A curiosity - elevator buttons

[momrek06]

Not only do I push the button (even if the light is lite) but once I am in the elevator I glance around to make sure everyone that was waiting is in and I push the close the door button >< !!!!
Do you all do that as well?


Oh and as far as pushing the walk button more than once, GUILTY!!!

 

[minniebeth]

Because they never got to push the elevator buttons as a child. They need to fulfill their inner elevator button pushing needs as adults.

 

[DizBelle]

On the crosswalk buttons, do those light up once pressed?

 

[momrek06]

On the crosswalk buttons, do those light up once pressed?

Nope, not in the OC anyway.

 

[kaytieeldr]

why does the elevator always stop on the second floor--and healthy people walk onto the elevator?!?

Does the word STAIRS come to mind??? I wish i was not on the top floor, i would use the stairs everyday..

Ha! I've got a good one. Now, granted, you can't tell how long someone's been waiting for an elevator if you're not on the same floor, and the one in my building is slow... it was made even slower one day by stopping on six, five, and three. We get down to two, and it stops again. A woman wearing workout clothes steps in, and, when we (finally) reached the first floor, she jogged off the elevator, out the door, and through the parking lot!!!! It's like the members of the health club at the local mall - they HAVE to park as close as humanly possible to the club entrance, because, heaven forbid they should walk a hundred and fifty feet before they step onto the treadmill ! It's so funny I stopped going to that mall. Especially around 5 or 6, there are all these drivers snaking through the parking lot, not using the open spaces at the far end of the aisle but instead driving around and around waiting for that miracle space opposite the door to suddenly become available at just the right instant.

Sorry. Back to your regularly-scheduled topic

 

[kaytieeldr]

Habit, I had no idea it bothered people.

Ah, but if you think about it - latecomers pressing an already-lit (and so, presumably, an already-functioning) call button make it seem that they have no confidence in the ability of those already waiting for the elevator, that any of those people having pushed the button DOESN'T mean the elevator is actually coming.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Depending on the control system, it might actually result in an elevator responding quicker.

The elevators in some buildings are managed by a computer that parks and unparks elevators and sends multiples to the same floor based on demand.

Possible, sure - but many MORE elevators aren't computer-controlled this way. And this explanation doesn't apply to the very common single-elevator situation.

 

[scrapquitler]

Add me to the group of people that push the button even though it's already lit!
In fact, I'm likely to push it multiple times myself

 

[purplegirl247]

It's especially funny/grating when someone walks up (after you're already there, waiting, and the light indicates you've hit the button) and REPEATEDLY hits the button. Like, they get extra credit for pushing it ten times in a row. What's that about?

And I agree about crowding around the elevator and making it awkward for people exiting. Same thing on Disney buses, actually (all buses possibly, but don't use the bus at home).

 

[Diznotyzed]

It's the same principle as the well known fact that when stopped at a red light you should repeatedly inch your car forward a few inches so the light will turn green sooner.

 

[hiwaygal]

It's the same principle as the well known fact that when stopped at a red light you should repeatedly inch your car forward a few inches so the light will turn green sooner.

Now that one actually DOES have some merit...or at least it can in some areas.

If the signal system is actuated by a loop detector in the pavement, you may very well have to 'trip' it to let the signal system know there is a vehicle waiting. If you don't know where that detector is, inching up may help you trip it. (edited to add: loop detectors are ALWAYS placed before the stop bar so if you are inching up beyond that, you're just impatient)

However, loop systems are falling out of favor. They are expensive to maintain and have a tendency to fail...but there are probably a lot still out there.

More and more agencies are switching to video detection where inching up won't help.

 

[bookgirl]

Pavlov

 

[Experiment_626]

once I am in the elevator I glance around to make sure everyone that was waiting is in and I push the close the door button >< !!!!
Do you all do that as well?

Not since I was told (by an elevator service tech) that on most elevators -- including the one in the building where I work -- the "door close" button typically does nothing at all. It is normally disabled, except when the control key for the elevator is being used (by a service person, say, or the fire department). Under those circumstances, the doors won't open or close at all unless those buttons are used.

So now I see people board the elevator and repeatedly press those buttons. When the doors finally close -- in exactly the same amount of time it would have taken had the buttons never been pressed at all -- these people think they've accomplished something.

 

[golfgal]

Because if the elevator hasn't arrived yet, you did it wrong. Clearly it being lit up is not an indication that you did it right because the elevator didn't arrive already!!!

I went to elevator button pushing school for just such occasions!!

We saw a woman go up to the button for the crosswalk the other day and she pushed the thing about 15 times. Honey, that is NOT going to make the light change faster--it will still cycle through just like it would the first time you pushed it--pushing the button just tells the little guy in the light pole to turn on the walk lights .

 

[sdemore]

Because if the elevator hasn't arrived yet, you did it wrong. Clearly it being lit up is not an indication that you did it right because the elevator didn't arrive already!!!

I went to elevator button pushing school for just such occasions!!

 

[Robinrs]

Pavlov

and his dogs.... Human nature is SO predictable. I grew up in a 25 floor apt building and I actually studied the habits of people on elevators.

1: When there are 3 elevators available, if one opens EVERYONE will go to that elevator and fill it up. The next elevator shows up to hold one person (usually me! )

2: People feel that pushing a button several times makes things HAPPEN. Come on it MUST be true!!

3: The law is to come in, nod or speak and TURN AROUND AND FACE THE DOOR. Ugh, people who stand with their backs to the door staring at strangers is sooooo weird...

Boy, I miss elevators!!

 

[connorlevismom]

why does the elevator always stop on the second floor--and healthy people walk onto the elevator?!?

Does the word STAIRS come to mind??? I wish i was not on the top floor, i would use the stairs everyday..

I hate this! I work on the 11th floor and it never fails, someone always gets in and goes to the 2nd floor. They are usually large people too who could really use the exercise.

I love people who get in and then push their floor 15 times like that is going to make the elevator fly up to their floor.

Kristine

 

[bumbershoot]

Answering for DH and DS who do this (and DH does it with street crossing buttons too)? They like pushing buttons. It's fun.

why does the elevator always stop on the second floor--and healthy people walk onto the elevator?!?

Does the word STAIRS come to mind??? I wish i was not on the top floor, i would use the stairs everyday..

Answering for me in my condo building? The stairs are completely creepy. Dark, spidery, webby. With open spaces between the steps which just makes me think of horror movies. Yuck yuck yuck. I will take the elevator from our basement parking garage to the second floor where we live, even though the door to the stairs is right in front of our parking space, even though it gives me a longer walk, because of the creepy yucky factor. I go to the gym and take walks downtown for fitness. I'm not going to freak myself out by walking in that stairwell!

Sometimes it is just to let the elevator know it can close the door--and sometimes the number is easier to find than the button marked.....

><

.

No sinister plot that the elevator can't be believed.

Have you ever gotten on an elevator that just sits there with the doors open waiting for someone to do something?

But I think the OP was talking about standing *outside* the elevator, not after you get inside.