I work on the second floor of this building. I have the choice of taking the elevator or the stairs and as much as I loath the elevator I refuse to take the stairs. I do not like to take the stairs for a couple reasons. One, I can not make it up the stairs without needing my inhaler, which means I huff and puff all the way up. Two, I have tripped one too many times in my heels. Three, there is always someone behind me in a hurry and I feel they are so close to me they can see the grey hairs on my head. I feel these reasons are valid enough for me to skip the healthy benefits the stairs offer, such as working off that 16oz Dunkin Donuts coffee with the pumpkin spice creamer, or the cinnamon raisin bagel with regular cream cheese, just because I "forgot" to say low fat cream cheese.
But I have just as much hatred for the elevator as I do the stairs. This is solely because of the people who I have to share this 4' x 4' space with. The elevator is awkward enough due to this enclosed space and riding it with these people makes me want to cut the cords to the elevator. The ride up, which is a matter of 15 seconds, is just half the battle. The standing outside the elevator waiting for it to come back to ground level is just as painful.
For those of you who are forced to take the elevator at work, here are some tips:
1- Do not hold the elevator for me when I am still 25 feet away from the elevator, there is a second elevator, this is not life or death. Especially since I will not be walking any faster than I already am.
2- This goes both ways. If the door is closing while you are walking up to the elevator, it's because I have pushed the "Door Close" button. Do not stick your foot where the large, heavy doors are closing. These are capable of removing your leg from the rest of your body. Are you willing to sacrifice a foot just so you don't have to wait 10 seconds for the next elevator?
3- When I smile and say "Good Morning", do not look at me like I'm speaking gibberish and stay silent.
4- If you are standing in front of the floor buttons and I say "2nd floor, please", this means push the little button has the number 2 on it. Don't make me reach over in front of you after the doors have already closed, this will make me angry and I will end our elevator experience with a smart ass remark.
5- When I am on the second floor waiting for the down elevator and the doors open up, do not push me out of the way to get out, you are on the second floor, not the ground floor. I am getting on the elevator for the same reason. When I stand in the elevator and say "wrong floor" it is because you got off on the wrong floor. Get back on the elevator, do not look around like a stupid ass and ask "Is this the ground floor?". No, it is not. Pay attention to what floor you are on.
6- I feel my time in the elevator should be quiet time. This means no chit-chat with your co-worker about your disgusting cold symptoms, such as coughing up mucus and the color of your snot. Quiet time also excludes sneezing. Not because they are noisy, but because your germs have no where to go but onto me. I will now have to go sanitize my entire body with Lysol.
7- Lastly, my worst pet peeve is an extension of elevator quiet time. Do not talk on your cell phone in the elevator. Are you aware I can hear everything you are saying as well as what the person on the other line is saying? Well, I can. Your conversation can wait 15 seconds until we get out of the elevator. That way I am not forced to hear about what you are having for dinner/what time you need to pick your kids up/what Dr's appointments you have tomorrow.
Please people! Learn some elevator etiquette!