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
Lexie
This so remindz me of a my first 8th grade junior high year at my new school–(which by the way just ended, go freshmanz!)I know this blog-thingy is kinda’ old, but I had to comment because it brought back memories.
I’m a shy weird, overly tall chick–so i’m used to my voice sounding like a 5 year old when I talk to strangers. A ‘popular girl’ opened the door for me when we were both late for school, I guess my voice was too hard to hear that she had to say, “What, you can’t say ‘thank you’?” rhetorically. Now, if I had the confidence, I would’ve gave a rude remark, but I’d know it only cause me to my ass kicked-’cause that’z how crazy this school is- and being verbally DESTROYED-that and she walked away already so there was no point. She skipped class to go to my technology class later in the year-which by the way we were only building tiny bridgez which still confuses me why it’z even called ‘tachnology class’ and not ‘wood shop’- and she kept looking at me and every 5 minutez or so saying, “You’re tall.” …and I was sitting down, which makez me think she’s been watching me before or it’z some bitchy payback-this confuses me too, because i don’t really see my self as ‘pretty’ and she could’ve said alot more to make me feel bad, but at the same time, i’d grown some confidence this year so i’d probably start a arguement over it( i’m alwayz up for a debate!)- anywho, i notice not saying thank you to people when they do the littlest thingz is like slapping them in the face.
btw; you’re really cool guy, and becuase i have nothing to do this summer day, i’m going to read your other blogz~
-laterz, too tall Alexis (yeah some kid i sat next to started calling me it and kinda’ stuck…)
Alice
XD Thanks for the comment ^^ Bwahaha, well I guess you can be my emergency best friend xD
I used to hold doors all the time for people, and I still do. And I used to get all worked up if they didn't say thank you either. But now reading your logic…I was acting like a douchebag, thinking so xD Hmm. It's a norm for my school too to say thank you to people who open doors for you. Maybe I'll try to change that. 😀
Simone
Well out of all the times I tried no once did I see a zero or the letter o but who cares, I know what I'm doing now.
I posted the rest of the conversation so feel free to read on XD
Anna
Yeah..I see those kind of commercials a lot. I can't do much about it. Hahaha; I remember in 5th grade my teacher was trying to get us in the habit of saying thank you. Every time she passed out paper, you would have to say thank you or she wouldn't give it to you. XD
You use Cutenews? I can't even tell! How do you hide it so well?! 🙂
Hahaha…I got 8. That's good enough for me. 😛
Very good. How was yours? 😀
Rena
thanks a lot!
happy new year to you too
Tiara Lynn .
I've had some people do that for me. I don't intentionally want them to do it, but they just do. When I stop to say thank you…They walk away without a second look.
I even opened doors for people aswell. They say thank you and I say ohh no problem. So yeah. haha, I have never honestly had someone opened the door for me in a row.
Isi
Thank you. 😀 hopefully I can do it. Confidence has never been my thing. It's something i need to have and i'm going to go through great lengths to have confidence.
Whenever I see those commercials, I always change the channel. I just have this thing where i cannot stand to see people suffering and knowing that i'm too broke to do anything about it just makes everything worse.
I dont say thank you all time, i say it as often as i can but not always. Sometimes i just smile as a ay of saying thank you.
Asmiya
I know…I felt terrible as well, but I guess that's how everything goes on.
Julia
Haha, really? Thanks for dropping by my site and tagboard. How did you find my cBox?
Anyways, sorry I won't be leaving such a long comment regarding your post.
Yeah, saying Thank You has suddenly become an obligation, not a manner. I mean, it's nice to say thanks if someone opens the door for you, but you're right. Not all door-openings deserve thank yous.
“thank you”, “thank you again”, and “ok, now I owe you a kidney.” Okay, that's a bit funny, no offense, only the kidney part is funny, don't worry. But hey, that is quite nice of you saying thank you 3x. Why do they need to laugh?
Pocci
xD Thanks?
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Haha your rants are so interesting! I mostly hold doors for people and they say thanks and it feels good. But, I don't think people are that rude if they don't say thanks. Sometimes they might be in a big rush. 😛
Thuyy
LOL I always have to say thanks to someone who opens the door for me. It's just something I have to do, or else I'll freak out and worry if they think I was rude because I just walked past. o_o
HAPPY NEW YEARS AND MERRY CHRISTMASSS.
I didn't get to say that to you. [:
Please change my linkk. I moved. 😀
Oh, btw, LOVE THE NEW LAYOUT. ;D LOVE LOVE LOVE IT.
Dontravious
laughing my only fucking ass off… lol I don't get it lol…my brain hurts from all the math and numbers and logical terms lol
I've only held the door for one person once in my life time (i think) mostly I order them to hold the door for me….
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