NationStates Jolt Archive

Because I work at a university, and I spend a lot of time walking from class to class, I have a number of opportunities to hold open doors for others and have them held for me. I always thank the holder, as it's the proper thing to do and I'm genuinely appreciative.

But what if there are two doors in quick succession, where there's two steps between the doors at most? The person in front usually winds up holding both doors as he or she passes through. So do I owe a thank you for each door or will one for the general act of holding doors do?

Yes, it's that kind of night. My girlfriend is on the phone with her best friend, and I won't be going to bed for at least another two hours as a result.

Take the poll.

As a student, I've come across the same quandry. I've assumed that thanking after the first door, and nodding after the second is sufficient.

I usually thank both times, but that's because I don't think about it. A single "thank you" shows sufficient appreciation.

As a student, I've come across the same quandry. I've assumed that thanking after the first door, and nodding after the second is sufficient.

Same here.

Neither, punch the person in the face, and steal his wallet. Teaches him right for being so damn nice...


Ahh. I usually do the one thank you, and a nice smile and nod for the second one.

A regular volume "thank you" the first time.

A quieter, though still audible "thank you" the second.

It's what I do, though I don't have a reason for it.

I've done the two thank you thing before, but always with this sheepish grin like "this is kind of dumb, huh" look on my face.

As a student, I've come across the same quandry. I've assumed that thanking after the first door, and nodding after the second is sufficient.
Absolutely correct.
A third door should elicit a earlobe nibble, whilst a fourth door in succession allows a leghump.

Do not hold open any door for males.

Do not hold open any door for obese/outcast females.

Hold door open for any other female.

Have you ever had the following occur?

You open door A for some one, and they thank you, and then they open the nxt door, like two feet ahead, for you, and then you thank them. I know its all proper, but doesn't it just seem a little odd?

Is it just me, or does anyone else feel like they're in a Seinfeld episode reading this thread?

Always be a gentleman and hold a door open for a female* - that way you get to have a closer look at her tits as she walks past you.

*Unless she's really fat - then she could do with the exercise grabbing the doorhandle.

unless i misunderstand your scenario, there is no way for you to hold both doors for me without it being very awkward. you hold one, run past me to grab the next too? unless i am pushing a stroller/wheelchair/have a great number of packages, i would just rather you wouldnt.

if i need the help, i thank one time profusely since you went out of your way to help out. if you pushed past me to grab the second door, i think you are a nut.

Do not hold open any door for males.

Do not hold open any door for obese/outcast females.

Hold door open for any other female.

Is it just me, or does anyone else feel like they're in a Seinfeld episode reading this thread?

Always be a gentleman and hold a door open for a female* - that way you get to have a closer look at her tits as she walks past you.

*Unless she's really fat - then she could do with the exercise grabbing the doorhandle.

and men wonder why they no longer get points for "chivalry".

unless i misunderstand your scenario, there is no way for you to hold both doors for me without it being very awkward. you hold one, run past me to grab the next too? unless i am pushing a stroller/wheelchair/have a great number of packages, i would just rather you wouldnt.

if i need the help, i thank one time profusely since you went out of your way to help out. if you pushed past me to grab the second door, i think you are a nut.

Should have been clearer, I guess--the scenario I'm positing is one where the person ahead has passed through the door and are holding it until you are in the doorway, and then continues on doing the same thing for the next door.

Should have been clearer, I guess--the scenario I'm positing is one where the person ahead has passed through the door and are holding it until you are in the doorway, and then continues on doing the same thing for the next door.

no thats not clearer

you said a few steps away, how did you get past me? if its way down the hallway and you walk faster than i do you might get their first and i would think that you were intending to flirt with me.

My policy is to thank them for the first door, and smile and nod for the second. It seems to work fairly well.

no thats not clearer

you said a few steps away, how did you get past me? if its way down the hallway and you walk faster than i do you might get their first and i would think that you were intending to flirt with me.

Already in front of you by a couple of steps, matching speeds. I get to the door first, glance behind me and see you there, so I hold the door until you get to it so it doesn't slam on you and then continue on to the next door and repeat the action.

Already in front of you by a couple of steps, matching speeds. I get to the door first, glance behind me and see you there, so I hold the door until you get to it so it doesn't slam on you and then continue on to the next door and repeat the action.

oh so youre not really holding the door for me, youre making sure it doesnt slam in my face and i deal with the door myself.

kk

one is enough since by the time i can say thankyou for the first time you are already working on the second.

Just say thank you once... if you do it more than that, they'll think you're a stalker and call the police. Trust me, this happens a lot.

As a student, I've come across the same quandry. I've assumed that thanking after the first door, and nodding after the second is sufficient.
That sounds like a sound answer.

I always acknowledge both doors (although I wouldnt be offended if someone else failed to do so when I was the opener [of the door you filthy minded miscreants]). I dont necessarily give a full thank you for both, I might give a muted thankyou or even just a smile and/or nodd for one of the doors for instance.

If I know that a person will definately be opening the second door, I give the smaller gesture of thanks at the first door and the fuller gesture at the second just before we part ways. It makes more sense to me to give a full thankyou at the completion of a favour while using a smile and nodd as a provisional thankyou when the favour (opening of the 2 doors) is only partially completed.

Also it seems to me that it's probably nicer for the person (the strongest thanks being the most recent and so 'lasting' in their impression), and it seems less odd to me to smile a thank you the first time and follow up with a spoken thankyou the second time, than to do vice-versa.

I thank when the person starts holding the second door.

As a student, I've come across the same quandry. I've assumed that thanking after the first door, and nodding after the second is sufficient.

winner.

Saying "Thank you" is such a forced habit from work that it' comes out without me even knowing. Same with sorry when someone bumps into me (even when I am standing still). I am so used to doing it, I say it involuntarily.

Saying "Thank you" is such a forced habit from work that it' comes out without me even knowing. Same with sorry when someone bumps into me (even when I am standing still). I am so used to doing it, I say it involuntarily.

I'm pretty much the same. Although sometimes I forget, which I also don't notice.

Reading this thread has been interesting. As I am to be starting at Adelaide University this year.

One, after the second door.

Saying "Thank you" is such a forced habit from work that it' comes out without me even knowing. Same with sorry when someone bumps into me (even when I am standing still). I am so used to doing it, I say it involuntarily.

That's because you have good manners. If people apologise to me in those situations I always try and say that they have nothing to apologise for as it was my fault - that is if they are not spraying me with mace

when walking through the first door one meerly doofs their hat with curt quicky thankyou the proceeds to hold the second open for the chap but one must be on look out and be ready to wait if there any chapesses coming wanting to use the door

I would say it once after the second door, as I would have realised the situation beforehand and hopefully they would've also. But this brings up other questions: notably, should you hold open doors for others at all? and specifically, should men do it for the women present? and not for the other men? or both?

I hold open doors for anyone, regardless of gender, but as for opening a door and then standing back and allowing the others to pass through first, I'd have to say I'd more likely do that for women, though there is no real reason why.

I would say it once after the second door, as I would have realised the situation beforehand and hopefully they would've also. But this brings up other questions: notably, should you hold open doors for others at all? and specifically, should men do it for the women present? and not for the other men? or both?

I hold open doors for anyone, regardless of gender, but as for opening a door and then standing back and allowing the others to pass through first, I'd have to say I'd more likely do that for women, though there is no real reason why.

it depends, if there are a lot of people (for instance at the end of a lesson) comming you shouldn't hold it open for everybody, that would just look silly, if there are only one or two persons comming after you you should hold the door open when they aren't that far behind (3m for men, 20m for girls ;))

A thank you on the first, a nod on the second, and a superior smile if the fool holds it open the third time, as this automatically makes them a doork

Because I work at a university, and I spend a lot of time walking from class to class, I have a number of opportunities to hold open doors for others and have them held for me. I always thank the holder, as it's the proper thing to do and I'm genuinely appreciative.

But what if there are two doors in quick succession, where there's two steps between the doors at most? The person in front usually winds up holding both doors as he or she passes through. So do I owe a thank you for each door or will one for the general act of holding doors do?

Yes, it's that kind of night. My girlfriend is on the phone with her best friend, and I won't be going to bed for at least another two hours as a result.

Take the poll.

i tend to go for a proper 'thank you' for the first door, and a lighter 'cheers' for the second

Because I work at a university, and I spend a lot of time walking from class to class, I have a number of opportunities to hold open doors for others and have them held for me. I always thank the holder, as it's the proper thing to do and I'm genuinely appreciative.

But what if there are two doors in quick succession, where there's two steps between the doors at most? The person in front usually winds up holding both doors as he or she passes through. So do I owe a thank you for each door or will one for the general act of holding doors do?

Yes, it's that kind of night. My girlfriend is on the phone with her best friend, and I won't be going to bed for at least another two hours as a result.

Take the poll.

If I have time I say "Thank You" and "Thank you again" and smile, if they are in really quick succession I try to do a "Thank you, have an awesome day!" with a smile as well.

All depends on if I know the person or not.

If I know them I say "thank you" on the first door and make it a little more lighter on the second.."why, THANK YOU!" in a big cheerful voice while with a big huge toothy grin.

If I don't know them I say "thank you" on the first and either nod or smile on the second.

If I don't like them I say "thank you" on the first and do nothing on the second.

I just nod in recognition that they exist and have bothered to abide by common courtesy for a change. That's also partly because I'm an anti-social, soulless maniac.

But what if there are two doors in quick succession, where there's two steps between the doors at most [..]do I owe a thank you for each door or will one for the general act of holding doors do?

unless i misunderstand your scenario, there is no way for you to hold both doors for me without it being very awkward. you hold one, run past me to grab the next too?

We have lots of that kind of door(s) at my uni, too, and I'm sorta with Ashmoria here: The usual procedure is personA getting the first door, holding it while personB goes through, and then personB (who will reach the second door first, naturally, unless personA makes some gigantic stride and rushes past personB) will open the next door and hold it for personA.

That doesn't only relieve you of the double thanks (or not) but it also gives it that flair of mutual-ism, which makes things even easier. (Although I see a lot of these people who get the second door held for them feel uneasy about giving, so to speak, the second thanks in a situation in short succession, too)