My mother taught me to be courteous. And that includes holding a door open for someone coming through the door behind me – be that person male or female, young or old. It only takes a second or two to pause and hang onto the door until the next user grabs it. No huge expenditure of energy; no great loss of time in my day. What I find exasperating is the utter lack of acknowledgment when I hold a door open for someone. I wasn’t hatched yesterday. I know we live in a fast-paced world in which we’re conditioned to be wary of strangers. So I don’t expect conversation or a tip. But how about a simple “thank you”? People pass through the door I politely hold open for them without so much as a a nod or momentary eye contact. Never mind a smile. Maybe we’ve become so accustomed to motion-activated automatic doors that we don’t know what to make of the sight of a human being hanging back to hold a door open. The world seems to be filled with Queen Elizabeths who regally saunter through a held-open door as if they’re entitled to it and couldn’t condescend to spare a glance. And, of course, there are the passers-through with cell phones pressed against their ears. Those electronically mesmerized folks probably don’t even realize they’ve passed through a door on their way to their cars. Yes, if it bothers me that much I could stop holding doors open. I could let them slam into the faces of those behind me. I should know how; I’ve seen it done often enough. But, with my luck, the day I decide to let the door go without glancing over my shoulder, it’ll be my mother behind me.
What lack of manners bothers you?
