The double-door dilemma

Please choose wisely!

Picture taken by the author at the Manistee Hotel

How many times have you tried entering or exiting a building through double doors, only to discover that the door you’ve chosen to go through is locked? I’ve experienced this all over the US. Maybe the practice of eliminating the public’s choice on which door we’re permitted to use is a good reminder for me to allow and accept life as it comes, but as a novice meditator, some simple shit still bothers me.

Picture taken by the author at a Batteries Plus

After asking employees and business owners, as well as researching the reasoning behind the practice online, the explanations seem logical enough. One store employee I asked about it explained that wind gusts can damage the doors when both doors are usable. A bank manager I asked mentioned concerns about losing heat or air conditioning. Online explanations stated efficiency because it’s much easier to unlock just one door as opposed to both. Naturally, the most obvious reason is that one door is broken.

I’m satisfied with all of those answers, so for me, the better question to ask would be: Why have businesses stopped posting signs on their doors to inform the public about which door to use? Years ago I remember signs on double doors that read “PLEASE USE OTHER DOOR” whenever…