Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Ilsanman]

My buddy likes elevator watching, due to the huge number of people who don't know how to use elevators, but I like doors. Case and point, in the last 24 hours, I have seen 2 instances of people who don't seem to understand the basic concept of doors.

1. In front of the building where I work, there are 6 doors, 3 sets of 2. The 2 sets on the left and right are both locked, with a sign that says 폐문 on them. Some illiterate granny came up and pushed on the left doors. They don't budge. Then she pulls. She tries a few more times, then moves to the doors on the right. Repeat. Finally after seeing half a dozen people pass through the middle doors does she enter the building. Tougher than it looks.

2. Same building, back entrance. All the doors are unlocked, but they are only pull doors, evident by the 당기세요 signs on them. Some lady approaches a partially ajar door, swinging closed. She grabs it, pushes it closed, then proceeds to try to push it open. Failing 3-4 times, she tries to pull it, and low and behold, it opens!!!!

[Xuanzang]

You certainly have a lot of time on your hands

[Css]

i dont think its a common sense thing...I like to think i have common sense but sometimes im too busy to read signs on doors.

[okokok]

[Css]

[smurfystew]

Perhaps that wouldn't happen so often if one of the doors wasn't "fixed". Why have a door if you don't want it to be opened?

[PigeonFart]

I'm glad this topic has been raised. There is more to this subject than meets the eye.

There is a book called "The design of everyday things" by Donald Norman. People who install doors should read this book.
There should only be a handle on the door if it is mean to be pulled, and there should only be a 'push plate' on the door if it's meant to be pushed. These design rules are continually broken which leads to a second or two of confusion at the door. The need to have a written sign shows that the door is non-intuitive, and indicates a failure of design.

I'm not saying that this topic is as important as say the war in Afghanistan, or the global credit crunch... but these little design flaws in life can cause irritation.

Maybe my pedantic little opinion has irritated you, if so i'm terribly sorry. Thanks to the OP for raising this topic.

[technique]

^^as someone with a degree in Industrial Design, I have to say you're absolutely correct. The real problem lies where the architect is not the person who ends up picking out the handles / push plates. Some goofy sub-contractor usually does.

[d-rail]

something else that is funny about the doors in korea...all of the banks, and many public buildings have only push doors to enter and pull doors to exit. this bothers me because it is a fire hazard. in the u.s. it is fire code to have the exit be push because if there is a fire and a stampede to get out, the herd of people can run into the door. in korea if there is ever an indoor fire they must get to the door and back up a bit to pull it open. not easy of there are frantic people behind you pushing to get out.

[pidgin]

I think the Darwin Awards pretty much proves that we are all in this less-than-common-sense-world together!

[samd]

[Rusty Shackleford]

[Teelo]

http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/automatic_doors.png

[victorology]

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/54718/britians_dumbest_criminal/

Have any of you watched the movie Snatch? I like how they incorporated a lot of foiled robberies into the bookie scene.

[aboxofchocolates]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/goldberg/229551714/