There are several unspoken rules followed in public life. These may entail: a man letting a woman pass first, pulling out a chair, walking on the right side of the sidewalk, or giving up your bus seat to an elderly person. Different public spaces call for different ways to follow these rules, or more simply put: social etiquette.
Walking while surrounded by a crowd of people means that you should ‘go with the flow'. The speeding up and passing your front side neighbour is not worth the rush when you then get stuck again behind a slow moving trio of friends. Not going with the flow results in a flat tire game where you hit the shoes in front of you or the shoes behind you hit your heels.
Lift etiquette is a classic. When it is full, the trick is to find an unoccupied space, in the corner – an awkward middle – or side.
If you find yourself alone with a large mirror, you get to assure that you look alright, similar to the ‘woman passing a car to check out her hair' effect. Are you supposed to greet people in the lift? You don't want to be rude, but you don't want to appear as ‘socially hungry'.
The escalator tends to be free for all. There is more lawlessness here; no traffic rules whatsoever. You get frustrated as the first out of the underground with a chance to dash to the top and out the entrance, when you get stuck behind a chatty couple who left no passing space. If you are the one taking it easy, resting your high heels, you may hear a sigh behind you. Do you go out of your way to make a stranger happy? Should you let people behind on the left, or the right? Do the rules of the road apply to electronic stairs?
In social life these habits are learned innately, but are still puzzling to mature adults. Perhaps unspoken social behaviour should not even be questioned, but if you decide to do so it may be quite humorous.