Door Etiquette For Dummies

Sometimes it can be really annoying if someone holds the door for you when you are still like 20 feet away, but are New Yorkers equally annoyed when a door isn't held for them? NY1's Pat Kiernan points to an article on door etiquette, which explains how to handle two door-holding scenarios. You know, in case you needed help with that.

The author of Etiquette for Dummies explains that gender is no longer an issue, rather whoever arrives at the door first should hold it open, unless that person is elderly. No shocking revelations there... but did you know if you are a junior at your company you should be holding the door open for senior execs... and if it's a revolving door the higher ranking person should go first so you can push it for them?!

Sadly, the article doesn't get in to elevator doors, which is really the most juicy door option to discuss if one must discuss door etiquette. Be honest, do you push the "door close" button more often than you push the "hold door" button?

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Carlson in News on April 5, 2010 5:21 PM

Comments [rss]

Ragingsemi

Aww poor rat racers! You need to get to your tiny little office 5 minutes faster. It must really upset you when someone is chivalrous.

LB

No it actually annoyes the hell out of me ! AND I"M A CHICK !!!!

cucarachita

Hell yeah, I press that "door close" button as often as possible. You want the elevator, run for it.

Mr Mel

Curachita, you know you were just hit on.

NannyState

You and me both, sister.

Mr Mel

How many times has a down elevator stopped at the 2nd floor to find nobody there. The creep should have walked down initially.

bittinho

Also, don't use the elevator go from the 1st floor to the 2nd floor. Also people who stop the elevator going down on the 17th floor to get down to 16 when the stairs are right there. Blackberry zombies who take their sweet time exiting/entering the elevator because they are looking at their phones. These people piss me off.

NannyState

I swear when they push the button for the next floor up, I give them the stink eye and deliberately block the door when they're exiting. I hate those goddamned handicapped pricks.

Guest

the title should be better re-named: "etiquette for insensitives".

juliec

More important than a revolving door or elevator buttons, if I am leaving work I can only promise not to trample you on the way out. (But seriously, this topic needs to be dropped. No one's changing their mind/actions at this point.)

Trilby16

When I am the first person to get in an elevator, I press my floor and quickly retreat to a back corner so I can't possibly hold the door for some laggard.

On the plus side, I don't hold up elevators that have people in them and are ready to take off. That's just rude. There's always a next one, folks.

theevilone

I just experienced the scenario that annoys me the most at home the other day. Going down, we stopped on a floor to find little boy and grandma waiting for the elevator. That's cool. However, daddy is still down the hall, not ready and has not even locked the door to the apt yet. A polite person, in my opinion, would say, "go ahead, we'll get the next one." Instead, they held the elevator waiting for daddy who took his sweet time locking up and ambling down the hall. I thoroughly enjoyed my three minute stop on their floor.

Gotham Extremist

Sorry but I enjoyed you being a puss for not saying anything, sorry again sir.

Jen S

Yes, not very evil of you.

Jen S

Ahem, regarding revolving doors: the polite person goes into the door first, and initiates the pushing, which is obviously a greater push because it requires more effort (starting the motion from a stop, giving momentum to keep it turning). This way, the door is already revolving by the time the senior exec enters, and the mere feint of a push is needed to uphold appearances for the exec to pass through. A junior should enter first to push for the senior exec. Trust me, I know revolving doors.

fixer

I also believe the over-under for holding a door open for a trailing person is 9.5 feet. If a person feels compelled to jog or otherwise hurry their pace to reach a door you're holding open for them, your "courtesy" is probably one they can do without.

fixer

My work building's bank has 8 elevator units for 7 floors, so it's not at all underelevatored. And yet, a good 60-70% of fellow riders, if given the chance, will karate-chop the open space between closing doors in the building's lobby. As much as that is poor etiquette, how about not saying anything to the people already inside the elevator car that you've now held up? NYC etiquette seems to be that both the chop and the lack of any apology are acceptable etiquette, which is complete BS. Don't do it, but if you do, apologize. My worst experience in this regard was the hot mess that chopped air with me alone inside, got in, then leaned the whole of her urban tackle against the button bank inside the car to push her floor, resulting in the elevator becoming stuck in the lobby for a good 20 minutes. And no...we didn't get to screw during that time, either.

Gotham Extremist

"And no...we didn't get to screw during that time, either."

What's wrong with you son?!

snickerdoodle

There are way too many lazy/weak people who will try to beat me to the revolving door but then won't push it so the person behind them (usually me) ends up doing all the pushing.

Work out your flabby arms, people, and push that revolving door!

echo

When that happens to me, I like to push it a little too fast for them so it nips them in the heels. Makes them pick up the pace/exercise by accident.