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
Susanna
Hey, thanks for your comment! 😀
I love your site, haha, I've been a regular visitor for a while…. the new looks is awesome! (:
Haha, this is something I've thought about too, in my college. I always hold the door for someone, and though I don't expect a thank your or will go cry to my mummy if I don't get one, I think it's nice when you hear it.
But at the same time, it's kind of a "what is the world coming to if we have to say thank you for holding a door open", lol.
It's a pain in the ass when you make the mistake of holding the door open for multiple people though, lol (:
Happy Early New Year to you too!!!
Susanna xx
Chynna
Hullo, I like your new layout. It's cute :]
I call it Oh-Dearism. Well, not me really but Adam Curtis. Just the little things we do makes us feel good about ourselves. I admit, it happens to me too. I always feel good when I do a little thing like give to charity, etc. :]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8moePxHpvok
x
Janice
Hi, thanks for the compliment on my layout 😀 Oh and happy early new year to you too! Hope 2010 would be a better year 🙂
I've ever read an article about saying "thank you" and "excuse me". It's all about manners. I never forget to say those words though, but sometimes I regret saying it. Well, because there are some people who don't care even if I say thank you billion times.
I really hate it when someone come to me when they need help and they don't say thank you at last. They're the ones who ask for help but still they don't have manners. Like for example, first they asked me for help and once I said I couldn't help them because I really didn't know how to help, they would insult me and say I'm useless and so on. Gah, that's so annoying. That's why I always think twice before helping people. Not because I'm not humane, but I don't feel like helping people with no manners and stuff.
Lecxis
Thanks for the tip and for adding me in Twitter. (:
LMAO, that made my day.
Simone
Holding doors, I never really thought what an impact it had on people. My grandma, she's such a grouch she gets mad all the time labeling people as rude saying how they know they could have held the door for us. Honestly, I don't think it gets that serious.
Lol and the same person holding the door for you three times in a row, I guess it's only fair they you say it three times.
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Haha, I guess we are love birds indeed but there's more where that came from (:
PS-you don't know how long it has taken me to post this simple comment.
Meaghan!
…OH! I KNEW THAT! XD Lol sorry I'm a bit tired ;~;
Meaghan!
I've never had fruity pebbles before ;o are they really, really yummy!? ;o Hahaha, you're the only gay I know that likes fruity pebbles. Lol sorry if that sounds offensive, I don't mean it to be! 😀
Georgina
Ag it is really torture indeed. :O My parents are pretty strict parents though! 😛
I haven't held open doors for people very much but I've held out my arm and just held open the door as I was walking, enough for them to put their hand there as I let go so as not to get hit in the face. Most of the time when I do that the person just continues to hold open the door.
I have had people totally hold open doors for me but for that person to do that three times in a row was a little too nice. I wouldn't have bothered saying thank you every time. I would have saved the muscles it takes to say those two words (72 times 2 I think?) and just smiled. Only about 40 muscles there hahahaha. People don't have to thank people if they don't want to. Sometimes you should but it depends on the situation and people's moods.
Francine
Aw, thanks so much! I really love taking pictures. I feels o much more confident behind the lens. Haha.
I've been reading your blog forever but I never really got the nerve to comment… I never knew what to say! Psh, I'm just plain bad at commenting. I admit it. I'll say the dumbest things and then people will wonder what the heck I even said. Ah well, I'm gonna end this one now before it gets outta control.
Alex
Something like your door dilemma totally happened to me once! I was walking behind someone and we were going in the same direction, and they held open a door for me, and I said thanks. We were headed to a place where there were stairs and an elevator. I started to slow down a bit, but they were still walking at the same pace. So they got to the stairs first and held open the door for me, and it took me five seconds to realize that they were doing that FOR me. So I had to rush to catch up. XD
At first I was really grossed out by the seaweed, but everything my friend told me to eat at Dim Sum that I was afraid of ended up being good, so I ate it and actually it didn't taste half bad. Almost like some kind of Chinese noodle dish, except it was green.
Happy New Year and one year of your site too! Haha, I even remember when it first opened.
Nancy
Haha, it`s cool. Well, I`m crazy, but I do share. 🙂
Meaghan!
I like pebbles! ;o
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Jessica
Aw, I think it's so nice whenever people hold the door open for me/I for them. Unless, of course, the person holding it open happens to be a creepy guy with an even creepier smile who continues to stare after you even after you have walked through the door :3
But you're right, this is a very nice gesture ^_^ Pahaha. It's nice whenever people say thanks! I mean, dude, they're saving you the workout of lifting your arm up… the least you could do is be nice about it. But, on the other hand, if someone doesn't say thanks, it doesn't make them rude :S
Nancy
Haha, more like those six dollar burgers from Carl's Jr. What is like. Odd is that I lost weight& mass because of that. I`m like trippy :O! Trance& danceee. I remember watching my friends dance to them on the train just this month& last month. &then I attempted to go along with them and I managed it :D! I can`t stand half of the pop culture over here. Now these days, I`m into what you call, the alternative section of itunes. :D.
Meaghan!
Hahaha yes ;D Fine then…I'll do it too…
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