I think everything has a natural order. Or, at least, an order that would be considered common sense.
You flush a urinal AFTER you go wee wee (though, some people haven’t learned that lesson yet). You look left and right BEFORE you cross the street. You don’t try and play a DVD without first putting it into the DVD player.
So, why do many people try to enter an elevator before you exit? More often than not, when the elevator stops at the floor on which I’d like to exit, I nearly collide with a person, or people trying to push their way in. Why?
I truly believe that the exiting person should have the right of way. Logic dictates that it’s much more efficient to let someone exit first. If you try to do it the other way, the person would enter the elevator, and block the path out. Then, the person exiting has to waste time and effort by trying to get around the person who just entered. Add to this equation the probability that the person who just shoved their way in, will try to push their desired floor button AS SOON as they step in. This means that you either have to be a jerk and try to shove past them before they stick their arm out, or rush out the door before it closes, which may or may not involve slight personal injury.
I think most people who read this blog are the type who let people exit the elevator before they enter. If not, please consider letting people off the elevator before you try to get on. I know it’s super manini compared to society’s everyday problems. But — I believe we can make a difference, one step at a time.
So ultimately, I know someone will ask me, “So, do you let people get out of the elevator before you get on?”
Yes, I do.
I also wash my hands every time I use the bathroom.
But, that’s another story.