Theory #249: Elevator Mathematics 4 October 2006
Posted by ALBUS in Culture, GUESTS, Misc, Psychology.trackback
Any number of people in an elevator will distribute the space evenly between them, in a determinate order:
1. The far side of the elevator.
2. The right and left sides of the elevator.
3. The center of the elevator.
This pattern holds true regardless of the level of familiarity between the elevator passengers. Two friends are as likely to distribute elevator space as two strangers.
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I have this exactly true except in one instance. New and young lovers will be close to each other, even if they are the only ones on the elevator, especially if it is a hotel elevator and they are going to their room.
Irving, i believe you’ve identified the Lovers Exception. it seems to defy most theories.
what a delightful exception. unless you’re not one of the lovers but rather a third person sticking to the farthest corner of the elevator trying to pretend nothing is going on just a mere 5 feet away. awkward, no?
In Saudi Arabia, this theory takes on another form when both men and women are in the elevator. The men will distribute themselves equidistant from one another and the women will distribute themselves equidistant from one another. The group of men and the group of women, however, will stand as far apart as physically possible in the elevator.
here’s an unwitting confirmation of this theory in the new york times: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/16/fashion/16space.htm.