Holding the door, how close?

originSH

If I'm in a rush (i.e. commuting) then I'll tend to push the door back as far as possible and let it go ... most doors in public places have a "soft close" which swings slowly and so anyone close behind me will find the door mostly open ... if they are further away then they weren't close enough to warrant waiting. If I'm taking it easy then Ill quite happily hold a door for a fair amount of time. There are exceptions to the rule of course :P if it's a poor old lady struggling up some stairs and it's a heavy door at the top then I'll hold it even if it means I'll miss my train. Conversely if I'm taking it easy and I spot a commuter far behind me then I wont hold the door. They are used to daily travelling and like you would probably be a bit miffed at being socially forced into rushing. EDIT: Must remember IESpell X(

NormDroid

Depends if it's somebody higher ranking than you, then yes, somebody you like, yes female, yes carrying something heavy, yes all others, no.

Chuck Norris counted to infinity - twice.

John M Drescher

In addition to what the previous two posters said I will generally hold the door if it requires a badge swipe or key card to enter. As far as being 30 feet away sometimes I will and sometimes I will not. If its is a good looking woman 100% of the time I will hold the door. It also depends on if I am in a hurry or not. If I do hold the door and they are 30+ feet away I usually at that point tell the person that they do not have to run.

Last modified: 17mins after originally posted --

John

martin_hughes

John M. Drescher wrote:

In addition to what the previous two posters said I will generally hold the door if it requires a badge swipe or key card to enter.

Completely ruining any concept of security said badge or key card afforded :)

Me: Can you see the "up" arrow? User:Errr...ummm....no. Me: Can you see an arrow that points upwards? User: Oh yes, I see it now! -Excerpt from a support call taken by me, 08/31/2007

John M Drescher

I know. Every place I have worked it has always been this way.

John

Baconbutty

You never seen Diamonds are Forever? James Bond got into the secure area by using such a ruse. Look at the mess he created after that!

I still remember having to write your own code in FORTRAN rather than be a cut and paste merchant being pampered by colour coded Intellisense - ahh proper programming - those were the days :)

David Crow

John M. Drescher wrote:

...I will generally hold the door if it requires a badge swipe or key card to enter.

With some companies (e.g., Microsoft, BC/BS), this will get you in serious trouble.

"A good athlete is the result of a good and worthy opponent." - David Crow

"To have a respect for ourselves guides our morals; to have deference for others governs our manners." - Laurence Sterne

Tim Deveaux

Joe Q wrote:

So I was wondering what everyone thought the door holding etiquette is in today’s society?

This is one of those eternal questions that will probably not be fully addressed in our lifetime. I do think, though, that by positing certain situations and possible outcomes we can arrive at an ethically neutral working societal model. The first question, as I see it, should be: "What would Chuck Norris do?"

David Crow

Joe Q wrote:

So I was wondering what everyone thought the door holding etiquette is in today’s society?

I'll hold the door open for anyone, unless it requires a long (e.g, ten-second) wait. If they want to hurry, fine. If, however, I'm on the receiving end of such courtesy, I'm not hurrying, but I also won't take offense to having to open my own door. On a not-so-related note, when two doors are present, do you treat one as the "enter" door and the other as the "exit" door?

"A good athlete is the result of a good and worthy opponent." - David Crow

"To have a respect for ourselves guides our morals; to have deference for others governs our manners." - Laurence Sterne

hairy_hats

Depends how well-endowed she is.

Chris Meech

I hold the door all the time. In fact I stand there, with the door open and hold out my hat. Spend about 20 minutes doing this in a crowded subway or train platform and you'll have lunch or coffee money in no time. I think I should cross post this for that guy who was looking for a second job. :)

Chris Meech I am Canadian. [heard in a local bar]

PIEBALDconsult

Thirty feet is a bit much, so not generally. But if it's someone with whom I want to talk, I may choose to not open the door, but wait until he's there and we've greeted each other then open it. It reduces air conditioning and heating costs. And I don't hurry just because someone was holding the door, in fact I tend to make exaggerated running-in-slow-motion movements.

Paul Watson

Got a 2 from me, I'll happily hold open a door for one of the guys who work for me. Don't see why not.

regards, Paul Watson Ireland & South Africa

Andy Brummer wrote:

Watson's law: As an online discussion of cars grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving the Bugatti Veyron approaches one.

Member 96

Well it's their own fault if this is their idea of high security. Nothing less than an airlock type system where you have to close the first door to open the second is going to be any kind of security at all.

Modo vincis, modo vinceris.

Member 96

It's hard to tell with most she-males in public isn't it? ;) (endowed is as far as I know is universally used in reference to the male organ)

Modo vincis, modo vinceris.

El Corazon

John M. Drescher wrote:

In addition to what the previous two posters said I will generally hold the door if it requires a badge swipe or key card to enter.

that is the one time you should NOT hold a door open for someone. Have you been letting the mice, squirrels and vinegaroons in?

_________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)

hairy_hats

John Cardinal wrote:

endowed

It's down to context, see. Very few women have male organs so it clearly doesn't mean that.

El Corazon

Joe Q wrote:

What is the proper etiquette for how from the door you should hold it for someone?

I don't know if there is any rules, it all comes down to politeness. Who you are polite to, and probably also how much time you have on your hands. I will generally hold the door open for anyone. If I get to the door first, I hold it open and let them in first. It doesn't matter boss, general, private, or buxom blonde bombshell (or buxom blonde female for that matter). This has gotten me in trouble at times. Politeness is a dying breed I fear. Back in college in the 80's there was a lady with a stack of books going into the library. She was struggling to carry them all, all the way up to her chin. So I passed her, reached the door, and openned it for her. She gave me such a dirty look for presuming she was helpless, and huffed at me and said something, though the words are long since forgotten. Something intellectually close to me being a male chauvenist (or however you spell that). So I let the door go and walked inside without a response. I would have held that door for anyone, male, female, young or old. With that many books it would be difficult for someone to enter through the door. The doors were glass, so her joy at defending her own honor quickly diminished when she realized she had to hold the books with a knee and a hand while throwing the door open, without spilling any books, and then transfer back to her hand so she could walk with that leg. It took her several tries. I was careful not to help her again. :) Though since both of us were regulars to the library I think she realized that I did that for anyone else. I never stopped to find out if her opinion had changed.

_________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)

Member 96

You're innocence is heartwarming. :)

Modo vincis, modo vinceris.

PIEBALDconsult

One should hold the door equally for anyone.