Stroller Nazi; Stroller Mafia
Child strollers can take up a large portion of the sidewalk. A “stroller Nazi” describes a person (usually a mother) who aggressively drives a stroller down the sidewalk, forcing other pedestrians to get out of the way. “Stroller Nazi” has been cited in print since at least 1996, when it described the people with strollers at Disneyland.
“Stroller mafia” is usually a group of people with two or more strollers together, even more aggressively blocking pedestrian traffic. The term “stroller mafia” has been cited in print since at least 2002 (when someone wrote that West 89th Street and West End Avenue was the “Home of the Stroller Mafia”) and 2004 (when it described a Chicago neighborhood).
Park Slope has been known for its “stroller mafia” since at least January 4, 2007, when the Brooklyn Record cautioned: “Beware the Park Slope Stroller Mafia.” Park Slope has also been nicknamed “Strollerville” since at least 2004.
Urban Dictionary
Stroller Nazi
one who shoves their way through crowds (practically running over others) using a stroller as their weopon
A Stroller Nazi almost ran me down at the mall today!
by Melissa R S Oct 18, 2006
(Oxford English Dictionary)
stroller
A child’s push-chair, esp. a collapsible buggy.
1920 Sears, Roebuck & Co. Catal. Fall 1049/2 Stroller Style Carriage… Body made of selected reeds finished in the natural shellac color.
1922 Ibid. Spring 590/2 Select your stroller or collapsible sulky from this page and you will be satisfied with service given.
1932 Babies, just Babies Dec. 63/3 (Advt.), Baby walker, stroller and gocart combined.
Google Groups: alt.disney.disneyland
Newsgroups: rec.arts.disney.parks, alt.disney.disneyland
From: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) (Tory Klementsen)
Date: 1996/09/14
Subject: Re: Stroller Terrorists
Then the Stroller Nazis come in. I’m not talking about the average family. I’m talking about the parents with the “My children are here, so get the hell out of the way” attitude.
Google Groups: alt.disney.disneyland
Newsgroups: alt.disney.disneyland
From: Carol Koster
Date: 1996/10/12
Subject: Re: What are ‘stroller nazis’?
> I’ve heard the term ‘stroller nazis’ used alot here and I was just
> wondering what it means? Are these people who are running over feet or
> something? Or are there just bad feelings about the use of strollers in
> the park?
When I rejoined reading the Disney Usenet newsgroups there was a raging flamewar going on regarding the use of strollers in crowds at Disney theme parks. Some resented being nicked by strollers in close quarters where manuverability of those things is very difficult, those who have used strollers defended the practice by stating it preserved the child’s energy level when touring the theme parks. I guess some stroller accidents were more serious and annoying to a few, and in their heated emotion came up with the term you mentioned.
22 November 2000, South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, FL), “I am mommy, hear me roar” by Sherri Winston, pg. 1E:
Gee, I dont know which thrilled me more—the elbow in the ribcage or the tire tracks on the backs of my heels courtesy of the Stroller Nazis.
Straight Dope Message Board
Bjorn240
10-22-2002, 09:11 AM
(...)
Cheers from the greatest city in the world!
- Bjorn240
89th/WEA “Home of the Stroller Mafia” (West 89th Street and West End Avenue—ed.)
Google Groups: alt.support.childfree
Newsgroups: alt.support.childfree
From: “Gregory Morrow”
Date: Tue, 15 Jun 2004 06:55:55 GMT
Local: Tues, Jun 15 2004 12:55 am
Subject: “WAAAAAA…!!!” (From Another Board)
“I recently read a post on the Chicago board complaining about the crowds at a new ice cream parlor, citing the entrance “blocked by several strollers containing in-vitroed twins.” A month or two ago, there was a complaint about the “stroller mafia” ruining a neighborhood joint.
Brownstoner
By bitter on May 30, 2007 11:08 AM
PARK SLOPE,
YOU RULE.
When people close their eyes and think of Brooklyn, your legendary brownstones come to mind. That’s because everyone from famous wimpy authors to M&A lawyers have used you as the place to park their $800 double wide strollers. “Stroller Mafia” is more than a moniker. It speaks to the fact that you don’t take crap from anyone.
Only the Blog Knows Brooklyn
Friday, June 01, 2007
PARK SLOPE PARENTS AS OBSERVED BY LONDON’S TELEGRAPH
Tom Leonard writes in the Telegraph about, what he calls, “A tribe that strikes fear and loathing in the hearts of normal parents.”
I don’t know if there is an exact British equivalent of Park Slope Parents (PSPs), but in terms of the horror and dismay they engender among other New Yorkers, they would be somewhere between Black Death victims and Burke and Hare.
Known to other New Yorkers by such affectionate nicknames as the “Stroller Mafia” and the “People’s Republic of Park Slope”, they have much in common with middle-class, liberal-leaning, multiple-baby-breeding North Londoners.
New York (NY) Times
The Park Slope Parent Trap
By SAMANTHA STOREY
Published: July 8, 2007
(...)
The horror stories of the “stroller Nazis” and the “mommy mafia” hadn’t escaped me. But until recently, I didn’t have a child, so the world of families was peripheral
Babble
Jabberwocky: Strollerguistics
The 15 best terms inspired by kids’ wheels.
by Mark Peters
August 28, 2008
(...)
stroller Nazis
The New York Times gave a serious boost to this term in May when Lynn Harris wrote of NYC’s Park Slope neighborhood: “Its glorious brownstone blocks and jaunty cafes are awash in carpetbagger entitlement, ruled by snarling ‘Stroller Nazis.’” In a world full of grammar Nazis, soup Nazis, and even some bagel Nazis, it’s safe to say “Nazi” has been watered down to the point of meaninglessness. But even some ‘rents are compelled to use the term for their own purposes, like one mom who lived through a mega-aggressive sales-creature’s toxic storeside manner: “I don’t think I’ll shop there again. Scary Stroller Nazi.” Softer synonyms include “stroller mafia” and “stroller mob” — and someday, perhaps — “stroller-stapo.”