I’ve got a new elevator behavior that I hadn’t posted previously.  It’s not an annoying habit of others; rather it’s more of a curiosity.  I’ve never understood the guy that stands with his nose a mere inch from either the front wall or door.  If your breath creates fog on the elevator door, you’re too close.  Why be this close to a public area where there have been multiple dirty hands and filthy coughs polluting the surface?  Is it because of shyness that you don’t want to make eye contact?  Is this person simply wanting to get out of the elevator as quickly as possible?  Is it an insecure thing, being the equivalent of sticking your hands in your pockets or having your arms folded when talking to others?  While the elevator door/wall might not be as dirty as, say, an El train pole or the space of porcelain in a public toilet between the front lid, it still seems like an area you’d want to avoid.

Having ranted about elevator etiquette before, I do find myself guilty of one offense.  If I’m the lone person in an elevator on the main floor, I do tend to put myself in whichever corner allows me the least amount of visibility for any oncoming elevator passengers.  Thankfully in the building I’m in now, there is an express elevator that goes from the 19^th floor and up.  Since we're on the 22^nd floor, there’s only a max of 3 stops the elevator could make before depositing me on my floor.  I’d hate to be on one of the top 5 floors if 8 people pushed floor buttons that are all below you.

With all this being said, I still follow the eye contact rule.  If, as I’m walking in the elevator and I see you coming, I will hold the door for you.  And if you don’t hold the door for me if you see me?  I wish a pox on you and your household.