Interesting "conformity" experiment in an elevator

[Paco Dennis]

I would conform under these circumstances. I don't easily conform, but sometimes other people know better than me.

 

[hollydolly]

I would conform under these circumstances. I don't easily conform, but sometimes other people know better than me.

You see I wouldn't have turned... I really wouldn't have...

if I knew in that lift that the exit door was facing me, and everyone else turned I would have stayed where I was...

I do think however that was a poor experiment.. because in a lift.. very often you can get in one door and the exit is the opposite door.. so it would be easy to believe that if you'd never used that particular lift before ....

 

[C50]

Knowing the door was in front of me I would not have turned. I may said "weird" or "awkward" just to acknowledge it but that's about it.

 

[IrishEyes]

I wonder if this is why I tend to go to one side and have my back to the wall every single time I get in one?
Maybe I fell for this at one time or it's left over from my Mom herding into a space I couldn't escape from from
I always stand with door to my side against the wall.

 

[feywon]

@hollydolly made the crucial point: If i knew the exit was going to be in front of me wouldn't conform. But knowing me i'd speak up ask about it.

I have been in elevators where it opened on more than one side. Usually these were in large buildings in big cities, but when we lived in Laramie to go to basement for big annual book sale the option was either a steep narrow stair case or an elevator that opened on opposite sides getting in and out.

 

[DebraMae]

I would stand facing the door, but might ask why everyone was facing a different way.

 

[Olafhardt]

I would conform under these circumstances. I don't easily conform, but sometimes other people know better than me.

Truthfully I think this is a silly waste of time and a demonstration of arrogance by whoever set it up.

 

[Lewkat]

If I was familiar with that elevator, I'd think everyone was crazy for facing the wrong way.

 

[seadoug]

I would continue facing forward because that is just "elevator etiquette". We did stay in a hip hotel in Istanbul many years ago where the back wall of the elevator was a huge video of a woman talking so I turned around. It freaked me out.