In part one of the Elevator Manifesto I introduced you to the most important rule of being a responsible and considerate elevator passenger. Just to remind you that rule is, “Exiting passengers have the right of way”. If you only take one thing away from my frustration with elevators I hope it is that one simple rule and not that I am slightly deranged. There are however other rules should you be interested.
Rule #2 Don’t be a Space Invader.
I’m not talking about the video game from the 80’s, what I am talking about is people that stand way too close when it is unnecessary. Seriously give people some room. We are passengers in an elevator together not lifelong friends. I like to maintain my personal space, and in doing so help you to maintain yours, but some people just don’t get the concept. Now I fully understand that everyone’s personal space diminishes as the elevator gets more and more full. I don’t expect everyone to be jammed into the corner to accommodate my needs. However if the there are only a few people in the car then there is no reason that someone should be shoulder to shoulder with me. Spread out and explore the space, enjoy the ride. That’s how I feel.
Why would strangers choose to invade your personal space? I don’t know. Maybe they are lonely. Maybe they are conducting a psychological experiment (this happened to me once). Maybe they just don’t know any better. Whatever the reason it’s not cool.
Space Invaders come in all shapes and sizes and you never know when one is about to strike. One time I was riding the elevator and it stopped on a random floor that we will call the third floor. A woman in a power chair came cruising in at a high rate of speed and did not stop until she made it all the way to the back where I was standing. Sometimes people in power chairs do this in order to have enough room to turn around so they can exit the elevator facing forward. I get it, looking ahead is easier than trying to look behind, and since we were the only two on the elevator I assumed it was her plan. Nope. She did however inch her chair even closer to me so that the chair was almost touching my shoe. She stayed there until she reached her floor and then had to back up before she could turn around and exit.
Normally I step away from the Space Invaders if there is room and sometimes I will tell them they are a little close, but I couldn’t believe that the woman in the power chair purposely inched even closer after she was already too close. I had to see what was going to happen.
I don’t think it is rude to ask for a little space if you feel uncomfortable, but if there is room you shouldn’t have too.
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