# The "close door" button on elevators-DOES NOTHING **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 30, 2011, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-close-door-button-on-elevators-does-nothing/587428 "2011-06-30T20:39:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Lionne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Lionne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionne)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-close-door-button-on-elevators-does-nothing/587428/41 "2011-07-04T13:56:12Z")
> [@jamiemcgarry](#): > > šŸ˜ƒ Hmmm, if I didnā€™t know better I might think some of these posts are people scrambling to defend, in very red-faced fashion, what they now know has been a complete, amusingly foolish and utter waste of their time. Fortunately, I know betterā€¦šŸ˜‰ ? No one here is defending anythingā€¦many people say it works for them. Hardly a waste of time. But then againā€¦you know better :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-close-door-button-on-elevators-does-nothing/587428/42 "2011-07-04T16:55:14Z")
> [@jamiemcgarry](#): > > šŸ˜ƒ Hmmm, if I didnā€™t know better I might think some of these posts are people scrambling to defend, in very red-faced fashion, what they now know has been a complete, amusingly foolish and utter waste of their time. Fortunately, I know betterā€¦šŸ˜‰ Iā€™m glad you know betterā€¦that many people have had experiences that negate your theory. Any time you want to come take the trash out for me at work and take a stopwatch along will be fine. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-close-door-button-on-elevators-does-nothing/587428/43 "2011-07-04T18:42:19Z")
Some peopleā€™s lack of a sense of humor is in itself humorous. šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-close-door-button-on-elevators-does-nothing/587428/44 "2011-07-04T19:24:25Z")
> [@jamiemcgarry](#): > > Some peopleā€™s lack of a sense of humor is in itself humorous. šŸ™‚ Or maybe it wasnā€™t funnyā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-close-door-button-on-elevators-does-nothing/587428/45 "2011-07-04T19:31:20Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > Or maybe it wasnā€™t funnyā€¦ Awwwā€¦ā˜¹ ---
**Author:** ![wisernow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/13edae/32.png) [@wisernow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wisernow)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-close-door-button-on-elevators-does-nothing/587428/46 "2011-07-04T20:26:28Z")
In the office where I work, the elevator doors are set to remain open for a minimum period of time, and then there is additional time before they close on their own. But anytime the ā€˜closeā€™ button is pressed between the ā€˜minimumā€™ time and the max set time, the doors close immediately. I think this set-up works best in that it keeps the doors open for a minumum period of time, say three seconds thus prohibiting the ones in a hurry from closing doors on peopleā€™s faces. But since the exact amount of ā€˜minimumā€™ is not exactly known, one of riders is usually found pressing the ā€˜closeā€™ button repeatedly hoping to get in the ā€˜closeā€™ click in as short a time as possible after that ā€˜minimumā€™ time. It is like he is trying to start an engine that will start in only 3 seconds, no less. ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-close-door-button-on-elevators-does-nothing/587428/47 "2011-07-04T20:32:17Z")
> [@jamiemcgarry](#): > > šŸ˜ƒ Hmmm, if I didnā€™t know better I might think some of these posts are people scrambling to defend, in very red-faced fashion, what they now know has been a complete, amusingly foolish and utter waste of their time. Fortunately, I know betterā€¦šŸ˜‰ Must be all that LSD they put in the drinking water these days. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-close-door-button-on-elevators-does-nothing/587428/48 "2011-07-04T20:39:16Z")
The one in my apartment building does work, though Iā€™ll grant that itā€™s one of very few Iā€™ve seen that does. Crosswalk buttons arenā€™t in the same category, though. I have seen a handful of placebo crosswalk buttons, but the vast majority, the sign will never change to WALK at all without the button being pushed. ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-close-door-button-on-elevators-does-nothing/587428/49 "2011-07-04T20:52:29Z")
I ride the elevator every day for work, but I donā€™t know if the Close Door button works or not since it goes the same speed whether I press it or not. I also work in the middle of the night and the guard has to open/close the elevator anyway. I know around here, the Cross Walk buttons donā€™t make the light change faster, but only illuminate the WALK sign when itā€™s time to cross. ---
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-close-door-button-on-elevators-does-nothing/587428/50 "2011-07-04T21:06:34Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Not to doubt you, but how could you tell? You can tell the one in our building works because it interrupts the door as itā€™s opening. For example, there were two elevators, my co-worker wants to go up a few floors and Iā€™m going down. If he hits the ā€œupā€ button, before Iā€™m on my way, the downward bound elevator will still respond and re-open the doors. Annoying. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-close-door-button-on-elevators-does-nothing/587428/51 "2011-07-04T21:14:40Z")
> [@tdn](#): > > Not to doubt you, but how could you tell? The doors close after the button is pushed. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2011, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-close-door-button-on-elevators-does-nothing/587428/52 "2011-07-04T23:41:34Z")
> [@Contrapuntal](#): > > The doors close after the button is pushed. But they ALWAYS do that, irrespective of any button being pushed. šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2011, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-close-door-button-on-elevators-does-nothing/587428/53 "2011-07-05T03:36:13Z")
In the elevators I use, there is still some lag time between pushing a floor button and the doors closing, while the doors close immediately upon pushing the Close button. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2011, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-close-door-button-on-elevators-does-nothing/587428/54 "2011-07-05T05:08:29Z")
> [@jamiemcgarry](#): > > But they ALWAYS do that, irrespective of any button being pushed. šŸ™‚ :rolleyes: I just tested this tonight in my apartment. If I wait in the elevator, the doors remain open for a while and then close. If I press the Close button, they closed instantly. I tried it several times in a row. Immediately after pressing the Close button, they closed with no lag. But hey, \*\*jamie \*\*knows the Truth so we all must be liars. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2011, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-close-door-button-on-elevators-does-nothing/587428/55 "2011-07-05T05:38:43Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > :rolleyes: I just tested this tonight in my apartment. If I wait in the elevator, the doors remain open for a while and then close. If I press the Close button, they closed instantly. I tried it several times in a row. Immediately after pressing the Close button, they closed with no lag. > > But hey, \*\*jamie \*\*knows the Truth so we all must be liars. Ok, if you canā€™t tell by now that this entire thread is a bit tongue-in-cheek then ā˜¹ ---
**Author:** ![Placid\_Liver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e99b99/32.png) [@Placid\_Liver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Placid_Liver)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2011, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-close-door-button-on-elevators-does-nothing/587428/56 "2011-07-05T14:39:09Z")
> [@cardinal\_fang](#): > > [This story](http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/04/21/080421fa_fact_paumgarten?currentPage=all) reinforces your suspicion.The story includes a [time-lapse video](http://www.newyorker.com/online/video/2008/04/21/080421_elevators) of Nicholas White, trapped in an elevator for over 40 hours in 1999. (Probably not for the claustrophobic.) Thatā€™s a long time without a toilet breakā€¦ I didnā€™t see any mounting puddles or piles. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-close-door-button-on-elevators-does-nothing/587428.md?page=2)