Hello and welcome to another episode of "How Not to Be 'That' Person!" Today's hot topic? The delicate dance of disembarking and embarking – a.k.a., getting off. We’ll go with examples of elevators and airplanes. But please feel free to apply these principles wherever you see fit…

Let's set the scene. You're standing in front of an elevator, waiting for it to descend from the heavens (or the 10th floor, whichever is more dramatic). The doors slide open, revealing a packed elevator. Do you a) charge in like a bull in a china shop or b) patiently wait for people to get off first? If you chose a), congratulations! You've successfully annoyed every person in the elevator before you even stepped foot in it. The correct answer, dear readers, is b).

Why, you might ask? Well, it's not just because it's polite (though that's a big part of it). It's also because it's practical! Think about it. If you let people off first, there's more space for you. It's a win-win situation: they get to their destination, and you get more room to do whatever it is you do in an elevator.

Now, let's take our newfound wisdom to the friendly skies. How many times have you been on a plane, waiting to take your seat, while someone upstream fights against the current, trying to swim upstream like a confused salmon trying to get to their seat? It's a sight to behold, but not one we need to see on every flight.

So, here's a pro tip. Let people off the plane before you try to get on. It's the same principle as the elevator. They get off, you get on, and everyone's happy. Plus, you avoid the awkward shuffling, sidestepping, and the accidental games of footsie with a stranger.

The moral of the story? Patience is not just a virtue, but a way to avoid unnecessary awkwardness and frustration. So, next time you're waiting to get on an elevator or airplane, remember: hop off before you hop on! Not only will you be practicing good etiquette, but you'll also be saving yourself from becoming the star of someone else's "You won't believe what happened on my commute today" story!