Just get in the elevator already.

Can we talk a bit about Elevator etiquette? Okay, here's the deal, when entering and exiting an elevator the rules are different than those when you're dealing with a door (car or building). What do I mean? Well, I'm not sure how it is in most high rise buildings but in mine the elevators are on strict orders to only allow one moving car at a time, even though there are 6 supposedly operating. In the mornings there are always a few dozen of us waiting for a ride up to our differing floors and in no way can we all fit in one car. While waiting I keep to myself, usually with coffee, staring blindly at the floor even though someone from my office is 4 people away. It's not that I dislike the person, but I'd rather ease into the day, instead of hearing a recap of last nights American Idol. Who wants to talk in a full elevator anyway? Everyone unintentionally eves dropping on my conversation, not that they have a choice. Me trying to low talk to my co-worker in an attempt to steer clear of the others hearing space. It's a trying situation. And I love the cell phone people, "...hey, yeah, no yeah. Yeah, hey, hey, hey. Seriously, right?. Hey, I'm on the elevator so if I lose ya, I'll call ya back, okay?". No way that call is that important. And are we done with the blue-tooth ear pieces, yet?

Anyway, so we wait. Finally the time comes to board. Now this is when things get smokey. I'm on the 17th floor (the highest floor that these elevators go) so I'm going to get on the elevator first, right? That's certainly what I was thinking. But no, instead we're gonna let the people on the 1st-4th floors on first because they're female. See where I'm going with this? How does this make sense? Now we're jammed into this tiny area--I'm in front--and every time the door opens I exit to let people off. It certainly seems like a situation we could've avoided, no? If that's not bad enough, I also have a hard time comprehending why a person that could easily exit the elevator, clearing the way for others, instead decides to step to the side and let the women off first. I'm all for chivalry but this is a bit extreme. Just get off. They're right behind ya, dude. I can promise you that neither I or any other person in that elevator is going to judge you. You're still a nice person if you tear out of there with blatant disregard as to what happens to the remaining 3 girls getting off on your floor. We'll make sure they don't get stuck.

On a side note, is there a more uncomfortable situation than riding up and down in an elevator with someone you don't know? My God, it's almost unbearable. I find myself trying to guess which floor they'll get off on so I can finally relax. It's so awkward. Even worse when it's someone that works on my floor because I sometimes try and converse with this person. And by converse I mean give a simple nod and a "hey, how's it going?" Completely rhetorical and they know that. Jesus, I didn't know 17 floors could take so long.