I guess I really am getting old

[RECHRGD]

Went to a car show today just for the heck of it.  During the show, as I usually do, I was watching my car from a little distance.  I usually do this to make sure some idiot doesn't do the typical car show taboo's that we've all discussed many times.  I noticed a young Father with his little daughter, about 8 or 9 years old.  The little girl seemed to fall in love with the Charger and wanted her picture taken with it.  Dad had her pose with the car, but in doing so, she was leaning on it with her arm laid across the front fender.  Instead of my normal reaction, I just let the photo shoot continue.  She wasn't hurting anything, so why hurt her car show experience.  I did catch up with the Dad and told  him about proper car show etiquette.  But at least, I didn't turn into an A..H... In front of the little girl.  Yea, I getting old......

[JB400]

You handled it properly in my book.  They were there for fun, and with your reaction, they should be able to enjoy themelves at the next show

[myk]

Respecting other people's property or space isn't something just for old timers.  I know plenty of.........."younger" car show types who might've gotten violent with this particular father if they had been in the situation...

[ws23rt]

You handled it properly in my book.  They were there for fun, and with your reaction, they should be able to enjoy themelves at the next show

I agree you handled it well
We spend a lot of time with our cars to make them nice but in the end sharing them with the public is a good part of why we do it.
These folks may not have a clue about that but they were out having a good day and were attracted to your car. 
Stuff sometimes happens but to avoid that you can always keep your car in the garage
Live for today--- tomorrow never comes.

[Cooter]

Good you allowed her to enjoy herself at a car show, but in doing so I'm afraid NOTHING was taught to her. She will NOT be so lucky next time with another car/owner I fear.

WAYYYY too many today seem to think that if you have your ride on 'display' it means everything is open for anything. This isn't so. Good you handled it so well, but what if she'd been eating a giant cotton candy, pop sickle, sticky fingers, sctached it, etc. People just do NOT think today. What if it were to be damaged?

What then? Was the father gonna lie and swear his little 'suzy' didn't make the scratch? Would he simply offer you an insulting amount like $50.00 for some 'rubbing compound'?

Or would he refer you to his lawyer?

BTW: This very thing has happened and once lawyers got involved, ruling was if your car is on public display, you assume ALL LIABILITY. Yes, I think being an Azz here is appropriate. I once asked a gent that was leaning on the GL to snap a pic, how he'd feel if I grabbed his ol lady's boobs for a pic. THEN, he got it. I don't touch your ol lady in public even though she's tech. on 'display', Don't touch my junk. If it's wet, slippery or sticky, it isn't yours. do not touch it.


I do wonder what people are gonna do once the owners of said cars begin to have the folks that put on the car shows require an insurance policy on every car there? Just in case of stupid people? Wonder who will even remember a 1968 Charger if NONE are ever seen at shows???

[Ghoste]

One of the biggest reasons I would never want a GL Cooter is having to deal with all the morons who think its okay to climb in your windows or slide across the hood.  And you cant tell people haven't wanted to do that and worst of all some of them could even be classified as car guys (although I think 98% of them are just random tools who saw the show in the 80's and remember that part).

[RECHRGD]

Good you allowed her to enjoy herself at a car show, but in doing so I'm afraid NOTHING was taught to her. She will NOT be so lucky next time with another car/owner I fear.

WAYYYY too many today seem to think that if you have your ride on 'display' it means everything is open for anything. This isn't so. Good you handled it so well, but what if she'd been eating a giant cotton candy, pop sickle, sticky fingers, sctached it, etc. People just do NOT think today. What if it were to be damaged?

What then? Was the father gonna lie and swear his little 'suzy' didn't make the scratch? Would he simply offer you an insulting amount like $50.00 for some 'rubbing compound'?

Or would he refer you to his lawyer?



BTW: This very thing has happened and once lawyers got involved, ruling was if your car is on public display, you assume ALL LIABILITY. Yes, I think being an Azz here is appropriate. I once asked a gent that was leaning on the GL to snap a pic, how he'd feel if I grabbed his ol lady's boobs for a pic. THEN, he got it. I don't touch your ol lady in public even though she's tech. on 'display', Don't touch my junk. If it's wet, slippery or sticky, it isn't yours. do not touch it.


I do wonder what people are gonna do once the owners of said cars begin to have the folks that put on the car shows require an insurance policy on every car there? Just in case of stupid people? Wonder who will even remember a 1968 Charger if NONE are ever seen at shows???

Well Coot, maybe I didn't explain the situation clearly enough.  First off, the little girl wasn't wearing or eating anything that would cause any harm to the car.  She wasn't trying to sit on it, in it or any of the other stuff that drives us crazy.  When I talked to the Dad, it was obvious that he was clueless.  He was very apologetic and thanked me for politely enlightening him.  I doubt that he will allow his daughter to repeat the offense.  I guess I could have gone stomping up to him and read him the riot act in front of his daughter, but I didn't feel that would have accomplished anything more than what I did.

[Cooter]

And that's all I was saying....BUT and you know there's always gonna be a BUT, a lot of what if's can be pointed out in this as well and I simply was just pointing them out.

I guess this is why many here do not do shows, and I was just pointing out that what happens when there are no owners willing to show a 1968 Charger...Then who will carry on these cars...

[Ghoste]

That's right and good for you.  If you think politely asking them wouldn't work, there isn't much way going off on him would be better and in fact could make him worse.  (random tools trying to do hood slides would deserve it)

[1974dodgecharger]

each case is different I say just like any court case (trey vs zimmeran and O.J. vs brown etc..). 

I think he handled it really well and polite and honest.  Granted if the little girl climbed on  top of the hood and asked to take a pic im sure he would of ran over there, gun in hand, and asked the little Ms. to step aside etc...

[RECHRGD]

Yes, there is a time and place for anger.  I didn't feel that this was it.  If there's one thing I've learned in my 65 years, it's that anger begets anger and unless it's really justified, try to avoid it...

[68CoronetRT]

Ever since I was a little kid my Dad would always say "DONT touch peoples car, you can look but dont touch". Guess that has always stuck with me.

For handling the situation the way you did though!

[Cooter]

On the flip side, for every one that just has to get all touchy/feely with my junk, there's the ones that always ASK if they can pose/touch/etc.

I almost never refuse except in extreme cases mentioned above. I actually had a little boy running in and out of all the GL's at a Dukes fest event with a little METAL GL car. I'm thinking "where the hell is his parents?" My pop God rest his soul, woulda saw that one time and I woulda never went to another show.
I guess it's different today. Kids can screw up a paint job in about 30 seconds, as well as adults. To handle it as well as you did, says something bout control.

I have done as well, but I drew the line when a teenage female decided she wanted the "G" in GENERAL LEE on the driver's side of my junk.....

[oldcarnut]

I've had parents wanting to or the little tyke themselves wanting them in a pic with a car I had at a show.  I've seen them trying to maneuver around the car for a good shot without disrespecting the owners car and the best rewarding thing I did for me was to walk up ask them if they'd like to take a pic sitting behind the steering wheel. Seeing the gleem in their eyes was worth the time I took to allow it while at the same time thanking them for being respectful in the first place. Now the two heavy Latino adults attempting to stand on the running boards and lean on the fiberglass fenders on the 32 Ford Roadster I had got a different response and I don't think they'll try it again on someone else car.  It wasn't even at a show but in the car parts parking lot    Good for you not blowing it out of proportion  

[Ghoste]

She was actually going to steal the "G"?  That's going too far as well.

[F8-4life]

I think you reacted good. Not everything is a big lesson, if the girl is young and enjoying herself there is no need to bring in the philosophy regarding all the other asshats that actually do harm to a car. That is a completly differant set of people. If you get in that mindset too much or too often then everyone turns into a "suspect" whether they are or not.

[Darkman]

I am on the fence in the car show situation (not just this particular one).

IMO, if you drive the car to the show and back, then you are more at risk of getting a stone chip or being involved in a fender bender. However, this does not give people the right to damage the car at shows.

Unless you trailer your car there in a fully enclosed trailer, push it out for the shows and barricade it from general public, then you shouldn't really be concerned about someone leaning against it for a photo.

I think a lot of people think if it is in an open display with no barricades, then they can get up close and personal. Right or wrong, there is not enough common sense or decency. I know this will spark a debate but in the bigger picture, is it worth the stress??

By the way, RECHRGD, you did handle it well

[ws23rt]

You started this topic with ---I guess I really am getting old----
If getting old in this instance means seeing the bigger picture as opposed to only seeing a potential scratch than it may be a tell about what aging/ maturing is.
I feel as I think you do. There was a time when I could have reacted like an OCD jackass and in a case like this it would have been a very bad day for all involved. That little girl out having a great day with her dad could have ended up with the worst for it. And Just think of the snowball effect it could have for all those nearby.
Getting older (growing up) is something to look forward to.
Welcome to being old

[RECHRGD]

You started this topic with ---I guess I really am getting old----
If getting old in this instance means seeing the bigger picture as opposed to only seeing a potential scratch than it may be a tell about what aging/ maturing is.
I feel as I think you do. There was a time when I could have reacted like an OCD jackass and in a case like this it would have been a very bad day for all involved. That little girl out having a great day with her dad could have ended up with the worst for it. And Just think of the snowball effect it could have for all those nearby.
Getting older (growing up) is something to look forward to.
Welcome to being old

Well said!  Now that I've reached the age of reflection, I often wish I had done things differently in my younger years.  But, they say that wisdom comes with age.  If that's the case, I guess we need to make mistakes throughout our lifetime to become "wize".......

[Dino]

Many people don't get old enough to become wise, others are older than dirt and still have that deer in the headlight look when you point out the obvious.

I think you did the right thing. 

[bull]

You've been saying you're getting old for like 15 years now.

I've really pounded it into my girl's heads about not touching anything at a car show, watching where they step, etc. They're really good about it now. When they were younger, maybe 6 and 4, they had an old lady go off on them big time when one of them was swinging something around near her Charger. My girl never touched it but she was being careless and the owner just about had a meltdown. You're correct that it should be relayed to people the importance of being careful around the cars but it should be done calmly so as not to spoil the fun.

[RECHRGD]

Bull, LOL!  Your right, I guess I have been saying that for a long time.  It must go back to the '60's when anybody over 30 was a drag on society.  If I make it another 15, I guess I really will qualify.  I the meantime, I would trade a little "wisdom" for my 25 year old body.....

[70moparman]

Let the kid lean on your car for a pic ~ unless your paint is literally perfect, in which case you should consider roping off your car at a show...     At least you got your car out for the public to see and enjoy, that girl might own your Charger one day! 

[Back N Black]

Let the kid lean on your car for a pic ~ unless your paint is literally perfect, in which case you should consider roping off your car at a show...     At least you got your car out for the public to see and enjoy, that girl might own your Charger one day! 

I agree, when i go to a car show i do not sit around and watch my car. If i was that paranoid i would stay at home.

[duanesterrr]

Let the kid lean on your car for a pic ~ unless your paint is literally perfect, in which case you should consider roping off your car at a show...     At least you got your car out for the public to see and enjoy, that girl might own your Charger one day! 

I agree with this as well 100%

[stripedelete]

Imo, the key to the happy ending here is that the father was apologetic.  I think your original post would have been entirely different had he been a Richard.

I'm glad he understood.  I have been in similar situations where the parents become over-the-top defensive.  Which simply showed a lineage of poor parenting and leaving you questioning the future of our society.