'I [lost] my cool': Entitled and able-bodied Karen throws tantrum over car snagging handicap parking spot, ignoring that she dropped off handicap passenger at the door

Author image for Isabella Penn
Isabella Penn
Aug 8, 2024 1:00 PM EDT

Usually, when someone parks in a handicapped spot, you don't question them. In fact, there are many people with invisible disabilities out there, so even if someone is being really selfish and snagging the handicap spot for themselves, you don't question it. Unless you're this Karen. A family pulled into a parking lot and took the first handicapped spot they saw. As soon as they parked, an angry Karen in the handicapped spot across the way immediately got out of her car and started telling them that they had stolen her spot. Mind you, she's in a handicap spot herself. But that is not even the worst part. The Original Poster (OP), with a mother who is clearly in a wheelchair, is the one who actually needed the spot. The Karen, who happened to be young and able-bodied, had dropped off her passenger in the wheelchair at the door, and they were no wear in sight. It seems like this outburst had to do with more than just the parking space. Keep scrolling to see what happens next. 

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  • 01
    As soon as we pull into the other spot, the blue car's driver-the Karen-walks over and waits for us to start getting out. And then comes the tirade. WE STOLE HER SPOT!
    via Jakub Pabis
  • 02
    r/r/Entitled People • 2 d PhunkyPhazon Had a Parking Dispute with a Karen Yesterday
    via u/PhunkyPhazon
  • 03
    Me, my sister, and my mother are heading to a restaurant. As we approach, we see an open handicapped spot that we want (my mother is in a wheelchair, I'm also currently in a leg brace). Across from that spot is another handicapped space, occupied by
    via u/PhunkyPhazon
  • 04
    a blue car who's beginning to back out. When they see us coming they pull back in. Okay, so clearly they were either waiting for us to pass or they were just straightening out. Didn't think anything of it.
    via u/PhunkyPhazon
  • 05
    As soon as we pull into the other spot, the blue car's driver- the Karen-walks over and waits for us to start getting out. And then comes the tirade. WE STOLE HER SPOT! She had been starting to back into it when we
    via u/PhunkyPhazon
  • 06
    just happened along and snatched the space she had so obviously claimed! She has an 80 year old grandmother in a wheelchair, she NEEDS the spot more than we do! We point out that we had no way of knowing she was about
    via u/PhunkyPhazon
  • 07
    to back in, she says she had her brake lights on. We ask how the are we supposed to see her brake lights when we're approaching her car from the side? She ignores that, and instead she-the young, healthy,
    via u/PhunkyPhazon
  • 08
    able bodied Karen-yells at me and my sister for not even looking handicapped. We point out our elderly mother with the wheelchair and my leg brace, and admittedly this is the point where I lose my cool and
    via u/PhunkyPhazon
  • 09
    outright tell her to off. She storms off with her father and mother trailing behind, the latter giving us a death glare. Oh, and by the way? While her father did have a cane, NEITHER OF THEM WERE IN A WHEELCHAIR, THE GRANDMOTHER HAD ALREADY BEEN DROPPED OFF AND GONE INSIDE ANYWAYS!!!
    via u/PhunkyPhazon
  • 10
    50CentButInNickels • 2d ago If she was already in a handicapped space, why did she need another one?
    via u/50CentButInNickels
  • 11
    OkExternal7904 • 2d ago My mom (may she rest in peace).picked a huge argument with me over handicapped parking. It was Thanksgiving day. She and I were headed over to sister's house but stopped at Kroger's for something. There was one available handicapped spot that mom kept pointing out and insisting I take.
    via u/OkExternal7904
  • 12
    But she was staying in the car, and I'm able-bodied, so why would I take the spot? Especially since there was a guy in a wheelchair right there on the sidewalk. She got mad at me and ignored me the rest of the day.
    via u/OkExternal7904
  • 13
    Outrageous Yak5868 1d ago Not all handicaps are visible. For instance, if you have heart or lung problems that make it so that you can't walk far. I'll sure give somebody the stink eye for parking in a handicap spot if they don't have a sticker or placard, but just to assume that somebody doesn't need it at all because they don't have a visible issue is stupid. Even worse when they do actually have a visible issue.
    via u/OutrageousYak5868
  • 14
    Frequent-Local-4788 • 2d ago Also, if the handicapped person is getting picked up and dropped off at the door, the able bodied folks should not be availing themselves of the handicapped placard. (Both of my parents have one and we do not use them unless they are in the vehicle and travelling from the vehicle to the building and vice versa.)
    via u/Frequent-Local-4788
  • 15
    MatthewnPDX 1d ago In most jurisdictions that I am familiar, the disabled person actually has to be in the vehicle. I used to have this discussion with my late mother. She and dad had a tag because dad's arthritis was so bad he couldn't walk far. When I was driving my mother to the shopping center she said we had the tag so we could park in the
    via u/MatthewnPDX
  • 16
    disabled parking spot, I declined because it wasn't issued for either of us. My older brother, on the other hand, was more than happy to use it, even when everyone in the vehicle was quite mobile. I hate it when able bodied people abuse disabled tags, but I don't all anyone out, because not all eligible disabilities are visible.
    via u/MatthewnPDX
  • 17
    lac62389 • 1d ago And it never crossed her mind to simply position and back into the desired spot...? Can't say I'm surprised... She occupied one handicapped spot, you took the other, no place for her to beeyatch about it...
    via u/lac62389
  • 18
    Pitiful-Prior-3337 • 2d ago In the USA, defensive driving courses for work vehicles have you back into the parking space. Where my husband works, it's also required for personal vehicles. It actually is safer when you are leaving the parking space because it allows for higher visibility of pedestrian and oncoming traffic.
    via u/Pitiful-Prior-3337
  • 19
    ABO Damalk • 2d ago Had the same situation, "I WAS GOING TO PARK IN THAT SPOT!!!!" My response, you're right, you WERE going to park in that spot. Next time get here first and by the way, obesity isn't a handicap, my wheelchair is.
    via u/Damalk
  • 20
    . Psych-dropout 1d ago I think I would told her that I would give her the spot she wanted after I added a fat lip to her handicaps.
    via u/Psych-dropout
  • 21
    Square-Bullfrog2940 • 20h ago have an invisible disability. My sister drives me most places and I have a handicap tag. It stays in her car. We only use it if I'm getting out of the car. Sometimes not even then. (She forgets we can use it.). I hate people like this.
    via u/Square-Bullfrog2940
  • 22
    Kmia55 • 2d ago If you had a disabled parking permit, you were legally able to park there and this whole incident is a miscommunication. They overreacted and assumed you knew what you were doing and reacted horribly.
    via u/Kmia55
  • 23
    As far as your leg brace, pointing that out is not relevant if you do not have a disabled parking permit. It means no more to them than their father's cane means to you. Assumptions should never weigh in on these disputes, only the physical tag or license plate allowing you to park.
    via u/Kmia55

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tantrum parking space entitlement drama passenger karens in the wild boomers entitled family Reddit karen parking entitled people
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