Here’s a situation that I often encounter in the workplace:
When I walk through a narrow hallway, I sometimes encounter two or more people (that I may or may not know) conversing in that hallway – one on one side of the hallway, another on the other side of the hallway. Their conversation blocks the hallway. Do I:
A. Stop at the blockage and wait for them to notice me and one or the other move aside to let me pass?
B. Look for another way around the blockage (including leaving the building and finding another entrance) so I do not disturb their conversation?
C. Timidly say “Excuse me,” and duck between them?
D. Plow through their conversation without saying a word?
E. Ask them why you did not get an invite to this meeting?
F. Exclaim “Excuse me!” and bull my way through?
G. Mutter sotto voce “Get a room!” and pass through as though they couldn’t hear me?
It seems clear to me that they are committing a breach of etiquette by conversing in this manner and blocking pedestrian traffic, but does this give me the right to repay them in kind? Can I treat this as a “teachable moment” and explain how their behavior is an inconvenience to others?
Since the possibilities I have presented range from the politic to downright animosity, it is probably obvious which choice(s) I would pick if I had my druthers. Lately, however, I have been noticing that sometimes my own behavior does not promote harmony and peace (something in too short a supply nowadays), and I am trying to change my evil ways (lord knows, there ought to be a song about that).
Perhaps, I have completely missed the correct behavior; if so, please feel free to enlighten me. That said, however, while I am truly searching for a factual answer, please do not let that dissuade any of you from offering additional solutions (especially at the low end of the scale) that might provide a chuckle or two to anyone interested in this thread. That is something I know SDMBers are especially good at!