Do you hold the door open for the next person when you enter a building?

Question

I'm starting to conclude that the times have come to the point where there is no acknowledgment for this courtesy. In the past, I'd get a "thanks" or a smile or a nod every once in a while, nowadays, nobody cares and you cannot fault them for not caring because you don't know if they really don't care, or if they are just in a rush. And so long as we don't want to be rude, we'll all just say that people are just in a rush. So to avoid the worry on the individual part, I might just stop it all together.

Answer 1

Even though I am female, and should "expect" others to hold the doors open for me, I DO open the door for others, before and after me.  It shows respect and courtesy, something sorely lacking in society today.

Have a polite day.

Answer 2

It depends on what your motive is for holding the door; to show kindness & your good manners or to be noticed by others? It's true a lot of people don't take notice, and I put it down as rudeness especially in UK, but don't let that stop you because there are still other people like me who notice and give a warm smile& thanks.

Answer 3

if they're not too far behind me, yes, otherwise, it'd be stupid to wait forever with the door open...but i do say thank you, when people hold the door open for me...common courtesy

Answer 4

I always hold the door for people and I always acknowledge when someone does it for me. I know what you mean though. I remember one time I was at the gas station with my Dad and he went in to buy ciggs and coffee and when he came out he held the door for this young woman (Now my Dad walks with a cane and he was carrying two packs of ciggs and a full cup of hot coffee) and she didn't say thank you or even smile for Pete's sake. People are just rude now.

Answer 5

I do all the time and find it very rude when they dont say thank you.

Answer 6

Yes I do, I don't really care anymore if they say Thank You or not. Most of the time I do get a Thank You from them. I know I always say Thank You when someone opens the door for me.

Answer 7

the only way to bring this coourtesy back into our culture is to do and teach our children to do it...so do it always!

Answer 8

yeah..definately i would. usually i get a thanks or a simple smile, but if i dont i just slam the door rite back into their face!!!!!

Answer 9

I always do and I hear you.

I work at a college and these kids sometimes even push through!

Common courtesy is saying thanks. It goes a long way

Answer 10

I do. Most of the time people say thanks or at least smile. But if people were rude and did not acknowledge the courtesy I probably would stop doing it too.

Answer 11

Do not change the way you are and let others think you are as uneducated as they are.

I agree 100 percent.  I do this all the time for everyone and am rarely Thanked, but I thank my mom and dad each time for the education the gave me!

Don't change how you are!

Answer 12

I do...but I agree with you....so seldom do you a get a "thank you" or even a smile in acknowledgement, that I wonder why I bother!

Answer 13

I always hold the door open for the next person to come, but I definitely realize your point.

Answer 14

It is always good to be polite.  Other folks may be having a bad day and not acknowledge the courtesy.  Just keep on doing it.  You'll be the better man for it.

Answer 15

I'm a foreigner here, and I'm a woman, and in my country etiquette rules are very strict: women don't hold doors for anybody, only for very old people and other women with little kids. If a women starts holding doors for everyone, she will be considered servile. I know it's not like that in the USA, but I still don't hold doors for men, kids and women my age and younger. Friends are exception, of course.

Answer 16

Do you do it to get a thank you??

I don't do it to get a thank you, I do it because i like doing it.

Answer 17

A door? if they are healthy looking, and too far away from the entrance, no. Now I notice an elderly struggle to exit a vehicle, and walking slow, I'll wait, and consider it an honor to do so. we were taught to give our seats to an adult, when riding public transport also.

Answer 18

its so true,  i usually hold the door open for people, but if they don't say anything to me, i look at them and say "you're welcome!"-- love it...

Answer 19

I do 2 but most places I go 2 the doors open them selfs

Answer 20

OMG i was thinkin this today! i was so angry!! i made loadsa effort to move my pram so another pram could squeeze in by me, and they didnt even look at me!!!

no one says thanks to the bus driver for drivin them, says thanks to the lolly pop lady, says thanks for holdin doors open. infact, they just let the things slam in ur face!!

ggggggrrrr it annoys me so bad!!

Answer 21

Yes, I try to remember to hold the door for the next person entering the building.  He/she is usually right behind me, and I'll wait a few seconds to hold the door. If I see someone with his/her arms full or struggling with a stroller, walker or something like that,I will wait and hold the door.

I also try to be polite and say 'thank you' or 'you are so kind' when someone holds the door for me.

Answer 22

yes, it's respectful and common courtesy

Answer 23

A lot of people are appreciative.. if they have no manners to say ''thank you'' it would make two wrongs instead of one'' if because of some rude people you stop to be polite. and show people that good manners matter.. of course I hold a door open if I see someone 10 meters behind me.. I wait.. but I am not the doorman or woman.. I don't hold the door open for any longer than that.. but of course if someone is behind me I wait.. and hold the door...or if I want to get in and they want to get out and I am there first.. I let them get out first before I enter.... x

Answer 24

Just the other day I opened the door and held it for a construction worker who had a big machine he was carrying through....NOT ONE PEEP OUT OF HIM...

I wish I would have slammed it in his face instead.

RUDE A.hole!

Answer 25

It's an odd thing, but, living in crowded New York city, I've noticed that even "hoodlums" and gang-bangers habitually hold the door for the next person. They seem to be altogether unaware of what they are doing.

Answer 26

in the past i was so cute in treatment with people but now i have found that there are many people this treatment that i'm not powerful i have a negative reaction and i hate them. be careful with all kind of people

Answer 27

I do remain courteous and hold the door for others. I always have the time to flash a quick smile and give a thank you.....its one of my pet peeves. People who don't take the time to do so, IMO are selfish and need to remind themselves that one smile takes 1 second.

Don't stop being considerate, some of us truly appreciate it. (:

Answer 28

well its not that big of a deal- i mean people are perfectly capable of doing it on their own but i usually do it just to be polite

Answer 29

Always.  Also, I always acknowledge when someone does the same.

Answer 30

I always try to say thank you when anything is done for me.  I try to hold the door for other people too, especially the infirm or elderly.  Sometimes I do get a thank you and other times not, and when I don't and it's really bothering me for some reason, I will say "You're welcome!".  Please don't stop being a good person just because of some other jerks.  We need all the goodness in this world we can get.

Answer 31

Yes i do, but i know what you mean.  And i have to admit i do get a little ticked off. I just add a your welcome . and walk away