# Overheard in the elevator **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 11, 2006, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overheard-in-the-elevator/368303 "2006-08-11T16:58:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overheard-in-the-elevator/368303/1 "2006-08-11T16:58:35Z")
The unfortunate thing about working in a tall office building is that you have to ride in the elevator. And in the elevator, when somebody wants to have a conversation, it’s impossible not to hear it, because you’re already standing right on top of the person. Anyway, this conversation just transpired between two ladies: Lady 1: I don’t like to go in that bedroom during the the morning, because it gets really hot. Lady 2: Oh, does the window in there face east? Lady 1: No, I think it faces south during the morning. Lady 2: Oh. Me: 😕 ---
**Author:** ![chefjef](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e480ec/32.png) [@chefjef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chefjef)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overheard-in-the-elevator/368303/2 "2006-08-11T18:58:46Z")
And I love the people who get on the elevator for one damn floor instead of using the stairs, oh that really makes my day. Here’s to tall office buildings. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overheard-in-the-elevator/368303/3 "2006-08-11T19:04:33Z")
> [@chefjef](#): > > And I love the people who get on the elevator for one damn floor instead of using the stairs, oh that really makes my day. In our building, you have no choice but to use the elevator. Once you are in the stairwells, you cannot re-enter any of the floors. Security, I assume, so no one will fly the building into an airplane. (But I think they were like that before 7/11.) ---
**Author:** ![Draelin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@Draelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Draelin)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overheard-in-the-elevator/368303/4 "2006-08-11T19:04:34Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > Lady 1: No, I think it faces south during the morning. But only in the morning. ---
**Author:** ![chefjef](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e480ec/32.png) [@chefjef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chefjef)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overheard-in-the-elevator/368303/5 "2006-08-11T19:08:40Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > In our building, you have no choice but to use the elevator. > Once you are in the stairwells, you cannot re-enter any of the floors. > Security, I assume, so no one will fly the building into an airplane. > (But I think they were like that before 7/11.) Yeah, same for my building, but it still pisses me off. Those companies that have two consecutive floors should have stairs between the two. I have heard of companies doing that. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overheard-in-the-elevator/368303/6 "2006-08-11T19:09:05Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > Security, I assume, so no one will fly the building into an airplane. > (But I think they were like that before 7/11.) Before 7/11, there were no slurpees nor delicious taquitos. It was a dark time indeed. ---
**Author:** ![Exgineer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Exgineer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exgineer)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overheard-in-the-elevator/368303/7 "2006-08-11T19:53:22Z")
> [@chefjef](#): > > And I love the people who get on the elevator for one damn floor instead of using the stairs, oh that really makes my day. And given the current electric load curtailment program they’ve turned half of the elevators off. It can take more than ten minutes to get where I’m going now. If you can’t take the stairs one floor, you really need to start using the stairs. ---
**Author:** ![dwc1970](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@dwc1970](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwc1970)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overheard-in-the-elevator/368303/8 "2006-08-11T20:00:06Z")
I’m glad I don’t work in a tall office building. My big concern would be getting stuck with someone coming back from lunch who had just downed three jumbo burritos and is in the process of digesting it and emitting flatulence. How often do you have to deal with this sort of olfactory nuisance on long elevator rides? ---
**Author:** ![Pixisis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@Pixisis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixisis)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overheard-in-the-elevator/368303/9 "2006-08-11T20:08:23Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > In our building, you have no choice but to use the elevator. > Once you are in the stairwells, you cannot re-enter any of the floors. > Security, I assume, so no one will fly the building into an airplane. > (But I think they were like that before 7/11.) In multi-office buildings with a limited security staff, it is reasonable to keep those doors locked. I was a network administrator and often worked alone late at night. I would not have been very comfortable with an unlocked door between my company’s floor and other floors. At least some buildings will allow card readers on the doors in the to allow access between floors. The company i wasworking for had them in the Boston office, but not New Haven. Sometimes it’s simply a budget issue. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overheard-in-the-elevator/368303/10 "2006-08-11T20:09:03Z")
> [@dwc1970](#): > > I’m glad I don’t work in a tall office building. My big concern would be getting stuck with someone coming back from lunch who had just downed three jumbo burritos and is in the process of digesting it and emitting flatulence. If that’s your biggest work-related concern, you have a pretty cush job. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Lionne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Lionne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionne)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overheard-in-the-elevator/368303/11 "2006-08-11T20:14:53Z")
> [@dwc1970](#): > > My big concern would be getting stuck with someone coming back from lunch who had just downed three jumbo burritos and is in the process of digesting it and emitting flatulence. That tends to happen at the 7/11… ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overheard-in-the-elevator/368303/12 "2006-08-11T20:16:13Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > In our building, you have no choice but to use the elevator. > Once you are in the stairwells, you cannot re-enter any of the floors. > Security, I assume, so no one will fly the building into an airplane. > (But I think they were like that before 7/11.) How would you fly a building into an airplane? Oh, wait- was I whooshed? ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overheard-in-the-elevator/368303/13 "2006-08-11T20:23:33Z")
> [@McNew](#): > > How would you fly a building into an airplane? You hijack the building. Duh. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overheard-in-the-elevator/368303/14 "2006-08-11T20:34:40Z")
> [@friedo](#): > > Lady 1: No, I think it faces south during the morning. Maybe she was a fair witness. ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overheard-in-the-elevator/368303/15 "2006-08-11T20:42:14Z")
> [@dwc1970](#): > > I’m glad I don’t work in a tall office building. My big concern would be getting stuck with someone coming back from lunch who had just downed three jumbo burritos and is in the process of digesting it and emitting flatulence. How often do you have to deal with this sort of olfactory nuisance on long elevator rides? I’ve dropped the bomb on an elevator, right before the door opened for some unsuspecting newcomers to board. So I just hopped off on that floor and left them to enjoy their ride. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overheard-in-the-elevator/368303/16 "2006-08-11T20:51:58Z")
> [@chefjef](#): > > And I love the people who get on the elevator for one damn floor instead of using the stairs, oh that really makes my day. I do hope you allow for those of us who, do to injuries or disabilities, are \*\*unable \*\* to manage stairs ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overheard-in-the-elevator/368303/17 "2006-08-11T20:54:49Z")
> [@anyrose](#): > > I do hope you allow for those of us who, do to injuries or disabilities, are \*\*unable \*\* to manage stairs Yeah! And while you’re at it, stop discriminating against lazy people as well. We prefer the term “energy-efficient”. ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overheard-in-the-elevator/368303/18 "2006-08-11T21:12:14Z")
> [@iamthewalrus(:3=](#): > > Maybe she was a fair witness. You meant witless, right ? 😃 As far as the stairwells being locked, it’s usually the law. If the building catches fire, the fire dept doesn’t want people coming back in. You go into the stairwell and walk to the ground and outside. It’s for your safety, not your convienence. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overheard-in-the-elevator/368303/19 "2006-08-11T21:38:01Z")
You don’t have rotary houses in America yet? How quaint. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2006, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overheard-in-the-elevator/368303/20 "2006-08-11T21:47:51Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > You don’t have rotary houses in America yet? How quaint. What’s a rotary house? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/overheard-in-the-elevator/368303.md?page=2)