"Dibs" in Chicago

[George K]

For those of you who don't know, "dibs" is a tradition in Chicago revolving around the shoveling snow out from the parking space in front of your house, and claiming it by positioning some furniture (usually foldable kitchen chairs, or lawn furniture) to keep others from claiming it.

So, I saw this today....

[Catseye3]

So then somebody steals your chair and then somebody else steals your space. Great.

[Doctor Phibes]

Oh, if I came across that I don't think I'd be able to resist the temptation to do something unspeakable to JC.

[Mik]

I love it.

If you think about it the system makes perfect sense.

[George K]

https://riotfest.org/2021/01/the-history-of-dibs/

https://chicagodibs.tumblr.com

[Doctor Phibes]

People do this in parts of England even when there isn't any snow. I used to live next door to somebody who put a cone in their parking spot for the whole day. There's a word for them....

[Aqua Letifer]

@Mik said in "Dibs" in Chicago:

I love it.

If you think about it the system makes perfect sense.

It goes all the way back to the Locke model of ownership and the social contract.

But D'Oh's example is one of shitheadery.

[Mik]

Agreed. But in a situation where you have to work HARD to clear the space? It's really the only thing that makes any sense in a cooperative neighborhood. But then we don't see a lot of cooperative these days.

[George K]

@Mik said in "Dibs" in Chicago:

It's really the only thing that makes any sense in a cooperative neighborhood.

Gotta wonder how the 'hood would handle someone who disregards the "dibs."

[Aqua Letifer]

@Mik said in "Dibs" in Chicago:

Agreed. But in a situation where you have to work HARD to clear the space? It's really the only thing that makes any sense in a cooperative neighborhood. But then we don't see a lot of cooperative these days.

No exactly, I fully agree with you! Work creates ownership.