It’s Good Manners 101 stuff: don’t barge onto a train or into a lift until the people already on board get a chance to exit. Yet this simple courtesy is often neglected. Are you noticing more people barging impatiently, and how do you deal with it?
Picture by CitySider
I put this question to our readers on Facebook and Twitter, and got some interesting responses. There was broad agreement that this kind of rudeness appeared to be on the rise, though it’s a trend that’s hard to statistically quantify.
When it comes to dealing with straight-to-the-door bargers, the most popular suggestion was to shamelessly elbow anyone who didn’t stand aside. As Mario put it:
If I happen to be trying to get off the train I get my elbows ready!
If you don’t favour physical intervention, it can still be worth calling people out on their behaviour, as Aeryn suggests:
Have definitely noticed. I just say ‘excuse me’ very loudly so they get the point.
On Facebook, Heather advised combining both tactics:
I “accidentally” run into them with my pram, and then explain (so the offender can hear) to my kids: “See, that’s why we need to wait until everyone is off the lift before we get on. No one wants to get run over.”
In the lift context, there’s also potential to punish offenders, as David explains:
Press every button and walk out.
What tactics do you use to deal with this nuisance? Tell us in the comments.
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