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The elevator one seems pretty universal, but "ope" is regional.
These kinds of social norms aren't universal.
One that I wish were more universal would be standing on the right when using an escalator, and leaving the left side for walking.
Interesting point! I guess 'ope' is my regional bias showing lol. The escalator thing is a great example of a rule that makes life so much more efficient, yet people still ignore it. I wonder why some rules like 'facing the door' stick so well, while others like 'stand on the right' are a constant struggle. Do you think it’s because one is about comfort and the other is about efficiency?
"Sorry!"
On the contrary, I'd say the elevator thing is only comfortable because it's a social norm. Unless it's a subconscious "face the door so you can see if any attackers enter" thing.
The escalator thing is less universal because it's something that helps other people, and not ourselves. This isn't valued as much in individualistic societies like the ones in most of North America.
Disagree. First of all, you are in an elevator for a very short time, unlike with public transport for example. You might as well be facing the direction you need to go to, so that when the doors open, you go, instead of having to turn and then go.
Second... I regularly take crowded elevators and while it's true that almost nobody stands facing back to the door, it's also true that easily half the people choose to stand sideways, facing the side walls. (Which btw makes someone with a pram or wheelchair easier to get into the elevator). It's a mix of being ready to go and being able to rest your back against the walls of the elevator more than an unspoken social convention.
Edit: hey well, at least in Australia. Maybe wherever you live everyone faces the door in an elevator.
I think the elevator one is the same as escalators: to minimize traffic disruption. If you're facing away from the elevator doors, you can't tell if you're at the right floor (causing a delay), you can't see if there are people interested in entering (another delay), people interested in entering will likely assume this isn't your floor (yet another delay), it takes time to turn around when it is your floor (delay), and you disrupt anyone behind you in the elevator who also wants to exit there.
When you accidentally bump into someone you say "watch where ya walkin'!"
"I'm walkin' heah!"
I always wish I was a “hey watch it!” guy but I am forever a “sorry!” guy even when it is clearly NOT my fault. 🤦🏻♀️
"What are ya', blind?!"
that's what many people do including me, but honestly i'm not sure if letting people walk on the escalator is a good idea.
they literally have "please do not walk on the escalator" audio on repeat lol. i've heard it's also bad for the escalator's structural integrity.
Elevator walker here. This is the first I'm hearing of it! Given that it's not a thing being played or said in various European countries, where do they have this on repeat? Where did you hear it was bad for it? Any idea why bigger cities generally have markings on the sides of escalators to designate which side to stand, and which side to walk on, since that would only promote the bad-for-their-infrastructure behavior?
Edit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escalator_etiquette doesn't mention anything about damaging the escalator. Walking along increases your chances of falling or something though. In Hong Kong they apparently measured 43% of accidents stemming from "moving or walking along". Methinks a stationary bicycle rarely crashes... I'll take my chances. Can't be that bad if 57% of accidents stems from the people who just stand there. I've never met anyone who was in an escalator accident whereas most people who drive have a traffic accident at some point in their lives and loads of near-misses, so the escalator accident odds must be much lower than that, as well as the speed and consequences involved in escalator accidents, I'd assume
I know someone who was in an escalator accident. The issue is that if you trip, your hair can get caught in it and if you don't resolve it by the top it rips the hair from your scalp. Idk if modern ones have mechanisms to prevent this, but i know of a gnarly accident from the 80s or 90s. Makes me stressed every time I ride one. I almost always stand still, with one foot on the stair above and a hand on the railing to maximize stability.
Can also happen with a loose shoelace but then you just slip your foot out of the shoe so not so bloody.
interesting, i live in korea and hear similar audios in various places. (like this, "please do not walk on the escalators and hold the handle on both sides")
and indeed, seems like i can't find much about standing on one side damaging the escalator. not sure where i've even heard of it lol.
kinda unrelated but after having seen this (pic attached) recently, i'm kinda scared of escalators in general lol.
Shouldn't they make stronger escalators, then?
i kinda worded it poorly. the primary reason they say that is because one may bump into others or lose balance and fall down. and there's usually stairs that can be used instead if one wants to walk.