Doorman

Hong Kong is a place where people mind their own business. They go about on their way as though everyone is on a mission. It doesn't matter what that mission is, but getting to it is priority one. Some, along the way, are so determined that they disregard the slightest of manner.
Have you tried opening a door to a mall or a shop lately? You probably do it without thinking, letting the few people behind you go first, or wait for the next guy to take your place at the door. If you tried that at a traffic mall in Hong Kong, you're going to be holding the door until your arm aches, or your face turns blue. Not only will the lady and her 2 kids behind you walk in--that's fine, that's why you hold it in the first place--but the guy a couple of feet behind them will quickstep his way to get inside, too. Soon you will see a rush of people of both genders trying to get into the door you're holding open, even though there are three other doors to this mall entrance.

Once I had two handful of shopping bags. I walked up the stairs to this mall, struggled to open one of eight entrance doors. I opened the door partially with my elbow, then leaned my shoulder to the side to hold the door. As I looked behind, two well-dressed young men hurried up the stairs to where I was standing. I thought, "how nice of them to grab the door for me to go in." Not so. I had the door on my shoulder at a 45 degree angle, and the two men passed right by me, each side-stepping and leaning backward in order to get through the door without touching it. Unbelievable! I was awestruck. I stood there with two handful of bags, a shoulder and a foot on the door, looking at the back of these two lads, who continued on their way as though nothing is unusual.

Never, especially, try to be a gentleman at the movies. Another time I was sitting by the exit in a theater, so I was first to leave when the movie finished. I pushed open the heavy exit door, got out, held the door for the next couple, but the guy didn't take the door. He had one arm around his girl and the other free, but he pretended not to see me. Then flurry of people followed, not one bothered to put a hand on the exit door so that I can let go and be on my way. I can be a gentleman, to an extent. When you're dealing with selfish people, you have to act like them. You just have to let the heavy door loose and let it land on where it may. And that's just what I did.

I can be on a mission, too.

Filed Thu - February 20, 2003, 12:00 AM in

Return to: |  



.