Door Scenario One: You are walking out of a building as another person is walking in. Acting within normal, polite behavior guidelines, you hold the door for the approaching person after you walk out. Incoming person slips through the door, does not even attempt to grab the door to assist in the process of entering/exiting the doorway nor do they convey any sort of gratitude toward you.
Door Scenario Two: You open the door to walk out and notice there is someone else behind you nearing the same doorway. Instead of continuing to walk and letting the door close, you use your precious seconds of life to pause and hold the door open for the individual trailing behind. That person then acts as though the door is made of lava and they will melt should they reach out and touch it. So they, just like scenario one people, slither past and do not bother saying “thank you” for your act of common decency.
It is unknown where these maniacs come from but unfortunately, they are very common. Who are these dingbats?
They could be…
- spoiled brats. Obviously they are so used to being waited on by others that they have taken it for granted when a complete stranger performs an act of kindness toward them.
- oblivious to the world around them. It is very possible that these people are merely deep in thought or extremely introverted. Possible. However, still inexcusable.
- too good to show appreciation. They have already sized you up and realized that you are not cool/rich/muscular/thin/popular/attractive enough for them to waste their cherished voice on you. You are the one who opened the door for them, after all, so you are undoubtedly a peon.
- total assholes.
Future dealings: As I have wised up to this rancid strain on societal harmony, I have taken the following approaches:
In both scenarios, I still practice the polite act of holding the door for others as we all should. We do not want to be a part of the uncivilized scum.
When faced with scenario one, after giving the bad-mannered person sufficient time to respond to your favor and receiving no recognition, make it loud and clear to others around that this human being is vile and disgusting. Blatantly deliver a “YOU’RE WELCOME!” Expect a loud sigh or eye-roll from the recipient. Nonetheless, you will undoubtedly feel better as you have seized the ball and put it back into your court.*
*(Thank you to my always-kind and well-mannered mom for teaching me this procedure!)
Scenario two incidents take a little more planning, reading body language and predicting outcomes. Once you see the person behind you headed toward the door you are holding, assess them.
- Are they reaching their hand out to grab the door?
- Are they aware that you are standing there waiting for them to come through?
- Do they look as though they are about to smile or say something?
If your answer is an unmistakable “no” to all three of the assessment questions, then let it go. That’s right, let it go. Let the door slam in their face.
WHAT'S WITH PEOPLE? 