Holding Doors Open

No.

2 (5.4%)

Yes.

28 (75.7%)

Depends on the person you're holding the door for.

7 (18.9%)

Total Members Voted: 21

[MobileDigit]

I hate when people hold doors open for me.

[error]

I don't mind when someone holds a door open.

I get pissed off when they hold a door open and then stand in the way.

[rabidfurby]

If the chick is hot, then yes.

[cerpntaxt]

Generally, it serves no purpose, but there are exceptions when it may be useful, as RabidFurby mentioned.

[jckeyser]

If the chick is hot, then yes.

[MobileDigit]

Why?

They normally stand in the way, and even if they don't they expect you to hold it open for them later.


To all those holding doors for anyone, why is it rational?

[MobileDigit]

It's also just pleasant behavior, it may not be rational but nor is it irrational, it's just something nice  to do.

Why?

[voodoo]

If nothing else, it says you care enough about other people around you to let them enter the door first and/or not have the door slam in their face.

[theCelestrian]

I hold doors open for people, and always for women.  In Japan it's very wierd for them because if anyone holds a door open, it's generally women holding it open for men.  The reaction I recieve is always one of pleasant surprise.

I frankly don't care if it's rational or not.  It's the manners I was raised with, and I feel good doing it.  I don't need any other reason.  It helps grease social interactions with other human beings who also have emotional responses to many situations, and in that regard is very useful.  I could make that argument that this usefulness makes this a rational behavior, particularly if I am trying to achieve a level of rapport with an individual.

It's amazing what a random act of kindness that doesn't cost you anything can do.

(EDIT: changed "how" to "who")

[bakerbaker]

Why?

They normally stand in the way, and even if they don't they expect you to hold it open for them later.


To all those holding doors for anyone, why is it rational?

i hold doors open for people, generally....if they're close enough behind me.  I don't really stand in their way...that would kind of defeat the purpose of the hospitality.

and i don't expect people to hold them open for me.  on the contrary, i like opening them.

[freeAgent]

I would say that it is rational because it saves time.  If a group of people is walking through a doorway and spaced such that each can't hold the door open as s/he passes (the door has time to shut or mostly shut in-between people) then it is more efficient for the first person to reach the door to hold it open for the rest of the people because it saves time and energy across the whole group.  The person holding the door does not benefit in that particular instance, but that person will not always be the first person to get to the door.  I would conclude that holding doors open is efficient and thus rational.  There are also relational reasons for its rationality.  If you want to impress someone, then saving him or her time and energy by holding the door open is an effective way to achieve your goal.  That person will, in return, be more likely to do you a favor.

[Lindsey]

First off, to say that holding open a door for another person is irrational is ridiculous.  Sorry.  "Holding doors open for other people is irrational behavior and we must do our best to eradicate it." 

I've never really had a door held open for me, so I don't know.  I've held them open for women with huge baby strollers, or somebody carrying something very large that could really use the help.  I've kind of had the thing where somebody walks in the door before you and kind of holds it a second longer so it doesn't slam in my face, but that's all.  It's not really a big deal to me. 

Maybe MobileDigit should move to Manhattan, and only go in and out of buildings with revolving doors. 

[MobileDigit]

it's helpful

So?

saves them effort.

And costs you more.

let them enter the door first

Why does that matter?

and/or not have the door slam in their face.

It's material on a hinge, not a stone falling from the sky.

I frankly don't care if it's rational or not.  It's the manners I was raised with, and I feel good doing it.

If it's not rational, why do you feel good doing it?

I don't need any other reason.

Why not?

It helps grease social interactions with other human beings who also have emotional responses to many situations, and in that regard is very useful.

If people didn't normally hold open doors, it wouldn't 'grease social interactions'.

It's amazing what a random act of kindness that doesn't cost you anything can do.

Why is it kind?

it is more efficient for the first person to reach the door to hold it open for the rest of the people because it saves time and energy across the whole group.

Not to the first person. It's only valid if there are significant gaps between the people, and even then fully opening the door may still work.

The person holding the door does not benefit in that particular instance, but that person will not always be the first person to get to the door.

So your argument is that the loss to the one is outweighed by the average efficiency boost to all when and only when there are large groups of spaced out people?

If you want to impress someone, then saving him or her time and energy by holding the door open is an effective way to achieve your goal.

Sure, if you are trying to impress an irrational person, irrational actions may be the trick. It is nonetheless irrational.

First off, to say that holding open a door for another person is irrational is ridiculous.  Sorry.

Well, I'm convinced! 

[Lindsey]

I think it's irrational for me to put forth effort explaining my opinions to you. 

So you can rationally think of a way to jump up and kiss my ass on this one, pal.   

[rah62]

Sometimes by expending a smidgen of effort to be nice, you recoup that investment and more in the long run.  By not tailgating or cutting someone off on the freeway, you might just keep yourself from being shot at in a "road rage" incident.  By holding the door open for someone at my apartment building, maybe they'll hold the door for me the next time I'm coming in with a large box.  Sure, it's a gamble and there's no guarantee - but I'm willing to take the risk to be pleasant to people in hopes that in some small way I can be a role model and that it might rub off on someone.