Go back
Elevator etiquette

Elevator etiquette

General

vandervelde

Joined
10 Dec 11
Moves
143494
Clock
25 Nov 13

1. Don't touch others with your body or belongings.

2. Avoid eye contact. Look down as a prisoner going to the gallows.

3. Let the closest person to the buttons to press first their button. Then, either say your floor in a polite tone or - if space allows - press the button yourself.

4. Don't fart.

5. Don't sneeze.

6. When waiting elevator at ground floor, when the elevator gets down with other people, wait until some of them open the door. You never open the door from outside when someone is in there.

Great Big Stees

Joined
14 Mar 04
Moves
186394
Clock
25 Nov 13

Originally posted by vandervelde
1. Don't touch others with your body or belongings.

2. Avoid eye contact. Look down as a prisoner going to the gallows.

3. Let the closest person to the buttons to press first their button. Then, either say your floor in a polite tone or - if space allows - press the button yourself.

4. Don't fart.

5. Don't sneeze.

6. When waiting elevator ...[text shortened]... until some of them open the door. You never open the door from outside when someone is in there.
When I enter an elevator I strike up a conversation, sometimes even when there's no one else in the elevator....they usually have cameras and I imagine what whoever watches them is thinking when they see my chat with no one.

l

Joined
10 May 07
Moves
10128
Clock
25 Nov 13

Fun thread 🙂

Drewnogal
Constant Gardener

The Plot

Joined
07 Aug 12
Moves
53199
Clock
26 Nov 13
Vote Up
Vote Down

Kewpie
Felis Australis

Australia

Joined
20 Jan 09
Moves
390187
Clock
27 Nov 13
Vote Up
Vote Down

Alfred Hitchcock used to tell creepy stories whenever he got in one with a friend. He'd describe some murder scene and make sure to leave the story in midair when he got out. Since I read that I've tried it myself, the reactions are always interesting.

caissad4
Child of the Novelty

San Antonio, Texas

Joined
08 Mar 04
Moves
618778
Clock
27 Nov 13
Vote Up
Vote Down

I work in a hotel and ride the elevator regularly. I usually engage the guests in small talk. When I am not at work I seldom say more than a casual greeting when on an elevator.

l

Joined
10 May 07
Moves
10128
Clock
27 Nov 13

Originally posted by caissad4
I work in a hotel and ride the elevator regularly. I usually engage the guests in small talk. When I am not at work I seldom say more than a casual greeting when on an elevator.
I have friends who don't voluntarily enter elevators or narrow spaces. If they had been forced to use them, small talk with a calm person would help a lot.

FB
Great Big Stees

In Check

Joined
12 Mar 04
Moves
10441
Clock
28 Nov 13
1 edit

I always act like I'm lost and can't find the exit.

By the way, you can fart in an elevator. You have to own it though. No fair blaming it on the passenger next to you. Let them know there's plenty more where that one came from.

R
Acts 13:48

California

Joined
21 May 03
Moves
227555
Clock
28 Nov 13
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by vandervelde
1. Don't touch others with your body or belongings.

2. Avoid eye contact. Look down as a prisoner going to the gallows.

3. Let the closest person to the buttons to press first their button. Then, either say your floor in a polite tone or - if space allows - press the button yourself.

4. Don't fart.

5. Don't sneeze.

6. When waiting elevator ...[text shortened]... until some of them open the door. You never open the door from outside when someone is in there.
Don't press all the buttons when you leave!

At the local hospital if you press the wrong floor, you can press all 5 floors then and it will reset for you to press the right one.

a
Not actually a cat

The Flat Earth

Joined
09 Apr 10
Moves
14988
Clock
28 Nov 13
Vote Up
Vote Down

I like to conduct one half of a conversation. It usually takes a few minutes of tutting and rolling of eyes before people realise that I'm not wearing a hands-free phone thing, then they give me plenty of elbow room.

apathist
looking for loot

western colorado

Joined
05 Feb 11
Moves
9664
Clock
30 Nov 13
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by avalanchethecat
I like to conduct one half of a conversation. It usually takes a few minutes of tutting and rolling of eyes before people realise that I'm not wearing a hands-free phone thing, then they give me plenty of elbow room.
I like gentle stuff like that, from either side, because a) I'm shy, introspective, non-social, and generally uncomfortable; and b) I believe in confronting my comfort zones. On elevators, I've asked strangers for a high-five (almost always get one, except sometimes in hospitals or court-houses). Paper/rock/scissors is fun too (for what? bragging rights!).

Thanks! Go have a good day, hurry up!

Suzianne
Misfit Queen

Isle of Misfit Toys

Joined
08 Aug 03
Moves
37388
Clock
30 Nov 13
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by Frank Burns
I always act like I'm lost and can't find the exit.

By the way, you can fart in an elevator. You have to own it though. No fair blaming it on the passenger next to you. Let them know there's plenty more where that one came from.
Welcome back, Frank, we've missed you. 😉

Kewpie
Felis Australis

Australia

Joined
20 Jan 09
Moves
390187
Clock
30 Nov 13
Vote Up
Vote Down

Back when I was young and aggressive and travelled in elevators, I would occasionally face the rear of the elevator and pretend to make eye contact. People would actually get out before their floor rather than deal with that invasion of their personal space.

Suzianne
Misfit Queen

Isle of Misfit Toys

Joined
08 Aug 03
Moves
37388
Clock
30 Nov 13

Originally posted by vandervelde
1. Don't touch others with your body or belongings.

2. Avoid eye contact. Look down as a prisoner going to the gallows.

3. Let the closest person to the buttons to press first their button. Then, either say your floor in a polite tone or - if space allows - press the button yourself.

4. Don't fart.

5. Don't sneeze.

6. When waiting elevator ...[text shortened]... until some of them open the door. You never open the door from outside when someone is in there.
It only really gets uncomfortable on an elevator once it becomes so crowded that everyone's "personal space" becomes violated. But even then, we still endure it because we're all in the same boat and to make a ruckus would be foolhardy in such a confined space.

Same with subway cars.

But I still semi-loudly proclaim the floor I want as I enter ( "Four, please" ), I assume this is standard procedure unless the car is so empty that I can press the button myself.

FB
Great Big Stees

In Check

Joined
12 Mar 04
Moves
10441
Clock
01 Dec 13
Vote Up
Vote Down

Originally posted by Suzianne
Welcome back, Frank, we've missed you. 😉
Thank you!! 🙂

Cookies help us deliver our Services. By using our Services or clicking I agree, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn More.