I always thought the 'close door' button on elevators worked

A building manager in my office told me that for most elevators installed after 1990, that button is just a placebo. He said the timing is set by code and the button often does nothing unless you have a special key. I tested it by holding the button down for a full minute on three different elevators downtown, and the doors still waited their set time. Has anyone else heard this from a reliable source, or found an elevator where it actually works?

2 comments

2 Comments

leor8324d ago

Well, that explains why I've been having a one-sided staring contest with elevator doors for thirty years. I guess it's just there to give us a false sense of control, like the thermostat in my office. Next you'll tell me the crosswalk buttons are fake too, and my whole life is a lie.

walker.hayden23d ago

Oh, the crosswalk buttons are absolutely fake too. They're just there to give your thumb something to do while you wait. Welcome to the club, we meet on Tuesdays in a room with a placebo light switch.