A319 CREW WAS ALMOST MARSHALED INTO A JETWAY WHEN PARKING AT THE GATE.

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TAXIING INTO GATE IN DENVER; I NOTICED THE JETWAY SEEMED CLOSER TO THE ACFT THAN NORMAL AND IT ALSO SEEMED EXTENDED FARTHER OUT. THE FARTHER FORWARD WE WENT; THE MORE UNCOMFORTABLE I BECAME. I MADE A HEAD OR HAND SIGNAL (I DON'T REMEMBER WHICH) TO THE GUIDE MAN THAT THE JETWAY WAS TOO CLOSE. HE POINTED HIS R WAND AT THE CLRNC AREA AND POINTED IT UP INDICATING IT WAS CLR AND KEPT MARSHALLING ME FORWARD. I DIDN'T LIKE THE CLRNC AND WHEN THE JETWAY WENT PAST THE NORMAL SPOT; I COULDN'T KEEP GOING. I STOPPED THE ACFT AND SET THE BRAKES. HE CONTINUED 'MOVE FORWARD' SIGNALS AT ME; BUT HE WASN'T LOOKING OVER AT THE ENG AREA AND I AM BLIND TO ITS LOCATION. AT THAT POINT; I DISOBEYED THE MARSHALER AND STAYED PUT. HE DID NOT 'HAVE AN ATTITUDE;' IT JUST SEEMED TO ME THAT THINGS WEREN'T AS THEY SHOULD BE AND IN MY JUDGEMENT; THE GUIDE MAN LACKED SITUATIONAL AWARENESS. AFTER WE PARKED; I WANTED TO TALK TO HIM; BUT I DIDN'T SEE HIM. THE JETWAY DRIVER TOLD ME WE CAME WITHIN 8 INCHES OF HITTING THE ENG ON THE JETWAY. THE SIDE CLRNC; WHEN I DECIDED I COULD NOT CONTINUE; WAS BTWN 8-12 INCHES. THAT WAS NOT THE SOLE REASON I STOPPED. PLACES LIKE NEW ORLEANS REQUIRE THE JETWAY TO BE THAT CLOSE TO THE ACFT AND WE BECOME TOLERANT OF IT. PROBABLY NOT A GOOD THING! IN THE PLT WORLD; NOT ALL PEOPLE LEARNING TO FLY CAN QUALIFY. NOT EVERYONE CAN DEVELOP THE AIRMANSHIP/JUDGEMENT IT TAKES TO TAKE ON MULTIPLE TASKS AT ONCE. I CAN TELL YOU THAT NOT EVERYONE CAN BE TRAINED TO AN ACCEPTABLE LEVEL FOR MARSHALLING AIRPLANES. IT IS THE INTANGIBLES THAT GET THEM. WHEN EVERYTHING IS AS IT SHOULD BE; THEY ARE FINE. WHEN THINGS DEVIATE FROM THE NORM IS WHEN THEY GET IN TROUBLE. WE CAN ILL AFFORD ANY GND HANDLING ACCIDENTS.