Why Do People Stand in Doorways?

You know what’s ignorant as shit? When people stop to chat right in the middle of the fucking doorway!

I was reminded of this recently because some douche I know has a habit of doing it. He’ll walk through a doorway, stop right there, and start talking while somebody else is trying to get through. It’s one of those little things that probably shouldn’t annoy me as much as it does, but every time it happens I wonder why the doorway was the place you decided to stop.

There are a hundred better places to have your conversation. Walk into the room and stand off to the side. Move away from the entrance. Go literally anywhere that isn’t the one spot people need to pass through!

This happens everywhere too. At work, in stores, restaurants, hallways, elevators, you name it. People get through the doorway and then suddenly decide that’s where they need to stop and figure out what they’re doing next. Sometimes they’ll stand there talking to somebody while everyone else has to squeeze around them.

It’s not even like they’re always doing it for a good reason. I understand stopping because you dropped something or because somebody is coming through the other direction. I’m talking about people who just plant themselves there and seem completely unaware that they’re blocking everybody else.

That lack of awareness is what really annoys me. Some people seem to move through the world without noticing anybody outside their little bubble. As long as they’re comfortable, it doesn’t occur to them that they might be in somebody else’s way.

They’re probably the same people who look backward while they’re walking.

I’ve never understood that one either. You’ll see somebody walking forward while their head is turned completely around because they’re talking to someone behind them. Then they nearly run into another person, a shopping cart, a display, or whatever else happens to be in front of them. Maybe look where you’re fucking going!

Standing in doorways is the same kind of thing. You don’t need some amazing level of situational awareness to realize you’re blocking a doorway. If people keep having to walk around you, that should be a pretty good clue.

Store entrances are probably the worst. Somebody walks through the automatic doors and stops immediately because they need to check their phone, look at their shopping list, or decide where they’re going. Meanwhile there are people coming in directly behind them.

Just walk another few feet before you stop! That’s all I’m asking.

I don’t expect everybody to constantly worry about whether they’re inconveniencing somebody. Most of the time it doesn’t matter. But when you’re standing in a place that everybody has to pass through, maybe take two seconds to notice what’s going on around you.

If you need to talk to someone, talk to them. If you need to check your phone, check your phone. Just get out of the doorway first.

Fucking MOVE!