My daughter is five, she just likes to push buttons. (Actually we only have one that I know of in town, at the library.)
Every hit one of those heavy doors when you have shoulder bursitis? Self-opening doors are a blessing.
The only place that I normally do it is for a classroom on campus where the door will not open if you don’t hit the button. The stupid part, the door opens to a set of 5 stairs right in from of it, so it is not useful for the actual handicapped. The other door to the classroom, that lets people with wheelchairs sit at the front of the room (stadium seating style room) does not have an automatic door opener.
I also always thought it wasn’t good for those doors, mechanically speaking, to be pulled open.
I’m not suggesting that it’s “hurting” anyone to push the button (although I did suspect that it might lead to wear/damage on the mechanism). Nor am I suggesting that it’s rude to the disabled for the non-disabled to use the door. And I totally get the idea of using it when one’s hands are otherwise engaged with packages or toddlers.
[QUOTE=Harmonious Discord]
I got my converter box at Walmart two weeks ago and of course the door alarm went off. The day was already going bad, and I was having a bad coordination day. The lady hands back my receipt unfolded so I can’t fit it in my wallet with the bags I was holding. I get the receipt in the wallet again. I bump into the side of the doors when leaving. I knocked the doors into the emergency swing out position. I just snapped them back into the frame and left.
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Could’ve spared the whole incident by just not stopping. 
[hijack]I buy tons of crap from WalMart, mostly household goods. Things you wouldn’t even think those damn little sensors would be in. About 90% of the time, the stupid buzzer goes off. “We’re sorry, you have activated WalMart’s inventory control system…” etc. At this point, I’ve taken to a quick “no thanks” when the little old lady asks me if I’ll please step back inside.[/hijack]
I do it whenever I think Otto is nearby.
[QUOTE=Caricci]
The disabled door is often hard to pull. And, seriously, who’s it hurting if I push that button?
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Yeah, I don’t use the button myself but I will concur that those doors are often heavier and more resistant to opening than non handicapable doors.
I just like to push buttons.
[QUOTE=picker]
I do it whenever I think Otto is nearby.
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So you like to push Otto’s buttons?
Buttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbuttonbutton
That’s all, I have an odd compulsion to press buttons, I make sure I’m in the front in the elevator so I can press buttons. Did I mention I also make motions as if I were using the force to open automatic doors? I’m just amused like a small child. Hey, it’s this or cull the planet out of sheer boredom, your choice.
[QUOTE=Cat Fight]
I do think people just like pushing buttons. That’s why kids are ‘allowed’ to push the elevator button or the crosswalk button. Some never grow out of it.
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My childhood love of pushing buttons is why I became an engineer. Now I get to push buttons all the time.
(And I get to work in a big building with lots of elevators! Woooo!)
Around town, I’ve seen notices to the effect of “this button is delicate, use it only if you need it.” The Grande Bibliothèque has a sign to the effect of, “It costs us money and energy to heat the atrium; please use the revolving doors unless you can’t.”
[QUOTE=matt_mcl]
Around town, I’ve seen notices to the effect of “this button is delicate, use it only if you need it.” The Grande Bibliothèque has a sign to the effect of, “It costs us money and energy to heat the atrium; please use the revolving doors unless you can’t.”
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I really like the bullshit this button is delicate sign. I bet it gets whacked hard everyday now.
I’m going to make up some Hitchhiker’s Guide “Please Do Not Press This Button Again” signs.
[QUOTE=Leaffan]
It depends on the situation. The doors stay open a lot longer when you hit the button, and in a small foyer or store the heat loss or cooling loss can be, well, unfair to those in the store. Apart from that, it’s no big deal I guess.
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For real? A significantly lot longer? So much so that it cools down a mall or something? I think that might be a stretch.
[QUOTE=Cubsfan]
Yeah, I don’t use the button myself but I will concur that those doors are often heavier and more resistant to opening than non handicapable doors.
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Honestly, I don’t hit them very often myself. I go to the other, easier to open bank of doors.
[QUOTE=Caricci]
For real? A significantly lot longer? So much so that it cools down a mall or something? I think that might be a stretch.
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For real! Have you ever tried to manipulate a wheelchair, scooter, stroller or walker through a doorway? It tends to take a lot longer than just going through unimpeded (vetran of two knee surgeries, a broken ankle and other tempory injuries as well as hanging out with small children).
Personally, I find it more inconvenient to use if I’m uninjured or unencumbered with baggage, than opening it by hand. YMMV.
Who doesn’t like to push those buttons? They are so big and inviting. How often do you get to push a button with a cool effect for no reason.
I’ll do it on a “slider” but not on a “swinger.” That’s just the way I roll.