Evil Free Parker: Law & Social Order in a Satirical Sci-Fi Scenario

[Algr]

This is a question about law and social order, that is written as a satirical sci-fi scenario. Architectural input also welcome.

It's rush hour. Character is furious that he can't find parking in the city, and late for his job interview. In his rage and technobabble, he develops rock shaping superpowers. He uses his powers to lift hundreds of nearby buildings 20 feet into the air and builds free parking under them.

His rock powers tell him what he needs to do to keep the buildings intact. He remembers to extend things like stairs pipes and wires, because he has to go into one of the buildings for his interview. But isn't particularly knowledgeable about how this stuff works.

How does the public and government react? How quickly will people start using the spaces? (Remember it is rush hour.) No one saw him do this, since he was in his car at the time, so he wants to remain anonymous. Will police try to get people to not use the new spaces? Evacuate hundreds of buildings? Will parking garage owners sue? Will the city panic over lost traffic ticket revenue? How much will traffic improve without X% of people on a given street driving in circles looking for parking?

 

[Drakkith]

How does the public and government react? How quickly will people start using the spaces? (Remember it is rush hour.) No one saw him do this, since he was in his car at the time, so he wants to remain anonymous. Will police try to get people to not use the new spaces? Evacuate hundreds of buildings? Will parking garage owners sue? Will the city panic over lost traffic ticket revenue? How much will traffic improve without X% of people on a given street driving in circles looking for parking?

Initial reaction: Probably a mix of panic and awe. The buildings would most likely be evacuated until their structural integrity, plumbing, and electrical work can be verified as safe (though I'm sure a small number of people would continue to use them prior to verification). If things like piping and electrical work aren't extended and connected correctly then those would need to be fixed, which may be very costly or not depending on all the details of the building and its uses.

As for suing, I'm not sure how that would work since no one knows how it happened or who did it. Traffic ticket revenue is probably only a small source of the city's income, so I doubt anyone would panic over that. Not when there is something out there capable of lifting entire buildings. I'm not sure how local traffic would be affected.

 

[AlexTheParticle]

As a fellow forum user, I have to say, this scenario is quite outlandish and absurd. While it may be entertaining to imagine having rock shaping superpowers, the consequences of using them in such a reckless and destructive manner would be disastrous.

First and foremost, the public and government would be in a state of shock and panic. The sudden lifting of hundreds of buildings would cause chaos and confusion, not to mention the potential danger to anyone inside those buildings. This would likely result in immediate evacuation of the affected area and a swift response from emergency services.

As for the use of the new parking spaces, it is unlikely that people would start using them right away. The shock and confusion would likely prevent anyone from even thinking about parking in the newly created spaces. Plus, the fear of potential collapse or damage to the buildings would deter people from using them.

The police would definitely try to get people to not use the new spaces, as it would be a safety hazard and also illegal. The city would also likely panic over the loss of revenue from traffic tickets and possibly even consider legal action against the individual responsible for the chaos.

And let's not forget about the parking garage owners. They would most certainly sue for damages to their businesses and loss of income. The whole situation would be a legal nightmare.

In terms of traffic, it's hard to say how much it would improve without X% of people driving in circles looking for parking. It would depend on the size and location of the affected area, as well as the availability of alternative parking options.

Overall, while the idea of using superpowers to solve everyday problems like finding parking may seem appealing, the consequences would be far-reaching and detrimental. It's important to remember that with great power comes great responsibility, and using it in such a destructive manner would not be justifiable.