What was Mr. Otis thinking?

I love elevators. 

They take you up and down buildings without having to move your fatty thighs!  As much as I SHOULDN'T take the elevator...it's the quickest and easiest way of going up and down levels.  And we, as Americans have proved to utilize all convenient things to the max...so the elevator a wonderful thing to us lazy Americans.

They're such an amazing invention...way to go, Otis! 
I guess in the history of elevators, people were having trouble with getting the elevators to stop.  That's where Mr. Otis comes along and prevents the machine from falling.  Amazing invention, really.

However, as much as I respect the man...I'm not too sure he was thinking all that much. 

Close your eyes, and imagine stepping into an elevator.  Think about your different experiences riding in elevators. 

...awkward!!!!!

Do you talk to people or stand silently?
Do you look at your feet or the numbers changing above the doors?
Do you stare at your fellow occupants and quickly look away when they look at you?
Do you stand as close to the walls as you can get or do you stand in the middle?
Do you talk or busy yourself with your mobile phone?
Do you hold the door open if you hear someone nearby or do you secretly pound on the 'close door' button?

I'm pretty sure that every elevator ride with other occupants (other than friends) is awkward.  From the list above, I usually stand silently, I look at both my feet, and the numbers, sometimes I glance at the occupants and smile if they are looking at me (which I've noticed young females tend to look at my shoes or bag a lot), I tend to lean against the walls, I never talk on my cell phone, but sometimes busy myself with my calendar or emails, and I go back and forth between holding or closing the door for others.

I think this all depends on the mood I'm in at that exact moment.  I use the elevator everyday to and from my office building from my parking garage.  People always seem to be in such a hurry at those times.  I've started holding the door open if I hear people.  Yes, I feel bad that the other occupants might be in a hurry, but they have problems if they can't wait an extra 4 seconds for another person to get on.  And they can also wait an extra 15 seconds for the extra person to get off an a floor that's not theirs.  If they have a problem with the extra 19 seconds, they should probably just take the stairs or get out and wait for their own elevator. 

After thinking, I think I'll try a little experiment, and would like you to do your own little experiment if you're interested and willing.  I remember Amy Hill telling me that someone she knows likes to stand in the elevator and stand the other way...facing the other occupants.  I won't do something THAT extreme.  But you should think of something, and give a report next week.

My experiment:
If I'm in the right place, I will ask what level they'd like me to push.  This small bit of communication and awknowledgement, may strike up a conversation.  Will they think I'm a friendly person and say a few things?  Will they say thanks and keep quiet for the rest of the ride?  Or will they ignore me completely, press their own button, and pretend I'm not there at all?