Did he deserve a smack in the mouth?

[POD]

I was outside the front of my workplace the other day, the landlord of the shop and cafe across the street was mowing the nature strip in front of his business. I heard some raised voices and looked across to see him being confronted by a big, angry bloke. As I watched, it became clear what was going on.
The landlord was mowing the nature strip with a very old side-exit mower; no catcher. He was going back and forth along the nature strip and throwing grass- and whatever else happened to be on the nature strip- all over several cars parked right next to where he was mowing. The big guy was the owner of a beautifully restored early Holden- FB or similar. He had come out of the cafe and found his car covered in lawn clippings and crap from this guy. The other cars were quite new, including a BMW.
The only actual words I caught were from the mower man- something like 'I go up one way and back the other or else I'd be here all day.'
After a few words, the big guy went back to his car, had a good look, brushed some crap off the side. Then he came back to the mower man- I thought it was biffo time for sure, but after giving the guy a bit of a one-handed shove and a few more words, he went back to the car, helped his wife and elderly mother (I assumed) into it and drove away.
What would you do in that situation? What recourse would you have against the guy with the mower if damage was done?

[Homestar]

Not sure about a smack in the chops, but if there were witnesses and there was damage to the vehicle, then he would have a case. Many moons ago I had my car parked out the front of a mates house, and his neighbour over the road was using a brush cutter edging his nature strip. He flicked up some stones, one of which broke my drivers side window. After a 'friendly' chat, he paid for a new window...

[Vern]

mower man could've/should've waited. These were his customers vehicles, great for business

[PSI250]

as if you wouldn;t just wait for the cars to go, or even put witches hats out preventing people from parking while the area was mowed!

If damaged was done you'd expect some form of compensation.

[harry]

being polite usually is the best way,
sure the classic car owner would have the ****s, and the mower man probably only gets one chance per week to mow, and should have had more concern for the cars,
but some people just don't see cars as being someones pride and joy.
the classic car man would have done himself a favour if he approached the mower man and just asked if he could stop for a minute while he moved his car,
blind freddy could see that mowerman couldn't move the lawn.

as for the biff, that doesn't solve anything.
it would be assault, and the car would have a rego plate, so police action could have followed,
it would look great in court,
i hit him because he was throwing lawn cuttings on my car!
grow up.
sure the mower could have done damage to the car, but did it?
be polite in the first instance.
if the car was damaged, show the mowerman and seek an agreement with him, or take it further legally,
hitting him only lands the classic owner in trouble and the car will be fixed under his insurance at yours and my expense by increased premiums.

[Hymie]

Best thing would be to mow it with a rear discharge catcher. They sell at Supercheap for $299..

[Landy110]

I had an incident a few years back, the deefer was parked under the northern end of the syd harb bridge and we were heading back to it on the little ferry that used to do the run from the quay. I could see two 1950's Rolls Royces, 1 parked in front and 1 behind. Wedding ribbons on the cars. Drivers got out with wedding party and openned their basket of champers etc ON MY BONNET ! bloody cheek.

By the time we got there the wedding party had moved on for pics but the two drivers were sitting on the lawn. There was about 1 foot clearance at each end and I openned the tailgate fast enough towards the grill of the one behind me to really make them jump up and offer to help guide me out.

I just turned to them and said, it's ok, you used my bonnet for a table so I will just do it by feel
Boys jumped between the deefer and the rollers real quick !

But the bloke with the mower must respect the property of others and use an appropriat mower that won't do what he did.

[It'sNotWorthComplaining!]

The guy that pushed the mower man although upset had no right to push/shove the mowerman. he assaulted the mowerman physically and could be charged. Even if the mowerman damaged his car.

[slug_burner]

Adults don't give each other smacks in the chops.

Pride an joy yes but you have to live with what everyday brings, smacking people around is not going to achieve anything other than a police record. Yes the mower man should have used his equipment at a time there was a reduced chance of causing an issue or should have used better equipment.

How different would the situation be if your driving a long and a contractor is doing the nature strip with a slasher along some country road and flicks a stone up and puts a dint in the car and stuff the paint wotk on the panel? Should the contractor stop mowing as every car goes by? No witnesses? Still not right to get into an altercation.

[Tombie]

Am I the only one who can read the original post?

He shoved him - no smack in the gob was had.


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