Have you ever been carrying a stack of papers, an armful of grocery bags or something that makes you unable to open the door? You would have probably appreciated someone holding the door open. But what if no one opened the door and you had to figure out how to get through while having your arms full?
In recent years fewer and fewer people have been holding doors. But what has caused this change? Is it because no one believes in chivalry? Because we’re all too busy looking at our phones?
Yes, phones have contributed to this change, but it’s not the whole reason. Most, if not all, adults and teens have phones, which has collectively made people less social and unaware of their surroundings. Phones are a distraction that prevents us from noticing details about the world around us.
The other part of the problem is a sense of entitlement. People will try to push through the door to get in; it doesn’t matter if there are people already going through the door. People just care how fast they can get through.
“The squeezing in and out of, and not holding door business… At least in my experience… holding doors open, or waiting your turn are not on the rise,” said writer Shantelle Bisson.
There are some people who can’t open the door for themselves, whether that be someone in a wheelchair, using crutches or having an arm full of stuff. In marching band the percussion, guard and big instruments have difficulty getting through doors on their own as they have big objects.
My mom had to be on crutches after a foot surgery, meaning she couldn’t hold the door for herself. Almost no one held the door for her. At a basketball game when she tried going through a door that was being held for her someone almost walked into her because they didn’t see her, as they were looking at their phone. She isn’t the only one that’s experienced this issue.
“Nothing is worse than when you’re right behind someone and they just let the door slam shut behind them. When this happens, it makes you feel invisible,” said JAG reporter and photographer Rylee Fouts.
So why have people stopped holding doors? It’s hard to know the exact reason, but it’s likely a combination of distractions, such as phones, or because of entitlement. One way to help solve this issue is taking a few seconds out of your day to hold the door for someone, and if someone holds the door for you be sure to say thank you to that person.
