Just Relaxed Blog

Tag: urban life

  • The Unspoken Rules of Elevator Etiquette (And the People Who Break Them)

    The Unspoken Rules of Elevator Etiquette (And the People Who Break Them)

    Riding the Express to Awkward: The Unspoken Rules of Elevator Etiquette

    We’ve all been there. Crammed shoulder-to-shoulder with strangers in a metal box, desperately avoiding eye contact while silently praying the journey ends quickly. Yes, I’m talking about the wondrous world of elevators.

    Just last week, I found myself trapped in an elevator with a woman who treated the confined space like her own personal karaoke booth. As the doors closed, her phone blasted out an off-key rendition of “Bohemian Rhapsody,” and she belted along with gusto, seemingly oblivious to the horrified expressions around her. It was my own personal elevator hell.

    This experience got me thinking: why is it that some people seem to forget all social decorum the moment they step into an elevator? It’s like the confined space triggers some primal instinct to break all the unwritten rules of polite society.

    The Button Pusher

    We all know this one. You politely wait your turn at the button panel, only to be completely ignored as a rogue hand darts out and slams all the buttons within reach. This isn’t whack-a-mole, people! There’s a system, an order, a delicate balance to maintain!

    The worst offenders are the ones who insist on pressing the “close door” button repeatedly, as if their frantic tapping will magically speed up the laws of physics. Spoiler alert: it doesn’t. It just makes you look impatient and slightly unhinged.

    The Close Talker

    Elevators are notorious for their lack of personal space, but that doesn’t give anyone the right to turn into a close talker. You know the type: they stand uncomfortably close, their breath hot on your neck as they narrate their entire life story, oblivious to your desperate attempts to back away (which are usually thwarted by the wall of people behind you).

    Pro tip: If you can smell what someone had for lunch, you’re probably standing too close. Just sayin’.

    The Phone Zombie

    In today’s hyper-connected world, it seems like we’re permanently glued to our phones. But there’s a time and a place for everything, and that place is not a confined elevator. There’s nothing more awkward than being trapped with someone who insists on having a loud, personal conversation on speakerphone, broadcasting their entire relationship drama to a captive audience.

    And don’t even get me started on the people who play videos on full volume without headphones. Guys, it’s 2023. Earbuds exist. Invest in a pair.

    Elevating Your Elevator Etiquette: A Quick Guide

    Look, I get it. Elevators are weird. They’re these liminal spaces where the usual rules of social engagement seem to evaporate. But that doesn’t mean we should abandon all sense of decorum. So, here’s a handy list of elevator etiquette tips to live by:

    • Respect the Button Pusher Hierarchy: Let the person closest to the panel handle the buttons. And for the love of all that is holy, stop pressing the “close door” button repeatedly.
    • Maintain a Safe Distance: Remember personal space. No one wants to be close enough to count your pores.
    • Silence Your Phone (or at Least Use Headphones): Trust me, no one wants to hear your conversation about last night’s Tinder date.
    • Keep Your Music to Yourself: We all have different taste in music. Keep it contained to your headphones.
    • Offer a Polite Nod or Smile: It’s not a prison cell (although it can feel like it sometimes). A simple acknowledgement of your fellow passengers goes a long way.

    What are your biggest elevator pet peeves? Share your stories in the comments below!

  • The Unspoken Rules of Elevator Etiquette (and Why I Break Them All)

    The Unspoken Rules of Elevator Etiquette (and Why I Break Them All)

    My Personal Elevator Everest

    The other day, I found myself in an otherwise uneventful elevator ride when it hit me: I am an elevator anarchist. Not in the sense of prying open the doors between floors or anything (that would be dangerous, kids!). But in the subtle, subversive ways I reject the unwritten code of conduct we’ve all come to accept in these metallic boxes of vertical transport.

    It all started with a harmless whistle. I was in a particularly good mood that day, sunshine radiating off my face like a personal spotlight, and a jaunty tune escaped my lips. The reactions were instantaneous: eyebrows shot up faster than the elevator itself, heads swiveled away like I’d sprouted a second head, and the air thickened with disapproval. It was like I’d committed the ultimate elevator faux pas.

    The Silent Treatment (and Other Elevator Etiquette Atrocities)

    We’ve all been there. Packed like sardines in a metal box, desperately avoiding eye contact and pretending the person mere inches away doesn’t exist. It’s the unspoken rule of elevator etiquette: thou shalt not acknowledge thy fellow passengers. But why? Is a simple “good morning” really going to shatter the delicate fabric of elevator reality?

    And don’t even get me started on the button-pushing protocol. Heaven forbid you accidentally hit the wrong floor button! The judgmental stares, the heavy sighs, the audible gasps of horror—it’s enough to make you want to take the stairs for the rest of your life.

    Here’s a revolutionary thought: what if, instead of treating elevators like moving sensory deprivation chambers, we actually, you know, acted like normal human beings? Imagine a world where brief, pleasant exchanges weren’t met with suspicion, where a simple “going up?” could brighten someone’s day.

    My One-Woman Elevator Etiquette Rebellion

    Look, I get it. Elevators can be awkward. We’re all crammed together in a confined space, silently judging each other’s choice of footwear and desperately hoping nobody smells our coffee breath. But I refuse to let these anxieties dictate my behavior. I will not be silenced! I will not be cowed by the tyranny of the “close door” button!

    These days, I make a conscious effort to break the mold. I smile at strangers (gasp!). I hum along to the elevator music (the horror!). I even—brace yourselves—engage in small talk (cue the dramatic music). And you know what? The world hasn’t ended yet. In fact, I’ve even had a few surprisingly delightful conversations in that most unlikely of places: the elevator.

    So, I Ask You, Dear Reader…

    Are you with me? Are you ready to join the elevator revolution? Or are you content to remain trapped in the suffocating silence of social convention? The choice is yours. But remember, life is too short for awkward silences and missed connections. So go forth, my fellow elevator rebels, and spread the gospel of human interaction, one floor at a time.

  • The Great Phone Number Mix-Up of 2007 (and Why I Still Get Calls About It)

    The Great Phone Number Mix-Up of 2007 (and Why I Still Get Calls About It)



    “Hello?”

    “Hi, is Debby there?”

    “Uh, no. You have the wrong number.” *click*

    The Never-Ending Wrong Number Symphony

    That, my friends, is the soundtrack to my life. Well, not all the time. But often enough to make me wonder if I should just record a message saying, “This is not Debby, please stop calling.” It all started back in 2007 with what I can only describe as… The Great Phone Number Mix-Up.