Is there a definite right or wrong way to handle this situation?

Let's say that you board an elevator on the first floor along with a significant crowd of people, but not enough people to make the elevator come close to capacity. You're the last person to get on, and you are closest to the buttons/door. Everyone requests their floor, and you push the buttons, establishing yourself as sort of the spokesperson of the elevator..

Now, just as the door is closing, you see one more person running to catch the elevator, but you know that they are not going to make it. As the "spokesperson" of the elevator, you are in a position to either hold the door or let it close. What do you do?

You've put yourself in a position to be captain of the ship. You act decisively and stand by your decision, whatever it may be.

You let the doors close, turn to your elevator-mates, and say "no time for milk on this ride to the top".

I like it, Pete. I like it a lot.

what chud say.

and what do you mean the person's not gonna make it? hold the door open, easy as that. if the elevator was at full capacity, that'd be a whole different doodle.

I hold the door open, as I suspect most people would. Is that 100% the most considerate thing to do for everyone involved, though?

i'd fake sneeze or get busy on my blackberry

If anyone already in the elevator complains about you holding the door, you kindly ask them to get off of your ship as there is no room for naysayers or mutineers.

We're gonna make quite the team on the drive to PJ Fest '11.

I hope so. I'm kinda doubting my integrity today Pete. I hope you can see past recent events and still ride with me.

What if they're really unfit and have a heart attack and die from running before they get there??

I'd stand there and wait. The miserable sods already in the elevator can wait.

You know who can be real dicks on elevators? Doctor types.

so busy saving lives

the elevator captain has no way of assessing the heart condition of any or all potential latecomers. if the latecomer really is unfit he/she should know better than to risk their lives by running to make it to the elevator.

unless we're talking about a hospital elevator here, in which case i don't really know what to do.

Reid, you did the right thing in coming here today.

Heaven forbid, doctors are perfect and never late for anything.

Fortuna calls this a "Lift Scenario"

You know, to me this is really kind of simple but apparently some people don't understand that there is a certain courtesy you should extend to someone before allowing them to board the elevator:

1. Ask them beforehand if they have any interest in seeing your genitalia.
2. Make sure they're not at work.
3. Name the direction the elevator's going (up or down) in such a manner that they're prepared for what they're getting into before hopping on.
4. Take the time to really think about it before you hit the 'door close' button.
5. If in doubt, don't.

Kind regards,

Spike

[/thread]