On occasion I have used this blog as a vehicle to vent. The previous rants ironically were vehicle related as is this one. I can go back 27 years to a morning at Denny’s in Stockton California. It was 1983 and I know it well because I had just purchased my first vehicle. It was a brand new 1984 Nissan Truck. It was the first year for the new official Nissan name. The truck had both Nissan and Datsun on the tailgate. Funny the things we remember. As I was sitting enjoying breakfast I witnessed my first Ding! I was livid! I ran outside the restaurant and pointed out the new truck with temporary plates and asked “are you an idiot?” or something to that effect. Keep in mind I was a mere 21 year old lacking any diplomacy or tact. Such a confrontation today would present itself much differently. As I recall my breakfast was paid for and I was given $100 for the damage. Would I get breakfast and $100 today?

Most dings happen out of your view. In fact I would say that depending on where the ding is located makes a big deference as to when or if it is even found. I know for me if it happens on my passenger side of the vehicle I could be some time before it is discovered. I don’t often walk around the vehicle, i usually walk up and enter on the driver side.

Yesterday my ding discovery prompted a complete vehicle search for additional dings. I wasn’t sure – they might have multiplied. I walked up to get in my vehicle after the Capitol Re-Dedication Ceremony to discover a rather sizable door ding on my driver side rear door. It was a red car, I know this because it left some paint to play a supporting role and accompany the dent.

My first thought was frustration and then laughter my third thought was, what’s the number? I briefly went back to that Denny’s and flashed forward to the current door ding and wondered just how many dings I’ve had in my lifetime? That’s where the laughter came into play for me as I can’t even remember the number of vehicles I’ve had in my lifetime. I’m thinking 24 is my magic number. So, if I’ve had about 20 or so vehicles of various types, styles and colors how many door dings have I had? I went searching the internet and could not find an average number of door dings that a car would have in it’s lifetime. What I did find was an abundance of ways to fix them but that was not what I was looking for. I also found may other rants such as this, some with rather creative retaliative suggestions of what to do about door ding culprits.

I am not one that would retaliate, I am however someone who respects others property. Are you? Have you dinged another car in your lifetime? Have you done it more than once? I can honestly say that because of that experience at Denny’s all those years ago I have not. I will go our of my way to ensure that I do not damage a vehicle with a ding. I can honestly say that I will confront (with diplomacy and tact) a culprit if I am fortunate to witness the event.

This is a message to all who read it – pay attention to the property of others and do not ding them. You can do it, you can pay attention and be deliberate with your door opening actions can’t you? I know those dinging culprits probably can’t read right? The average cost to repair a ding today is between $150 and $200 and I have a total of six dings on my vehicle that I purchased two years ago ding free. Is this vehicle a magnet for door dings? Do they seek me out or is there just an abundance of door dingers in Boise? Let’s start a new campaign for all of you dingers out there “Be a King and don’t Door Ding!” I know that was corny as hell, I guess it’s better that ranting profanities for a few paragraphs.

How do you prevent door dings? Don’t drive I guess, ride the bus or a bike, I really don’t know as long as there are parking spaces with little to no room to get in or out and as long as there are people who simply do not care there will be door dings! How many dings have you had?