James Kirkpatrick's Not-So-Random Keyboard Strokes - No, you first! No, you! No really, you go first!

Location: Blogs PaleBlueScot Miscellany
Posted by: James	12/7/2007 6:53 AM
There comes a time in men’s lives when, at least those who were raised up properly, their courtesy is at conflict with common sense. Most guys, myself included, always let women on and off the elevator first. The only exception to this rule is when you find yourself at the very front of a crowded elevator. There isn’t room to move to the right or left so it then becomes OK to exit first. Following that logic, imagine the next scene. Four guys are the only people waiting for an elevator in the lobby at work. As the door opens, all four give the global “you first” sweeping hand/arm motion. No one moves! Then one guy will stutter step a millisecond before another one makes his move. With neither wanting to be the “chick” in the elevator, they both re-give the “no, you first” motion. This Keystone Kops routine continues until someone finally breaks down and goes first. This behavior also manifests itself, albeit genderless, at 4-way intersections. Depending on if two cars come together at the same time, if the person with the “right of way” doesn’t make the first move, there is an uncomfortable pause by the other person. What’s a polite amount of time to wait for the right-of-way-er before you can technically enter the intersection before them? I’m sure we’ve all had those encounters where you stop and start several times until you begin to wonder if, when you actually do decide to move, the other person will too and you’ll wind up in a fender bender.

Permalink \| Trackback

Comments (6) Add Comment

Re: No, you first! No, you! No really, you go first!	By JA3 on 12/7/2007 12:59 PM
I had such an extensive rant in response to this post that it required multiple paragraphs, and therefore <a href="http://bigdaddyavelis.blogspot.com/2007/12/no-no-i-insist-you-endanger-rest-of-us.html">I have posted it to my own blog</a>.

Re: No, you first! No, you! No really, you go first!	By JA3 on 12/7/2007 1:00 PM
Oh, for crying out loud. Cut and paste the following URL: http://bigdaddyavelis.blogspot.com/2007/12/no-no-i-insist-you-endanger-rest-of-us.html

Re: No, you first! No, you! No really, you go first!	By James on 12/7/2007 3:10 PM
Spot on, JA3, spot on. I tend not to give up the right of way. I "earned" it, dammit! You people on my left WILL halt for me.

Re: No, you first! No, you! No really, you go first!

By Amy on 12/7/2007 9:01 PM

"With neither wanting to be the “chick” in the elevator..." I have noticed that when it's all women getting in an elevator, or going through a door, the woman who is dressed in the most feminine fashion (skirt, dress) that day is sort of urged to go first. I almost feel that if I were dressed in a business-like, no-nonsense, wearin'-the-pants way and heading for something serious and business-like and a tarted-up cross-dressing man on his way to a gay cabaret reached a door at the same time I did, I would probably instinctively hold it open for him. Wonder if it is subtler for four men but there is something in the wardrobe maybe, or the place they are going, or... some clue. Dunno. As for 4-way stops, I boast to say I usually don't have trouble because I use my vehicle to communicate clearly that I am stopped and waiting or I am going and will not stop unless collision is imminent. Auto Communication 101.

Re: No, you first! No, you! No really, you go first!

By James on 12/8/2007 9:26 AM

While the current office building I'm in doesn't have many cross-dressers in the lobby (at least not during business hours), there is one company that seems to hire female ex-college basketball players. There are several over 6'6" and there is one woman that is close to 7' tall! She literally has to duck to enter/exit the elevator. Their office floor doesn't use the same bank of elevators as we do so I haven't had the chance for them to give me the "No, you first, shorty" hand motion to me (a mere 6' tall mortal).

Re: You know it's my turn...

By Syl on 12/8/2007 11:17 PM

There are so many 4-way stop signs here no one really freezes up. But if there is doubt, most often the drivers work it out and someone is waved on - often this is acknowledged by the palm-showing wave/sign of thanks. That is, *if* the car is not already crowding into the intersection after performing a California (rolling) stop anyway. I always go in front of the rolling types if they actually stop - no rush - it's my turn. Can't say I notice attire while doing it, I just always let other women go on the elevator first. I'm smart, strong and confident and I used to do things like climb Doug fir trees when I was a kid. I have upper body strength and am pretty athletic - let's just say I know I'd be the one climbing through the ceiling and figuring how to escape the stuck elevator. Unless the 7 foot tall gal was on board, I suppose, and could just reach up and get out. Regardless, I'd still wave her to get on first, she has to duck and find a tall spot in which to get situated and all.... In the City, there's a neighborhood out closer to the beach with very wide streets (developed later than other areas, after the advent of the automobile) and with less traffic is called the Sunset. In high school and later for some certain ...well, generally boys..., you play a risky car game called 'Sunset Roulette' - to play, you just run the stop signs at your peril, guessing at which intersections no one is coming on the cross street.

Your name:
Title:
Comment:

Add Comment Cancel