Post-Run Tip of the Day
This is a tip for those who might run where giant swarms of gnats sometimes loiter by the side of the road. This tip stems from a run on the Mayan Riviera in Mexico, but I've encountered swarms of gnats in Virginia and Kentucky as well. After your run, always stop and look in a mirror before going into public. Otherwise, you might actually complete a transaction at the resort store and greet five people before realizing you have up to 15 gnats stuck to your face and neck.
Comments
Of course they would.
A real gentleman would ask you if you'd like to be dropped off at the door while he parks the car, rather than making the decision for you and implying that women need their own handicap parking spaces. ;)
Seriously, though, I'm torn. I like their intent, but I don't think government should be in the business of mandating gentlemanlyness.
I hope I don't offend anyone, but to be honest, this really does seem like reverse-sexism. Giving one sex preferential treatment while making derogatory (and sinister) generalizations about the other?
Poor, helpless Rosie O'Donnell gets to park close, but Clay Aiken, because he's one of those eeeeevill men, has to park far away?
What if they determine that white women are more likely to be assaulted in the parking lot than black women? Do they say "reserved for white women?" It all gets uncomfortable quick.
Rather than nit-picking about who is allowed to park in which spaces (aside from the legitimately handicapped), the government should treat people as individuals who are fully capable of making good decisions. I don't think it's too much to ask that the government treat us with dignity and respect, rather than disdain and suspicion.
For every guy out there who is a predator, I bet there are 10 more who would look out for a women's best interest. Segregating women into their own section of the parking lot won't stop a criminal from going into that area, but it does segregate the female victim away from other men who might come to her aid.
I'd much rather live in a society where people are given the opportunity to do virtuous things of their own free will, rather than having it be demanded of them. Let's give men the opportunity to act as gentlemen, rather than making it a blanket ordinance.
This sort of nanny-statism is just condescending and patronizing, to both men and women.