It’s that time of the day again. The elevator is calling you and there’s no way to avoid it.
No one is around, which is a rare occurrence, and you hope it stays that way throughout the entirety of the trip.
The doors open and the compartment is empty. You enter the elevator and press the button that will take you to your destination. You start to feel relaxed while listening to the gentle hum as the elevator goes up.
Suddenly the doors open and a flock of people sharing a loud discussion enter your space. The stench of body odor fills the air, and even as you stare at the door, the unsettling feeling of the other passengers staring at you becomes overwhelming.
The elevator makes five more stops for people to enter or exit. You are the remaining passenger when it stops at the top floor.
Your soul is at ease, but you feel like you ran a marathon, and once again, you are reminded of why you hate elevators.
Why Do We Hate Elevators?
For some, it is claustrophobia, trapped inside a small box where anything could go wrong. The elevator could suddenly go out of order. An earthquake or tornado could pound through and crush you. A person could fart.
For introverts, riding in elevators produces a psychological stimulant that causes strenuous anxiety during different situations encountered. While the fear of being trapped inside the small compartment may be a reason to avoid them, sharing rides with humans is the factor that inspires one to want to take the stairs.
Elevator Horrors
One day, some genius engineer will invent single-compartment elevators for any and all buildings, like in the Jetsons. Or maybe it’s already a reality in highly developed cities. Nonetheless, although it shouldn’t be, it can be a nerve-wracking time sharing an elevator with a stranger.
People Staring at You
When I watch a television show or movie with people riding in elevators, I notice that the passengers would always stare straight ahead at the door—or towards the camera. At an early age, this caused me to believe that this is the proper way to position oneself inside an elevator. And it makes sense. it is respectful, civilized, and doesn’t draw any unwanted tension.
In the real world, however, passengers are positioning their backs to the side walls to stare at you and all other passengers in the compartment. Of course, that individual could be innocent and is probably curious about the others around them. They also may simply want to spark a harmless conversation to ease the tension, even if the ride is less than 30 seconds.
Or maybe staring at the nothingness of the door is too uncomfortable for them. Maybe they just want to ensure no one is doing something suspicious. Whatever the reason, they help make elevators a bothersome mode of transportation for others who just want to be left alone.
People Talking to You
A mistake extroverts make when encountering strangers in any environment is believing everyone wants to talk to them.
It’s tough to share the ride with another and not feel obligated to engage in communication. Sometimes a simple hello is not enough, and the next thing you know, the other passenger is commenting on your outfit, or the weather, or a political topic—anything that will break the imaginary tension.
And there is nothing wrong with just a simple hello, as long as it’s just that.
An introvert typically rides an elevator alone and is not always craving a conversation with a stranger, or an acquaintance for that matter. Some just want to get to their designated floor while minding their own business.
Although it feels proper for two or more humans to engage in communication when brought together, no one should think of a person less if they don’t want to talk in an elevator. Some individuals assume that a person sitting or walking alone not smiling is in desperate need of companionship, and that is not true.
Small talk can be a way to form a friendship, but some people just don’t like to indulge in it. They see it as a waste of breath and a pain in the butt.
New Passengers Not Allowing You Through
In busy environments, it is popular to witness an individual rushing to get inside an elevator when the doors open. They usually have a good reason for hurrying to their destination, such as to be on time for an appointment or to close the elevator doors before another passenger enters.
But what about the person already inside the elevator needing to get out?
A general rule of thumb in elevator etiquette is to allow all passengers to exit before entering the compartment. Not only is disobeying this rule considered rude but it can also cause injury if two people happen to collide.
The rushers may claim they didn’t know anyone was inside, but they never check because they act before they think.
The “You Go First” Game
Entering and exiting an elevator can be bothersome when two or more people are involved. There will always be one person positioning themselves by the door to allow the other passengers to proceed. Sometimes two people may argue politely about who should go first.
Gone is the simple mindset that the person nearest the door, or at the front, has the right to enter or exit first. People have always been guilt-conscious when presented with the opportunity to practice certain trivial public manners. Primarily men.
They’re like the Goofy Goofers insisting that the other enters the hole first while being overly polite. In the end, to satisfy each of their classy egos, they decide to go in together. That doesn’t happen in reality, but it’s funny to imagine.
Although it is considered a kind gesture when someone allows you to enter or exit first, it may offend people who possess an inferiority complex over the habit. Introverts are known to develop this feeling based on theirpeople-avoiding behaviors. Because they are often seen alone and don’t smile 24/7, others may perceive them as helpless individuals in desperate need of assistance.
Contrary to popular belief, being thought of as weak doesn’t do the heart good.
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