Holding the door for somebody is a courteous act. You put in an extra 3-5 seconds of door-holding so another individual does not have to sweat pushing or pulling a lumbering door. However, in my experiences as a self-proclaimed doorman, I can say that there are right and wrong ways to hold a door. How, you may ask, can such a chivalrous display go awry? Never fear, reader, for I write today in hopes of those whom strive to improve etiquette in the proximity of a room or building. Here are some do’s and do not’s for holding a door:
Do hold the door open as widely as you can. People may have a panoply of items in their hands, which may damper their ability to open a door. Also, claustrophobics will highly appreciate the abundance of space they have to cross through a doorway.
DO NOT hold the door closed. This is what peers of mine may refer to as a “jerk move” (albeit in a more profane manner). No, this is not middle school. If this is middle school and you hold doors closed whilst people attempt to open the door, know that you may not be particularly revered by your colleagues in the future.
DO hold the door when somebody is approaching the doorway. This, again, may be considered a “jerk move” in some circles if you do not. However…
DO NOT hold the door for someone who is too far away. There are various definitions of “too far away,” but the best rule of thumb in my opinion is if someone is ten feet or more away from the door, you may be better off not holding the door. If you do not happen to have a versatile ten foot pole on your person and/or you use the (far superior) metric system for measurement, if you cannot toss a ping pong ball underhand at someone and hit them in the nose, it is best to move on or pull/push the door a little harder than otherwise. Are your intentions good? Yes, but it can be an inconvenience to some to have to jog several feet to not tire out your arms.
Now that I have hopefully enlightened you on door holding, here are some tips on having the door held for you:
DO thank the individual holding the door, for this individual took time from their daily routine so you would not to have to exert additional force at a doorway. How kind of them!
DO NOT fail to acknowledge the individual’s existence. Not saying “thank you” or even “thanks” can discourage doormen and doorwomen. Additionally, don’t push the door further when someone is holding it for you. All that individual’s work has now gone to waste because you could not swallow your pride for three seconds. Jerk. An exception to this, of course, is when someone is holding a door for you in a manner where not to assist in crossing the doorway, per se, but more so as to not let the door close on you. Unless you are the size of a pencil, you are welcome to push the door further. Just make sure you give the individual thanks.
In conclusion, I hope I have expanded your awareness of door holding, which can be a noble deed when done properly. Now get out there, hold some doors and allow others to hold doors for you…or do not. In essence, don’t pull a jerk move.
