve this ultra important case.
Punctuation.
That is all.
Time to adopt new snowplow policy?
If the city plowed all of the streets so people could park, for example on a schedule like street cleaning, it would get rid of the issue once and for all!
That's too easy.
Can't be done.