elevator etiquette

Recently in my sociology class we were discussing the values, beliefs, and "norms" of society. My professor made a comment that life is a game or dance between people. Everyone knows the rules and must follow or suffer the consequences of being considered an outcast. I found this comment to be really interesting and realized that when he brought up the subject of the rules of riding an elevator that there are a whole set of rules out there that everyone somehow just knows?

The elevator for example...
Where do we stand? The back, facing the door.
Where do we look? The door, the changing floor numbers, or the elevator buttons.
What do we say? Nothing...or maybe a slight head nod towards the people who already occupy the elevator.

How is it that we ALL know these rules and follow them? There are no written rules of how to ride an elevator, correct?!
That is where we are mistaken my friends...yes, I took the initiative to search "elevator etiquette" and can you believe there are people who went out and wrote rules on how to ride an elevator?! There is even a webstie dedicated solely to these rules...www.elevatorrules.com...I was shocked.

Well, I have now decided to be a rebel...I am going to break the elevator rules! The next time I ride in an elevator, I'm going to stand right in front of the doors and face my fellow riders...haha can you imagine their reactions? I think we should all try it...just for fun, don't you agree?

I also looked up "funny things to do while riding in an elevator", so here are some suggestions we could all try...
1. Make race car noises when anyone gets on or off.
2. On a long ride, sway side to side at the natural frequency of the elevator.
3. Offer name tags to everyone getting on the elevator.
4. Stand silent and motionless in the corner, facing the wall, without getting off.
5. Greet everyone getting on with a warm handshake and ask them to call you Admiral.
6. Say "DING!" at each floor.
7. Start a sing-along.
8. Lean against the button panel.
9. Bring a chair along.
10. Sing "Mary has a little lamb" while continually pushing buttons.

Good luck!

xo
lauren