A man neatly dressed, walks into the elevator. Once making sure that his floor has been chosen, he searches for something in his pocket, takes out a cell phone and starts fiddling with it.
A woman carrying her laptop walks into the elevator. She chooses her floor and then takes out her blackberry and starts reading old emails. (I admit I peeked)
A housekeeping guy walks in, takes out his cell phone and start fiddling with it.
I am not sure how many of you might have noticed this, but this is called the elevator syndrome. We all suffer from this. Even when we know that there are no new messages, calls or emails(thats why cell phones have vibrator/ring alerts, if you did not hear it means ‘there are no new messages’), we tend to check it again and again.
Not when you waiting for the lift, but soon after you enter one, you have this sudden urge to know if any new messages have come. If not check the old ones and re-read the emails.
If its not a blackberry then people go ahead and check the call register, inbox for those ghostly messages which is not there.
Do you suffer from this?
27 responses so far ↓
Nishchita // August 27, 2009 at 10:16 am |
Ha ha! Yes I guess I am a victim of this as well.. Its not really intentional! Its just a reflex
xylene // August 28, 2009 at 5:51 am |
Rajneesh Kiran // August 27, 2009 at 10:25 am |
Malayalathil “Vishaya Daaridryam ” ennu parayunna avastha ninneyum baadhicho? – sorry for typing in malayalam
xylene // August 28, 2009 at 5:52 am |
Not interesting huh phenomenon huh?
J // August 27, 2009 at 2:34 pm |
i guess its not necessarily limited to elevators… or cellphones…i guess…we do it it …
1)when people are in a public place and don’t have anything to do…or coz we think being idle may be considered weird…
2) they’re around people they can’t have a conversation with…the silence is uncomfortable/awkward…
2)sitting idle at the workplace and fiddling with the computer for no reason…
3)when we don’t know how to behave in a setting..
4) we’re playing our part or acting out what we think we should be doing….when we;re leaving workplace we;re expected to be still committed to work…when we’re outside work…we have to be i touch with someone or need to appear to be although we don’t want to…
5) or we need to dwell on earlier conversations/msgs to survive the wait till the next one from a friend/loved one…or
6) we’re alone despite being surrounded by so many people in different contexts
7) we constantly wish we were elsewhere..instead of were we are…and make up for it by revisiting old msgs or connecting with someone outside ur setting….
or…there is just no explanation…its something to be left for the X-files
xylene // August 29, 2009 at 3:35 am |
you said it all !
Marc // August 27, 2009 at 2:35 pm |
It’s a confined space with nothing to look at so we don’t know what to do. I settle for looking at the changing floor numbers of the display.
xylene // August 29, 2009 at 3:35 am |
Same here along with the occasional peeking
Reema // August 27, 2009 at 3:33 pm |
J has said it all. I was going to say just that. I think its actually an excuse to avoid any small talk in the elevator or to avoid looking at someone and having to give a smile. We have all become hostile!
xylene // August 29, 2009 at 3:37 am |
We as a country don’t like smiling at strangers nor wishing anyone ‘good morning’ etc.
But we would be more interested in other’s personal life more than anything else
When I tell other voluntarily that I am married,the next question is “Love or arranged”
Nita // August 27, 2009 at 4:31 pm |
No, I stare are people, but try not to appear so!
If they are checking their phones, I am happy because I can then stare at them in peace!! 
xylene // August 29, 2009 at 3:38 am |
I stare at their phones !!
scorpiogenius // August 27, 2009 at 6:15 pm |
Well, may be a defense mechanism for mildly claustrophobic individuals… a destractor. Or may be because of certain kind of social phobia just to avoid the attention of other people, but it does the opposite job :O
Or one other reason could be “show-off”, especially if the mobile is a blackberry or the iphone.
But it is an interesting observation Xylene. I may check this out as well. will let you know my results. k?
xylene // August 29, 2009 at 3:39 am |
We all have this social phobia I guess
We are not partincularly comfortable with strangers
sakhi // August 28, 2009 at 5:29 am |
reading the title i thought it was about “claustrophobia” hee..he…
xylene // August 29, 2009 at 3:40 am |
amreekandesi // August 30, 2009 at 10:09 am |
I always take the stairs! No elevator syndrome for me
Xylene // September 7, 2009 at 9:12 am |
GOOD exercise it is !
Aarti // August 30, 2009 at 10:13 am |
Good one.. yep, have noticed it one too many times.. am sure i’ve done it too here and there!!
Think its more to do with NOTHING TO DO, so lemme chk if anyone called or texted..:D
Nice blog, came via Aparna’s!!
Xylene // September 7, 2009 at 9:06 am |
thanks for visiting.
dinu // August 30, 2009 at 4:37 pm |
good find
I dont use elevators on a regular basis ..
so I am saved
Xylene // September 7, 2009 at 8:44 am |
vishesh unni raghunathan // September 5, 2009 at 7:58 am |
Nope…
Xylene // September 7, 2009 at 8:44 am |
so what do you do, when you are in a lift?
| Balu | // September 7, 2009 at 12:28 am |
This reminded me of an observation a professor made in college. When a guy or a girl sits alone in a restaurant full of couples, they automatically turn to mobiles/book. He said this was an instinctive reaction to turn to something less intimidating kinda escapist
Xylene // September 7, 2009 at 8:44 am |
true. its an interesting opinion.
kaavya // September 8, 2009 at 3:02 pm |
I use it when I am walking and someone whom I dont want to talk is approaching me…
I fiddle with the cellphone and do not look up…& hence avoid that person…Yay