Before I get to the imaginings part I just want to say I don't know why some people feel the need to talk in elevators: talking to a complete stranger. "How's your day goin?" "I don't know why these elevators are so slow." "It sure is nice to be going home" "Another day at the grind eh?" Honestly this idle banter gets on my nerves. Is it really so hard to just stand in silence for a few minutes until you reach your floor. I know it should be a good thing for people to reach out to each other and blah blah blah blah. Well, I'm not really one of those people. I'm already uncomfortable being in a small enclosed space with a stranger for any length of time; lets not add to the awkwardness with meaningless chatter.
Now to the imaginings will may be somewhat hypocritical of what I just said and yet also explain why people feel the need to talk. As I said above, it is a little uncomfortable being in such a small space with someone you don't know. The fact that you can't go anywhere is mildly disconcerting. So your mind starts to imagine things (okay maybe I should just stick to my mind, I don't know what's going on in your mind and frankly I don't want to know). Usually this imaginings only come when sharing the elevator with the opposite sex. So if I am in an elevator with an attractive man then I think "wouldn't it be so great if I were the type of person who could just speak to strangers? I could start up a little meaningless banter and then there would be a spark and he would want to stay and talk to me (maybe hitting the emergency stop button) or ask for my phone number and then it would be so perfect and we would get married and.....then he gets off on his floor." Opposite situation: Another guy, not necessarily unattractive, but sends a different vibe. Suddenly images of him pushing the emergency stop button and attacking me (not necessarily raping). There would be no where to go and I would be trapped. Sometimes I just think anyone male or female will just decide to do something weird at that point in time when I'm in the elevator with them, maybe they feel like punching someone and I'm there.
So maybe the people that feel the need to fill that space with the useless chatter can't handle their own imaginings. I guess I'm a much stronger person than that. So cut the chatter!
5 comments:
That is awesome. I'll have to try that. I know how it is when some stranger feels the need to tell their whole life story to you. I got it a lot at blockbuster.
Ben, is it legal to make up stories if you're on your way to work for the Church? Still, what a great idea. I wonder if that would work at the bank. You'd be amazed at what some people feel the need to share. Back to elevators: A lady from Vernal was in Vegas and got in the elevator to go back to her room. There were two big African-American (PC) men so she just turned and faced the doors. She was quire nervous. One of the men said to her, "Hit the floor, lady.", so she dropped flat. They just cracked up because they meant "push the button to your floor." Turns out it was Eddie Murphy and a bodyguard. I love that story. On the other side, I remember seeing a movie with Angie Dickinson, (yes, an old, old movie) with a really scary elevator scene. Can't remember the name but she didn't make a lot of movies, did she?
Unfortunately, I'm one of those people who talk to people in the elevator, waiting in line at the check-out counter, walking down a hall, etc. I remember once framed saying that she hates it when she's reading and someone asks, "What are you reading?" That's me. I tried to stop doing these things after hearing that they bother some people, but I can't. Every once in awhile, I think it cheers up someone's day. What to do? Life can be so confusing!
I guess the clue would be if the person reading the book rolls her eyes, you should quit talking. Just kidding. I've gotten much more tolerant. . .even been known to close the book and chat back. And I have visited with strangers on elevators. But, let's face it, Book, you and Myke take the cake.
that eddie murphy thing is an urban legend...I've heard it tons of times.
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