Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Etiquette is a big hit

Wow, I've seemed to hit a nerve with the hat etiquette post from yesterday...Some other pet peeves; elevator etiquette! I was in the city with Muffy and the kids the other day to visit a museum. Now, the crazies there could fill an entire blog. We are waiting for the elevator to arrive; it comes to our floor and a guy jumps in from of us (and another young woman) and starts "trying' to get into the elevator. HE DIDN'T EVEN WAIT TO LET THE OTHER PEOPLE OUT!

Now a couple quick rules for the elevator (and subway to a point) when the doors open let the people who are on get off first! How else can others fit? Second, when getting on and off the rule is women (and children) first, then the men. Now i know there are exceptions; a man with his kids; the car is so full the people in the front need to get out first; Men are with their wives and kids both "trying" to hold on to them. However, given the few times the elevator is crazy there are dozens of times it is not...Please people some decorum.

As I've said before I'm not Emily post wantabe, or a prude. I was brought up in an average middle class home were my parents expected some manners. That is all I'm trying to pass on to my kids.

8 comments:

SLC said...

I share your frustration. I think they should post the "rules" of elevator etiquette in elevators! You can tell a lot about someone from how they "behave" in an elevator.
I was the only person in an elevator with a man a week or so ago who faced me (not the door) and stretched his arms up & out to touch the front and back of the elevator. Kinda weird, but it made me really uncomfortable. Also, a long time ago, I got on the elevator, again with a guy who was actually a chef in the restaurant on the top of my office building and there he stood with his big chef's knife NOT in a case. No lie. Kinda freaky. Obviously I lived to tell about it.

Monogram Momma said...

I actually always try to hold open the doors for those trying to get off the elevator if I'm waiting to get on. You know, stand to the side b/c there seems to always be that rush of "OMG the doors are gonna close and I'll be stuck going to the wrong floor!" from the people inside. Now, let me tell you some elevator aggravation.. try getting on OR off with a baby stroller. UGH. Talk about rude people needing to pick up a little etiquette!

Anonymous said...

Well, while we are talking about etiquette, can we mention door holding??? I feel like NO ONE holds the door anymore. I find it especially rude when someone (male or female) sees me coming with the stroller & watches as I try to fumble my way with the stroller & the door - I guess some folks are far too busy to help out! I also think it's rude when I hold the door for someone & they don't even have the time to say "thank you". Even my 2 year old has learned to say "please" & "thank you".

Kiki the Precious Preppy said...

I will be the first to admit I live a shelter life; the only time I have to use an elevator is in the city and when I stay at a hotel. I am extremely uncomfortable taking the elevator alone with the chance of having to share the elevator with a man. It just feels unsafe to me especially when you travel non stop for 17 floors. SLC, I would have taken that mans actions as passive aggressive and would have exited the very next floor, and the knife story just gives me shivers. I did share an elevator with a man and his two sons and the Dad gave me a great tip for you parents. If you travel often then you already know about the 101 uses for zip lock bags. This Dad had taken a med size zip lock bag and filled it with ice and placed a few cans of “adult beverage” in the zip lock bag and draped his beach towel over the baggy. I thought what a cleaver way to keep the cans cool. This past early spring Chip and I went to Florida to Disney World; we stayed at a nice hotel. But I had a first at this hotel; the employees used the same elevator as the guest. I had to ride up in the elevator with a huge trolley of someone else’s dinner taking up most of the elevator. I just gave an uneasy smile to the male waiter as he clumsily handled the cart on and off of the elevator. Perhaps I am not up with the times, but it just felt imposing on a guest who is on vacation.

Anonymous said...

I sometimes enter an elevator and stand with my back to the door. It freeks people out

Monogram Momma said...

A tip from Kris... i have learned as well, that you can absolutely forget people holding the door for you, especially with a stroller. And you know as well as I do, that it is no small feat to cleverly maneuver in a door w/ a toddler and stroller! Therefore, If I'm at teh mall, I only park at the department store that has the automatic handicap doors.

Anonymous said...

I am appalled at people who don't know the rules of elevator etiquitte. Sometimes if there is a woman exiting with a stroller or a person who has a walker, wheelchair, etc. - I'll offer to get on the elevator before they exit and hold the door open button for them - and offer to help if they need it.

Ksk said...

Ok, I know this post is older, but I have a question for you, Tod, and readers.

My son is 12, my daughter is 11. I want to give both of them "etiquette" books for their birthdays this year. I put etiquette in quotes because if I hand them the Post book they will NOT read it (to put it mildly).

So, any suggestions as to books written to the KID, not the parent, that is helpful for both manners but also, more importantly at this age, what to do in social situations. (Remember adolescence? YUCK!!!)

Lisagh's post about the etiquette book her dad gave her made me think of this....

Thanks all!!