A guy just parked his car in a restaurant parking lot, taking up two parking spaces. When asked if he would mind re-parking, he responded, "There are plenty of free spots." In fact, there were some free spots. However, it was almost lunch hour and in a few minutes the lot would be more crowded.

What would you do?

(A) Tell him what you are worried about, that the lot will fill up soon and how his parking takes up an extra spot that will soon be vital.

(B) Wait for him to walk away and then leave a note on his windshield, slash his tires, or enact some other form of "punishment".

(C) Yeah, it sucks that the guy wasn't thinking about his actions' impact on others as much as you would. In that situation might have a brief internal struggle between temptation to influence him and preference for allowing natural consequences to handle the matter.

Natural consequences?

First, we don't necessarily know if the guy plans on leaving before busy time. What if he is just running in to do something that takes 5 minutes? Also, the consequences would be more natural - and potentially more effective - if he takes an hour, the lot gets full, and someone [else] puts a note on his vehicle or worse. THEN the consequences will be tied closer to his actions (parking like that).

In other words, if you CREATE the consequence when there are still other empty spots, it makes it easier for him to blame you instead of seeing the responsibility for those consequences is HIS. Plus, which path leads to more ease, safety, and harmony for you?

Finally, this doesn't have to be just about this exact kind of situation. It can be about learning to LET GO of the idea that

"Some people need to be protected, fixed, taught, punished, or rewarded and I need to do the influencing."

HOW OFTEN DO WE REALLY NEED TO ADVISE OR PUNISH PEOPLE FOR NOT HAVING THE CONSIDERATION WE WANT THEM TO HAVE?

What would you do?

Natural consequences?

"Some people need to be protected, fixed, taught, punished, or rewarded and I need to do the influencing."