Holding the door open

sham08

Ok I was just thinking, at what distance away would a person be that you would stop holding a door open, like in a shopping centre etc... Its happened to me so many times that you look back and think I'll hold the door open for this person and they take AGES to get to the door and your left feeling like a bit of a tool just waiting. At what point is it acceptable to just say feck it and not hold the door open

Puddleduck

unless they are directly behind you, you shouldnt, they are able to do it themselves

Jigsaw

Approximately 7 seconds. Just counted it out in my mind. I'd start to feel like a tool around the ten second mark. But then you couldn't go awa y as the person you'd been holding the door open for would nearly be there. It would look like you went to a lot of effort to hold a door open for someone.

sham08

Yea because if you started its hard to just stop coz that would be a bit rude letting the door go just as they arrive

Necronomicon

Depends on how long the door would be closed after I've gone through and the next person arrives at it.

I.e. If I go through the door and it's closed for 5 or 6 seconds before the next person arrives, I won't stand there holding it. But if someone is not too far behind me and the door won't close fully by the time they reach it, I'll hold it open.

Also depends if the person behind you has their hands full.

Faith

Necromomicon wrote: »

Depends on how long the door would be closed after I've gone through and the next person arrives at it.

I.e. If I go through the door and it's closed for 5 or 6 seconds before the next person arrives, I won't stand there holding it. But if someone is not too far behind me and the door won't close fully by the time they reach it, I'll hold it open.

Also depends if the person behind you has their hands full.

Yeah, it depends on whether to door would be fully closed by the time they got there. If it would be, don't hold it. If it would still be open, do hold it.

Schism

Usually when I hold a door for someone they hurry themselves along to get through it, so not very long.

bluto63

Jigsaw wrote: »

Approximately 7 seconds. Just counted it out in my mind. I'd start to feel like a tool around the ten second mark. But then you couldn't go awa y as the person you'd been holding the door open for would nearly be there. It would look like you went to a lot of effort to hold a door open for someone.

7 seconds is a bit much. I'd wait like 3.

c - 13

Its generally a combination of how close the person is versus how good looking she is

Nah, generally within about 5 - 10 seconds of the door, but if the person is overloaded then ill generally wait a bit longer as they mightnt be able to get it themselves.

stovelid

Was walking into a posh hotel with my wife recently, and held the door open for a woman who was maybe 5-6 steps behind us. She saw that I was holding it open, turned her nose up and looked around and started talking to her young son, leaving me holding the door open like a fool.

So from now on - 5 seconds only.

Loomis

The time it would take for them to reach the door just as it closed had you not held it. About five paces I'd say

Ballerina

haha random but good question, happens to me all the time that im hanging there waiting for the person that im opening the door for and yes it is pretty embaressing, always happens to me in this really long corrider in college that some one always ends up being behind me...sigh...its a hard life

monkeyfudge

What colour is the door?

Ruu_Old

Slamming door shut for the win, especially if they have a load of boxes! Really though, 3-5 seconds. People really appreciate it too.

pawrick

Schism wrote: »

Usually when I hold a door for someone they hurry themselves along to get through it, so not very long.

I hate when this happens!!!! usually I'm way back taking my time strolling along day dreaming when someone does this and I have to feckin speed up so they don't look a plank waiting there!!!!

nah but usually the same for me - will hold the door if someone is near and if not near it depends on if they are pushing a buggie, old, carrying crap, good looking etc.

Rob_l

It depends if the female is hot or not

Men can operate doors for themselves
women folk not so much

sham08

Rob_l wrote: »

Men can operate doors for themselves
women folk not so much

Controversial :eek:

Korvanica

sham08 wrote: »

Yea because if you started its hard to just stop coz that would be a bit rude letting the door go just as they arrive

But fun too

Sherifu

5 seconds. The door will self destruct.

cornbb

3-5 seconds. May be extended slightly for friend, elderly/infirm person or hot chick.

The Bollox

about 5 seconds I'd say, but I hate the people who don't hurry when they see you holding the door for them. I mean is that not the return courtesy?

sham08

The whole thing is awkward isn't it, the awkward moments waiting for the person to hurry up, the awkward shuffle of the person hurrying, the awkward 'thanks' and then to top it off you see someone else coming and all of a sudden your a bloody door stop

Mr.McMoobs

sham08 wrote: »

I'll hold the door open for this person and they take AGES to get to the door and your left feeling like a bit of a tool just waiting.

I would wait till there are a few feet away from the door (just when they try to speed up to get to the door) then close it quickly, so they plant themselves into it. Bonus points for an old person. That'll teach them, making you wait like a fool.

CountingCrows

For some reason all new buildings seems to have another door straight after the first door so in the end they have to hold that one open for you and the moral high ground is lost

sham08

Mr.McMoobs wrote: »

I would wait till there are a few feet away from the door (just when they try to speed up to get to the door) then close it quickly, so they plant themselves into it. Bonus points for an old person. That'll teach them, making you wait like a fool.

finally the perfect answer to my troubles

stevenmu

I hate when you're really far away and someone holds the door open and expects you to hurry to get through it. I'm perfectly capable of opening doors myself, and if I want to take my time and saunter along I will.

Also, why will some people hold open a door at any cost, even if it means blocking the actual doorway, what's the point in that?

MCMLXXXIII

I'm with sham08.

First, I don't try to judge how many seconds it will be. What if they trip and fall? I would feel responsible to help them up, or feel like a tool if I didn't. It usually depends on if I can hear their footsteps behind me (unless it's one of those girls that walk really "hard" in their high heels).

I will wait longer if they have their hands full, but will wait less (if at all) when there is a big group coming. I'm not a doorstop. If, by chance, there is a large group coming - I will hold it for the person carrying things, then hand it off to the next person...or else just let go.