Elevator etiquette?

[hazliya]

Just a random question I'm interested in, as I just got off the elevator at work.

Do you guys greet the people you ride in an elevator with? Like "hello" when you get on and "have a good one" when you step off? Does it depend on the number of people? Number of floors?

Comments

[mariaklob.livejournal.com]

I keep my mouth shut and my eyes on my shoes most of the time. If I recognize somebody I'll say a quiet "hi" when I get on and that's it.

[kadath.livejournal.com]

I ask what floor if I'm the one nearest the buttons. That's it.

[acousticshadow2.livejournal.com]

depends on the situation. I don't like groups of people I don't know. If there is only 1 or 2 people in the elevator I usually smile or say hello. or when I leave say "have a good day" if there are more than that I usually say nothing or "excuse me" or "this floor please". If there is only 1 person in the elevator I might even strike up a conversation like "Gee I love your unicycle or some other relivant topic pertaining to normal elevator rides"

I find most people in elevators feel uncomfortable and will look at everything but the other people. It is that odd feeling of not wanting to be obtuse. In other social situations there is lots to bring up as those relevent starters like coming into a building "wow there is a lot of snow" or leaving a building "keep warm!" Elevators are just uncomfortable.

[pezzonovante.livejournal.com]

I'll give a nod when I get on. If they escalate to full conversation, I go with it. Apart from that, no.

[how-low-am-i.livejournal.com]

see episode of 30 Rock with Tracy getting mad at Kenneth for being the funny one in the elevator. It has a lot of camaraderie in it. I think it pays to make jokes instead of standing there awkward.

[crash-mccormick.livejournal.com]

I do, but its a cultural thing. my corporate culture is well good/nice Episcopalian and thus really rather civilized polite friendly nice.

A mild change from say the NY Stock Exchange.

[jalawingedone.livejournal.com]

I'll smile if I make eye-contact, initiate conversation if I see someone I know, respond in kind if someone initiates conversation, and say goodbye if conversation occurred. I'm more likely to initiate conversation at, say, a con, then I am at a hospital. Usually only if I've got a hint that there are similar interests. I figure most people only want to get where they are going with the minimum energy expenditure. And a significant proportion of the population finds making small talk with strangers to be stressful.

[treyvana.livejournal.com]

it depends- if they are looking, I'll usually half-smile, sometimes say 'how's it going'. Most of the time, if I'm the one getting on, they are just looking at their shoes.

If we're all getting in, I'll usually get by the buttons and start asking what floors.

When you're in a hotel for a long time, you start talking with almost anyone though- Road Warriors don't necessarily have a lot of people to talk to.

[nerdx111.livejournal.com]

I usually only give a hello-type greeting to people getting on at the same floor as me, and to anyone getting into the elevator I'm already in. I give a "have a good one" when such a person gets off, or when I get off, leaving such a person in the lift. People who were already in the elevator when I got in get nothing from me unless they strike up conversation.

I guess all this stems from the notion that two people getting in together are sharing the space voluntarily. A person entering an occupied lift is an unwelcome intruder unless the prior occupants make it clear that the new rider is welcome in the space. How this notion wormed its way into my head is completely unclear to me.