MetaChat - When politenesses collide.

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23 June 2008

When politenesses collide. As I was coming back from lunch, I saw a man ahead of me get into the elevator. I was just far enough back that I figured I'd hold him up if I tried to rush (the elevator would have already started to close by the time I got there), so I dawdled a bit so that he could politely close the elevator door without looking like he was closing it in my face. →[More:] Then I saw the door was staying open longer than I had anticipated, so I went over, and when I got there I saw he had been holding the door for me.

Poor guy. Done in by my overthinking.

post by: occhiblu at: 16:53 | 12 comments

Gee, didn't you thank him?

posted by Ardiril 23 June | 16:57

Shit no, she didn't thank him. Knowing occhiblu, she said "Thanks for making me hurry, dumbass."

posted by mudpuppie 23 June | 17:04

Après vous, Gaston. Mais non! Après vous, Alphonse.

posted by stilicho 23 June | 17:27

Shit no, she didn't thank him. Knowing occhiblu, she said "Thanks for making me hurry, dumbass."

But she was laughing while saying that, no?

posted by danf 23 June | 17:35

I in fact glared at him, stomped on his foot, and then refused to look at him for the entire elevator ride. While I hummed really bad Muzak. Really loudly. And pointedly.

posted by occhiblu 23 June | 17:35

I don't understand why you would dawdle. Try to make it. If you make it, great. If you don't, fine. Now you have time to dawdle.

Probably a West vs. East coast thing. Plus the fact that I'm a total dick.

posted by Eideteker 23 June | 18:22

We have five elevators, and they tend to be slow. I've been getting annoyed at people who insist on sticking their hand in the closing door, therefore holding up everyone who's already in the elevator, rather than just waiting for the next one. So I didn't want to be one of those holdy-uppy people.

Plus, I feel like if you're already in the elevator and you see someone rushing for the door, then it becomes your responsibility to hold the door for that person, and I didn't want to force the guy to be complicit in his own holdy-upping.

posted by occhiblu 23 June | 18:32

occhiblu - I've done the exact same dawdle when I know I won't quite make it and I don't want to force the person in the elevator to make a move.

posted by Slack-a-gogo 23 June | 20:12

Hey, can I ask an elevator related question? It is considered proper elevator etiquette to allow those ON the elevator to exit, PRIOR to pushing your way past them to get on right?

There are elevators involved in a Evelyn's daycare and I am amazed at how many people will barge forward into me...6'3" of me, while I'm trying to exit the elevator.

posted by richat 23 June | 20:37

Are they short people? Maybe they just don't see you.

posted by occhiblu 23 June | 23:46

Same thing with buses and trains. You let those exiting actually exit before you, entering, try to enter.

Unless you're a selfish idiot, in which case all bets are off.

posted by mudpuppie 24 June | 00:27

But full elevators are more efficient! And you can't force anyone to do anything they don't want to. They may want to make you feel guilty for it, but they have the ultimate call. Anyone who tells you different is rationalizing their own self-induced guilt.

I also won't take an elevator for anything less than three floors (meaning 4th floor and higher), though that was more (like 10) when I was in better shape. I don't take elevators down when there are stairs, even when I'm loaded down with motorcycle gear.

posted by Eideteker 24 June | 08:24

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