Do you hold open a door for the next person coming?

[sashusmom]

I usually hold open doors for people that are entering at the same time as me or are following close behind me.

!

This! I am an older female, and it doesn't matter what the gender. Or if they are coming out and I get to the door first. I usually let them out, then go in.

It's always nice to be acknowledged, but it doesn't always happen. You can't give people manners if they were raised without any.

It's always unpleasant to have a door slam in your face cause the person ahead of you doesn't have common courtesy. I can excuse them if they are not paying attention due to having their hands full- literally, or with young children. If they are totally oblivious due to just being out of touch with people, then I shrug it off.

My kindness always comes back in mysterious ways!

 

[dec.]

I always do - and I shove a "you're welcome" right behind that grumpy face.

 

[Happybunny]

Yes I do, I always have.

What I do notice is that I have got to that age, where people are very likely to hold the door open for me.

 

[Gutwrench]

Yes I do.

I also drop my family at the door before parking and open my wife and daughter's car door. They quietly appreciate it, I think, but never seem to expect it. And I don't think I'm anything special in doing so. I see others who do the same.

 

[MorphingDragon]

If im not in a rush. Then im shouldering the doors like im expecting to tackle someone.

 

[Arran]

I also drop my family at the door before parking and open my wife and daughter's car door...

That's charmingly old-school, but doesn't it just delay everyone? My wife and kids wouldn't stand for it.

That, and it could be an obstruction to other vehicles in an urban setting.

 

[Gutwrench]

Perhaps in a large city, but we're in the Twin Cuties and it's not a problem. I avoid obstructing traffic. By the way, I don't usually open their car door when dropping off, but almost always when entering the car.

 

[heehee]

I open the door as little as possible, so little that I have to slide my body in the opening sideways to get in so the person behind me has to open the door him/herself.

 

[satcomer]

I do all the time.

One funny thing was my first date with my wife. When I open the car door for her and later she said that totally endeared her Father to me.

 

[Micky Do]

This morning at the cafe me and another man arrived at the same time to the door. He offered me to go first, but I simply opened the door (outwards) and held it open for him. I'm 26 and he was in his 50-60s, so it just felt the right thing to do.

Anyways, in the time I opened the door a group of three kids (18?) were coming, one guy and two girls, and they were just behind. Normally I don't mind opening the door for the next person coming, so I kept the door open, but this kids just simply didn't even look my way. The guy even went in before letting the girls thru.

When none of them even gave a nod looking at me as to say thank you I simply said "Your welcome!". The funniest part was the offended look of one of the girls.

Is common courtesy just no longer expected? This is sadly not the first time something like this happens to me or to someone near me. Tho I must agree many people do say "thank you", but normally just the older ones.

It seems like it should be common courtesy, and is where I come from. However, it probably more cultural.

It is not the norm everywhere I have been and certainly isn't where I am now. Hold a door open (geezer that I am) and it will be taken advantage by any number of yoofs, without a glimmer of acknowledgement of thanks. And they will barge through doors, letting them swing back into the face of others.

Thai people can be very polite when they know people and there is a prescribed form of behaviour. On campus I am treated with respect by my students, but to some students I have never taught, I am treated with contempt. It is particularly true of Public Administration majors, who hope to become Civil Servants……. whoops, that is a term I should not use. Government Officials is what they prefer be known as. A translation of the Thai term is something like "one called upon to do the work of the king". Now, they would expect doors to be opened for them.

Culture can change though. A generation ago in Thailand queuing was unheard of. When we organised a queue of farmers through a cattle race to distribute something they were highly amused. Now it is pretty much the norm.

 

[kazmac]

Yes I do...

At work and while I commute, shop I hold the doors open. Simple courtesy.

 

[ZhenyaF]

I always do and unfortunately I too have said "you're welcome" on the occasion they don't say thank you.

I also like to smile at most people all the time.

 

[LadyX]

Do you hold open a door for the next person coming?

Yes I do. But if the person is a bit far I open the door wide and just move along. I think it's impolite not to.

 

[Tsuchiya]

Is it an age thing? I always hold a door open for someone if they are nearby, and say thank you to those who do the same.

On campus though, a lot of the kids just don't do this. They'll barrel through a door in groups and not even acknowledge I'm standing there, or if I hold the door they say nothing as if it's expected.

Bastards.

 

[tacotester1]

of course y not help someone else out.

pretty lame when people smash the door on ur face

 

[i1280]

Yes and usually for as long as it takes for the "traffic" to go through. Also will hold doors for those coming behind me but at a distance. One of my pet peeves is when people don't acknowledge someone holding the door for them.

 

[Sun Baked]

Of course, much easier to hold it open these days.

Tried slamming the doors in their face, but the soft close mechanisms on most doors these days makes it way too much work.

 

[Raid]

Of course, much easier to hold it open these days.

Tried slamming the doors in their face, but the soft close mechanisms on most doors these days makes it way too much work.

Well (according to great sources like the movie "The Breakfast Club") there's this little screw that you can undo that changes the dampening....

 

[bwhinnen]

Yes, I always hold the door for others.

Amazingly enough, I also say "please" and "thank you"...even to people serving me.

The fact that the question is even asked, while perfectly legitimate, is pretty disappointing. That even the most elementary courtesy and manners is somehow notable, rather than automatic, is kind of sad.

This rings so true!

It is the way I was raised, it is the way I raise my son, and if he forgets his basic manners he gets chastised for it. Now that he is old enough and strong enough to handle most doors I (and my wife) are getting him to hold the doors open for others as well. It is like waiting for others to get on and off of elevators and such, I'll let you get on first unless you insist in which case I'll thank you and get on

To me it is a common courtesy and when I have others do it for me I always acknowledge and thank them.

One thing I did note on my recent vacation to the US is that I found many people still did this or still thanked when you did it in return. They were not all tourists and surprisingly age made no difference.

 

[Shrink]

This rings so true!

It is the way I was raised, it is the way I raise my son, and if he forgets his basic manners he gets chastised for it. Now that he is old enough and strong enough to handle most doors I (and my wife) are getting him to hold the doors open for others as well. It is like waiting for others to get on and off of elevators and such, I'll let you get on first unless you insist in which case I'll thank you and get on

To me it is a common courtesy and when I have others do it for me I always acknowledge and thank them.

One thing I did note on my recent vacation to the US is that I found many people still did this or still thanked when you did it in return. They were not all tourists and surprisingly age made no difference.

It's lovely to read that you and your wife continue to teach your son basic courtesy and manners. It is encouraging to know that there are still folks who value simple manners in this day and age.