The Note Left on This Driver's Windscreen Is Causing Outrage – Are You Guilty of This 'Common Courtesy' Mistake?

In the realm of suburban life, where the streets are lined with family homes and neatly trimmed hedges, a new battleground has emerged: the humble kerbside parking space. The latest skirmish in this ongoing war of wheels and wills has sparked a heated debate among Australians, after a driver found a note on his windscreen that has since gone viral.



The note, which the recipient described as 'polite', was left by a neighbour and read: 'Would you kindly refrain from parking your vehicle outside my house for days on end - a few hours or a day is acceptable. Although you are of course legally within your rights... please have some consideration and park on the opposite side of the road when space is available.'


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A driver has started a furious debate after sharing the so-called 'polite notice' that was left on the windscreen of his car. Credit: Mark Tech Tips / Facebook


This seemingly courteous request has divided opinions across the nation, with thousands weighing in on what constitutes 'common courtesy' in the context of public street parking. Some argue that it's simply good manners to avoid parking in front of a neighbour's house when other options are available. 'It's about being considerate of others,' one person commented, supporting the sentiment of the note.



On the flip side, others see the note as a veiled form of entitlement and passive aggression. 'It's not polite, it's passive aggressive and very much entitled,' one detractor argued, highlighting that public streets are just that – public. The right to park anywhere legally permissible is a privilege paid for through vehicle registration, they claim, and not one to be curtailed by the preferences of nearby residents.

The debate doesn't stop at mere opinions, though. Some have suggested that the use of the term 'polite notice' is a sneaky tactic to command attention, with the hope that at a glance, it might be mistaken for an official 'police notice'. Whether this is a strategic move or an innocent choice of words is up for debate, but it certainly has people talking.

Amidst the back-and-forth, there are those who advocate for a return to neighbourly values, suggesting that a little consideration goes a long way. 'There's nothing wrong with just being a good neighbour,' one comment read, reminding us that community spirit can sometimes be lost in the hustle and bustle of daily life.



This incident is not an isolated one. In a similar vein, a Queensland mother was left stunned after receiving a 'vile' note on her car, berating her for quickly parking in a space outside a hospital while rushing her injured child to the emergency department. The note called her a 'b****', completely oblivious to the urgency of her situation. The mother's response on social media was a poignant reminder that we never truly know what someone else might be going through.

So, what can we take away from these windshield wars? Perhaps it's a reminder that while we all share the same public spaces, a touch of empathy and understanding can make all the difference. Before you leave that note, or choose your parking spot, consider the unseen circumstances of your neighbours' lives.

Key Takeaways

  • A driver sparked a heated debate after receiving a 'polite notice' from a neighbour asking not to park outside their house for extended periods.
  • The note suggested the driver park on the opposite side of the road when space is available, as a consideration to the homeowner.
  • Social media users were divided, with some supporting the request as common courtesy and others deeming the note passive-aggressive and entitled.
  • This incident is among other instances where drivers have found notes on their windscreens, leading to public discussions about parking etiquette and neighbourly conduct.

Members of the Seniors Discount Club, we'd love to hear your thoughts on this matter. Have you ever encountered a similar situation? Do you believe there's an unspoken rule about not parking in front of someone else's house? Or do you stand firm on the principle that public space is there for all to use, without preference or priority? Share your stories and opinions in the comments below – let's navigate these tricky waters together with the wisdom and grace that comes with our years.
 
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I think a public road is a public Rd and is for everyone.

I think there is also parking etiquette. If my son is going away I tell him to park his car outside our place not outside the neighbours.

My list of What annoys me is

1. people who park across another person's driveway.

2. People parking so close to my garbage bin that the garbage truck won't pick it up.

3 . Our nearest bustop the house owner thinks they have all the rights to actually park right at the bus stop.

4. I hate the guy down the roads friend parking his car outside our house right in the middle taking up to car spaces for 6 weeks at a time, while he is away . Why not park outside his friends home.

That's my gripe

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Reactions: BeautifulMousey
The road & every centimetre of it is council/main road property & not specifically for anyone’s private/personal use. I have a friend who always says her neighbour parks (on the street, mind you) ‘outside’ her house. We DO NOT own the footpath or the road space outside our homes, once more I say it is council/main road property. Get a life, is my response to the person in this article who is upset with one of their neighbours.
 
Just make sure the people that park their cars outside your house go about their business. The guys just sitting in their cars may be staking your house. Had an unidentified car parked in front of my house and leave when I arrived home on two separate evenings (same weeknight). Following week house was broken into.
 
Just make sure the people that park their cars outside your house go about their business. The guys just sitting in their cars may be staking your house. Had an unidentified car parked in front of my house and leave when I arrived home on two separate evenings (same weeknight). Following week house was broken into.
Thank you for passing on the warning.
 
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Reactions: BeautifulMousey
I have to say I agree with the note that was left. Our household has 5 cars, a nearby neighbour also has numerous cars often times with a latge relate owned van parked in their driveway. At times when they have some event happening at their home, it's always a young person who parks in the spaces we usually use outside of our home.
I find it very frustrating to come home late from work, oftentimes with groceries and the like and find I can't park in front of my own home. To have to make several trips to the car, in the dark after a long shift on an unpaved footpath is annoying and risky. It's not like I can get home any sooner because I can't and that I also work on weekends due to the nature of my job. It wouldn’t bother me if I was at least 20 years younger, but I'm not, I'm over retirement age already.
And the fact there is parking in front of a playing field several doors down from that neighbour's place is what irks me the most as it's always a young person that takes the spot in which I park. Yes, I get it, it's a public road but I think if the father who probably isn't far off from retirement, would tell the kids to inform their friends to park down the street, I'd be a much happy person at the end of a long and late shift.
 
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Reactions: DLHM
Not all properties have enough off street parking. In fact these days some have none. (Nor is there parking on a property via a lane or back street.) You pay your council rates the same as your neighbours do. As long as cars are legally parked they are legally parked. If you don't want anybody to park there approach the council to paint the road accordingly (good luck!!!) However, be warned they may block off part of your frontage too. I know of somebody who approached the council after many problems with other people parking over their gate way and not being able to leave to take a very sick child to a specialist's appt, also couldn't get out on other occasions at all. Council painted across their gateway and 1/2 their front yard too. Yes, I have seen it. Definitely "overkill". Council must love wasting paint (and money they reckon they haven't got to repair potholes in nearby streets - they are down to rock underneath).
 

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