Holding the Elevator Door, and Other Life Lessons

Posted on February 3rd, 2012 1:29pm by Liz Johnstone
Filed under Enemy List, Gripes

Yesterday, I expressed my irritation with just about everyone who parks in the Hall Arts parking garage. If you’re unfamiliar, there’s a fairly long walkway to the elevators at the pedestrian entrance/exit, and almost no one bothers to hold the elevator doors for people approaching. Anyway, a fellow parker who doesn’t work in Chase Tower sent me a very enjoyable email with a suggestion for improvement. And because he’s a loyal FrontBurnervian, he also points out my presumptive/probable hypocrisy.

He writes:

I found your comment about the Hall Arts Garage HILARIOUS!  I also
park in that garage and have encountered similar situations.  On
behalf of the non-D staffers I have to say that we all think that it
is the Chase guys that do it.

My suggestion to solve this inconvenience is that we post a sign in
the tunnel leading to the elevator that says “hold elevator for me if
I am across this point.”

On this point, I am sure that you have greedily pressed the close door
button and not looked out to see if someone has entered the tunnel
behind you.  We have all done it.

Of course, no one will want to wait a whole extra 20 seconds to let
someone enter the elevator that just reached the entrance to the
tunnel.  And if they do hold the door open, they risk holding the door
for the next person that walks into the tunnel.  So why not get in the
elevator, press your level button, and then quickly press the close
door button without even seeing if someone is behind you?  Those that
miss the elevator will probably not even see your face in the 4
seconds it takes to close the elevator door.  Most people just hide in
the corner of the elevator as the door closes.  Really there is not a
win/win situation.  Sadly, like so many other things in life, we need
a sign to establish the socially acceptable norm.

Basically, humanity is doomed.

7 comments

  1. in what world would bankers hold the elevator for anyone?

    @ 1:45 pm on February 3, 2012

  2. Just remove the elevator doors and let each individual determine if hopping in the elevator, while it begins its ascent, it is worth it or not. And keep plenty of mops on hand.

    @ 1:54 pm on February 3, 2012

  3. Have you ever entered that elevator with the guy who decided it was time to spray on his cologne 20 seconds before he got in the elevator.

    @ 2:13 pm on February 3, 2012

  4. Elevators should operate like escalators, one goes up, another comes down.

    Eliminates a lot of confusion.

    @ 4:40 pm on February 3, 2012

  5. My take is, if you can get your hand in the elevator door and get them to pop open, then more power to you…you’ve earned it.

    But I’m not pushing the door open button and making everyone else that much later. Where would it end?

    @ 5:23 pm on February 3, 2012

  6. Just wait for the next elevator. Why is your time more valuable than the people waiting for you? An elevator isn’t a social cotillion. It’s a machine to move working people from floor-to-floor in a office building. Let the elevator do its job and keep moving so people waiting on other floors can go home someday too.

    @ 10:08 pm on February 3, 2012

  7. I’m with Bob….just wait for the next one. The world doesn’t revolve around you.

    @ 12:49 pm on February 5, 2012