Elevators

I only hate elevators about half the time.

That half that I hate is when someone is in the elevator with me, usually limited to someone I don't know or, even worse, someone I almost know but don't or have never talked to.

The obligation that people seem to feel to make small talk when in an enclosed space just adds to the awkwardness of what would otherwise be an only marginally awkward situation. This has been made worse by the fact that people assume that - after they were sent my name in an e-mail when I started working here - since they know my name it relieves them the responsibility of introducing themselves. Thus making the elevators even worse.