So, I'm waiting for an elevator with 3 other people...?

Question

...the elevator finally arrives, I go on first and press the button for the floor. It's apparent the other two people want to go to the same floor because the look at the highlighted button, pause as if they are in deep thought, then they each press the same exact button for the same exact floor. It's bad enough that one person pressed it after me, but then the last dummy goes ahead and presses it a third time?!?!?! Why??

Is that dumb, or is it just me?

Answer 1

It's not you at all..that is ridiculous!

Answer 2

I think it is a democratic habit. They think the elevator decides where and how fast to go depends on a vote by the occupants. They liken the box to a toll booth.
It is also a humanistic habit. Imagine the button panel to be a human operator. It is polite to tell him where you want to go with a smile. Would you object someone voicing his agreement with you?
It may also indicate a shortage of patience and trust. They don't think you pressed the button effectively.

Answer 3

Everyone knows pushing the same button multiple times makes the elevator ride super fast! Plus you're entered into the weekly drawing for a free iPod!!!!

Answer 4

I think it's a strange thing about human nature. I think the same thing happens when you want to cross the street and you press the button for the cross walk, and someone right behind you also presses it, like it makes a difference.

It's silly, but I would not over think it.

Answer 5

Maybe they think it will go to that floor 3 times faster?

When I was a child I would push the "walk" button at traffic signals dozens of times, believing that the system would "think" there were lots of people waiting to cross and therefore turn the "walk" sign on faster.

It's impossible to know what's going on in people's minds, and sometimes one wonders what's there at all.

Answer 6

Next time you catch more than one person doing that, throw out your hands and yell:

ARE YOU PEOPLE ICELANDIC OR RETARDED??? (pointing:) CAN'T YOU SEE THE 8TH FLOOR BUTTON HAS ALREADY BEEN PUSHED?? (keep using your hands) YET 3 OF YOU JUST HAAAAD TO PUSH IT! (*pause*) I BET YOU DID THE SAME THING WHILE WAITING FOR THE ELEVATOR TO ARRIVE. PUSHING THE BUTTON REPEATEDLY IS NOT GOING TO GET IT HERE ANY FASTER. SAME GOES WITH THE CROSS WALK BUTTON! GEEZ, WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU GUYS??? (smack your head)

Answer 7

haha that soo funny.. i witness the same thing everyday, i dont understand either but i think they might just to do it as a reaction, they are so used to pressing it that they do it anyway or maybe they are hoping that for some reason the more times you press the button the faster they will get there haha

Answer 8

They just wanted to let the little man inside the elevator know that there was more than one person going to that floor so he wouldn't get confused and close the doors before they could exit.
;)

Answer 9

One of the many anomalies of humanity... I don't get why people do that, either. It's clearly lit up from being pressed, people.

*shakes head*

I'm glad I live in a town where the only elevators are in hotels! I couldn't handle that LOL

Answer 10

It's dumb but people do this I guess because it's the first thing that comes into their mind when they're in a elevator so it's mostly a habit.

Answer 11

it's not just you,i've often wondered what goes through their heads when they do that,do they think that if they don't press the button also the elevator will turn into a Stephen King novel and not let them off?lol...xxx