The Deuce: this group looked more like a multigenerational family than teen ruffians hopped up on the ganja*

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Several years ago, I drove my family to a community event which attracts thousands of people each year. As I drove through the parking lot, every space was taken with the exception of one toward the back of the lot. What luck!

As I approached the spot, about 6-7 people who were sitting on the curb suddenly stood up and started mulling around the parking space, one holding an orange safety cone, which he promptly placed in the parking space. I thought, “wait, it’s not my fault that your friend with a car is late; you can’t save the last open spot.”

So, I started slowly inching my way in. The squatters were very reluctant to relinquish their possessory rights, but after about 15 minutes of nonverbal negotiations, they finally relented. Once I had parked, they walked off without further incident, taking the cone with them.

So, am I the ass for bullying my way into the spot? Or were they for saving the last open spot for their delinquent friend?