May 10, 2007
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Awkward Situation
Did you ever get to a door at the same time someone else is leaving in the opposite direction? This has happened to me, and I've seen it happen to others, several times. The result is always the same. You both come to a complete stop and stare directly into each other's eyes. Time becomes an enigma. An otherwise simple operation becomes a paradoxical conundrum that your brain is not equipped to handle. Since the brain does not know how to "fight" the situation, it defaults to the "flight" response. The two people step aside to let the other pass. Unfortunately this only works in about half of the cases. This part gets a little tricky to explain in writing, so bear with me. If they both step to the same side (ex. A steps to his right, and B steps to his right), then the crisis is averted, and they calmly pass each other. If they step in opposite directions, however, a slightly different problem emerges. Once again, the two find themselves with the path blocked. This time one of the possible sides to step to has been occupied by the door frame. It's possible that one person can stand still and hope he other goes around, but this would be rude, and potentially awkward if the other is attempting the same thing. As a result the two have to return to the center and repeat the process. It's all rather time-consuming and makes you want to hit the other guy in the gut.
