… Are a great example of security defeating itself.
Elevator doors have a fantastic security feature: they are equipped with sensors that cause them to retract if something is blocking them. Elevator doors that cut people in half when they closed would not be a good thing.
So how is this self defeating? I take the elevator daily, and the behaviour I witness is revelationary.
People stick their arms and legs into the closing doors.
Intentionally. It’s really incredible.
“Hmm… here’s this door which, if it traps my arm, will break it when the elevator tries to go up (or down) a floor. I’ll stick my arm into it“.
Yes, I know that the door is closing and that someone wants to get on (or off). Yes, I know that it’s difficult to set the timing on an elevator door so that it doesn’t annoy the impatient people but still allows for large groups to enter/exit.
I also know that there are buttons for these things. Sure, people have lost faith in elevator open/close buttons (are they even hooked up?), but still….
Security is hard, and it’s hard precisely because security and convenience are sworn enemies. The instant any security feature is inconvenient in any way, users will go to unheard of lengths to ignore it, subvert it, or destroy it.
the eight foot bumper on the door or beam of light is a much better button than a single button at the bottom of a large array of other buttons. It’s right where you need instead of across the elevator. What could be better?
I think this constitutes a major breakthrough in the technology of elevator door buttons.
I should note that I’m being hypocritical because I also stick my limbs in the way of the door.
It should also be noted that this isn’t really dangerous, and this is why people do it. If it were really dangerous, people would know stories about people who had appendages ripped off in gruesome fashion. They would tell these stories every time they got in an elevator, and people wouldn’t stick their limbs in the way as much as they do.
There’s probably a happy equilibrium here; people probably stick their arms in the way of the doors *just enough*