Right now, I live on the fourth floor of my building. Overall there are no problems with it. However, the strict enforcement of the unwritten rules of elevator conduct has annoyed me to no end.

When I take the elevator to the fourth floor, the dirty looks from everybody were so annoying that I decided to take the elevator to the fifth floor where there is no silent scolding, and walk down a flight of stairs.

After all, walking down one flight is easier than walking up four. But why should I have to subject myself to this? It takes somebody less than a few seconds to get on or off of an elevator, and somebody on the second floor has paid for the elevators here just as somebody on the 13th floor has.

If you are truly in such a rush to get somewhere that you cannot wait a few seconds for somebody to get on or off of an elevator, then, in my opinion, you are a worse person than whoever is using the elevator for a low floor. So as of yet, I have decided to take a different approach. From now on, I am going to take the elevator to the second floor and walk up two flights.

It is more walking, but knowing that I am angering somebody who is that anal retentive about an elevator will make every extra step worthwhile. So please, the dirty looks and comments are not necessary. We know we are lazy. We know we are wasting precious seconds of your time. It makes no difference to us what you think about it and is nothing more than a waste of your energy. We have a right to use what we paid for. Deal with it.

Ilan Friedman

CGS ’09