Final answer:
Tobler's statement is referring to the First Law of Geography, illustrating how closer things have stronger relationships than those farther apart, which is evident in everyday examples like parking lot usage patterns.
Step-by-step explanation:
Waldo Tobler's statement, “Everything is related to everything else, but near things are more related than distant things,” describes the First Law of Geography. This concept reflects the idea that while all places and phenomena have some sort of relationship, those that are closer to each other have a stronger connection, which can be observed in various contexts. For instance, the friction of distance concept explains why the closest parking spots are likely to be taken by students who arrive early, and distance decay pertains to the observation that fewer cars are parked at the back of the lot, farther away from class locations, highlighting the application of Tobler's First Law in everyday scenarios.