I lived in the Boston area on and off for twelve years. During that time I had a love/hate relationship with the city and its people. I loved the city’s history, its many fun bars and restaurants, its public transportation system, and the vitality of living in a city with more colleges than anywhere else in the world. However, I hated its entrenched corrupt political empire, its frigid weather, its lousy traffic, and the general bad attitude of its people. And at no time was that quartet of annoying attributes more prominently irritating than during the months of December through March, the prime winter months.

While I did not personally own a car during my years living in Boston, the petty, childish, obnoxious antics of its citizens during those winter months did not go unnoticed by yours truly. I am speaking, of course of the ridiculous local rule, both official and unofficial known as parking spot saving.

You see, when it snows in Boston it really snows. We’re talking a foot of snow or more that seems to linger forever. Plows are therefore ever present, alternate side of the street parking applies, and parking even more than normal is at an immense premium. The city’s solution: parking spot saving. That is, citizens take it upon themselves to dig their cars out and then drop orange traffic cones, beach chairs, bookshelves, etc. in the spot they are leaving under the notion that the spot is now theirs and no one is allowed to park in it until the snow has disappeared. What!? Are you kidding me? Worse, the city’s long time Mayor, Tom “Mumbles” Menino has continually endorsed that behavior with a 48-hour rule that states the city will do nothing about it during the 48 hours after a snow emergency is declared. What the fuck is that!?

While I could rant for hours regarding the arrogant, narrow minded, hypocritical attitude that accompanies anyone marking a public spot on the side of a city road I will instead merely note that anyone who has ever done such a thing is a fucking asshole. I will also add that anyone that supports this idea of saving a parking spot in a crowded city is an entitled fucking moron who deserves his or her head run over by a snowplow. I ask, what gives you the right to claim a public space all for your own? Where the fuck are you going to park while you’re away from “your spot?” And where the hell is anyone supposed to park when parking is already limited without this space saving nonsense?

I left Boston for two reasons: the arrogant, obnoxious attitude of its people and the freezing weather. The weather will probably never change but hopefully the people’s attitudes can. Until then, I don’t miss the city nearly as much as I should. And that’s a shame.

Selfishness has always been the aspect of human nature that I believe is America’s biggest liability. While it may have lead to numerous achievements I have no doubt that it will also lead to the country’s eventual demise that is, unless people start thinking about those other than themselves. It starts with the small things. So here’s to hoping the people of Boston one day change their attitudes and with it comes a more civil society.