The elevator. SO AWKWARD. Especially if you're with people you don't know. And it's a small elevator. You awkwardly stand there in silence, maybe fiddle with your coat button or shift the weight on your legs, but really? What else is there to do? I honestly have to say that I don't like people who like to interrupt our communal awkwardness by talking to me as if they know me. "Nice weather we're having today." "So, where are you from?" "How are you liking Destin so far?" No, I don't want to converse with you. It's okay to smile at a cute baby or to exchange a polite, "Fifth floor, please." But otherwise, this elevator ride is only going to last 40 seconds. Please enjoy the silence in the meantime. And then there are people that like to stand in your corner of the elevator, even if you two are the only two in the elevator. There is plenty of space to have separate personal spaces, so why? And THEN there are people who catch you at your oddest moments in the elevator. T.V. shows and movies make those moments seem romantic or full of exciting tension, but really, all that happens in real life is tripping on the way out or quiet arguments in another language, namely Korean, Chinese, or Spanish.
The Solution:
I know it seems like I'm being contradictory to the title of this blog, but really. Elevator rides are supposed to be simple and sweet. Small talk between co-workers or a student and a professor or two or more students - that's totally legit. But if you don't know who they are, just stay in your own bubble. For college/job interviews, on the way up, it's best not to say much. It's a dog-eat-dog world out there, and chances are, they just want you to choke and fail miserably that day. On vacation, just don a happy smile and hold doors open for whoever wants to get on. And if you really feel like making a difference in your elevator-buddies' lives, solve a Rubik's cube in the time between the door closing on the second floor of a mall and the door opening on the first floor. People go wild.
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3 comments:
good suggestions. love the last one :)
the elevator is awkward with people you don't know. it's even more awkward with people you barely know, because you can't just ignore them since you do know them, BUT you can't think of what to say to them.
oh man. elevator scenario is classic. something everyone can relate to. b/c it happened to me so many times, i got numb to the awkwardness, but then again it comes back time to time. i'll keep your advice in mind.
Oh Sarah, you're so sweet for including me~ <3! But, I have to say... solving the cube in that light speed elevator was too stressful and now I don't ever wanna do it again xP.
I'm now fine with standing in an elevator with another dude for 20 minutes (it's a bigass building) as long as he doesn't fart. =D
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