Greeted With Doors Wide Open
The world is rife with disasters. We’ve got economic turmoil, fuel shortages, poverty, homelessness, and even Adam Lambert. Every time I see a commercial on TV about a poor, struggling child in desperate need of food, I feel obligated to do something—like change the channel.
Just kidding. Unfortunately, there’s not much my broke, lazy butt can do. However, after some research, I was able to come up with one easy solution that promises to make the world a better place. The solution doesn’t make much sense, but hey, it promises to open some doors.
So what is it? Oh, I already told you—opening doors for people. It’s remarkable how such a mundane and effortless act can spark joy in others. Don’t get me wrong; it’s a nice gesture, but in most cases, it hardly warrants a “thank you.” All you have to do is not move your arm as you continue to walk in the same direction.
You don’t even have to wait for the person to fully pass through. Once they’ve made it halfway, you can release the door. Yet, despite this minimal effort, you’ll still be showered with gratitude—even if you inadvertently slam the door in their face.
It’s an awful lot of hype for something inefficient. Someone who holds a door open might waste 5 seconds while the other person only gains two seconds. If we tally up the 3 seconds wasted and multiply it by the times people hold doors open, then divide by the average human lifespan, the result is a million-dollar loss for every person on Earth.
Trust me. I have a math degree.
Unfortunately, at my university, this simple act of courtesy has morphed into an unwritten rule. It’s become an obligation. Instead of appreciating the kindness behind holding a door, people now judge and criticize those who don’t.
Isn’t the essence of a gesture to go above and beyond? Otherwise, it’s not a gesture at all—it’s a sneaky litmus test for manners.
I try my best to do my part, but it doesn’t always go smoothly. There are times when I hold a door open for one person, only to find myself standing there for what feels like an eternity, playing doorman for an entire circus troupe.
The worst part about my dorm is that I have to walk through three different doors—one to get in the building, one after sliding my ID card, and one to enter my hall. Sometimes, the same person will hold all three doors for me. I’m never quite sure how to respond without making things awkward.
Should I thank the person three times in a row? It seems logical to me, but I always get laughed at. I fail to see what’s so humorous about “thank you,” “thank you again,” and “alright, now I owe you a kidney.”
87 Comments
Meaghan!
Hahaha. I didn't mean it like that XD
You write comments with a lot of dot dot dots …
Nancy
It is alright ^-^; I was out for a bit at the airport waiting to pick up a couple of people. Though it was totally boring there. :(. Waiting& waiting. Security`s laggin` it these days. Thanks to that one lame-o ):. But it`s for the best :D. Hope you have an awesome nap right there.
To be honest, I just practiced for a month after starting. After that, I accidentally broke my reed and I was too scared to ask for another one. It just helped, since I`m a music playerpersonrr to begin with 🙂 7 years with the violin so far. 😀 Though… I wasn`t a wind player to begin with either. 🙁 But in the end, it`s all cool& fun :D.
If I never joined marching band, then I guess my life would be boring. No friday night games, or spending a lot of money on food for those friday night games. Since band camp until like the end of the football season, I`ve spend like 400 dollars on food :(.
What type of music do you like? 😀 Or in to? 🙂
Meaghan!
Really? Awh! ;3 I'm glad I can make someone happy on the internet LOL 😀
Meaghan!
You miss me? Haha lolwut
Meaghan!
Idk, she just does lol ;P
And nopee, I'm not into interviews lol. (:
And it's okaaay, I do that all the time haha.
Meaghan!
Thanks! ;D Lol really? Raven annoys me sometimes ;o I like Demi & Selena! 😀
Meaghan!
Lol thankies! ;3 I love grungyness of things haha.
You're welcome & you too! 😀
I love the layout haha. I saw a sneak peak of it. (:
That's how I feel when I see those commercials D; too bad I can't make a donation because I'm not 18. My parents don't donate money to those people. They donate clothes ;D
Lol I think it's rude when people don't say thanks to me when I open doors for them ;o I guess we're just used to the fact that it's considered polite to do so.
Nancy
Thank you :D! I`ll surely miss those pep rally fridays. I`m eager to learn more of the songs next year. Along with a couple of new instruments for Jazz or all city. Tenor Sax or Trombone for Jazz& Trombone or Tuba/Sousaphone for All City. Though. Do you ever have those times when you say you`ll definitely not do something, then years later, you eventually do that one thing? Haha, back in those days 🙂
Nancy
Thank you :D! I feel awesome. Haha, so far, I've spent around 1 hour. Choosing my songs& sorting the artists grouping. And I got caught up with some of my songs :P. Which one of the songs that the USC Marching Band plays, -The Kids Aren't Alright. Is one of the songs that I was listening to for like. 5 times within the past hour. LOL, maybe because I`ve played that song so many times. 🙁 Addiction… Always haunts me. But it`s good. At times.
But if you would like to see one of the videos that I`m in playing, [ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TovKlBCzvOo ] is the link ;D! I`m the clarinet short person thingr in the middle, LOL 🙂
Jhase
Unless you're handicapped, old, or a kid. The "Hold The Door Policy" does not apply. For me to hold it, you need to be RIGHT behind me. Like literally about to have a certain form of pleasure with me. Otherwise, your face meets the door.
There are times when I feel like being nice, its rare, but times. Other than that. Blegh.
Over the years holding open doors has done nothing but achieved rudeness for me. I don't know why, but when I do it people just give me a stink look or I encounter the females that are all, "I can hold my own door open thank you very much!" with a neck roll, some attitude, and a smack of the lips.
My initial response is to walk away, my head response is to kick her in the shin and say "EFF U."
Regardless, its a nice gesture to do every now and then. I don't knock it for others, but for me. Nah. Not happening. Unless you don't fall into the listed genres. Suffer, bitch, suffer. =D
Nancy
Especially when I only listen to like 200 of them, LOL! I rather a bit of songs that I know of, than to have a lot I'm clueless about. But maybe the songs will come in handy in the future. Though it has so far whenever I lend my iPod to my friends. Because I have all of the songs they love. 😀 So far, I got 50 :D! /accomplishment :). Which was USC Marching Band's music so far ):.
Until then, I'll keep you company 😀
Nancy
If you insist so, then you've turned out to be quite a gentlemen. Haha, things are going alright. Just waiting for the new years& organizing the songs that I just imported into iTunes. 🙁 2000 songs to go through. D: But it`s all cool.
And as for you?
Olivia
Okaty, you too. Bye!
Olivia
Yeah, I guess. it's a good way to make friends. I don't spend long, I just tend to have it in the background when I do other things, and I just check to see if anyone has replied to my posts every now and then.
Olivia
Well, I'm a huge harry potter fan really xD So I always role play at a site called Potter's World. It's all set after the evens of the books, so you join as a student, go up a year every month and eventually become an adult. At the moment I'm playing Olivia Belle who's parents are bitches and she's trying to get disowned xD
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