Holding doors and lines - WWYD?

Personally, it doesn’t matter. It’s not a hill I’d die on. If I had to choose, I’d say the person who held the door.

If it’s very obvious that there’s nowhere else the person who held the door would be going (i.e. to a different desk, into a lift or whatever) then the one who technically entered first should usher the door holder ahead of themselves.

In that instance I would have done a door pass-off, hold it just enough that it doesn't shut on someone but they need to hold it open for themselves. That's usually what I do anyway unless the person is obviously frail or can't hold the door due to holding a lot of things, etc.
Your scenario is why I don't hold it open for 4 people in a row! Rather inconsiderate of them.
In the South though, 9 or more out of 10 would have insisted you go ahead in line. In fact you'll probably take more time insisting each other go ahead than it takes to hold the door

You took the words right out of my mouth. Lol.

I like your description of the "door pass off." I suppose I do that some too but never thought to call it that. It's a handy little way to be polite without putting yourself in the position of being a doormat.

By holding the door open you are allowing them in, and yes ahead of you. So it really is a mute point.

There is no payback for being nice to another, or 4.

I am always a door opener holder type of person and have never had someone offer for me to go ahead of them. However, now that I think about it more in depth I agree that people should offer for the opener to go ahead of them. I would politely decline though.

What I hate is when I look back and the person isn’t really close enough to hold it open but then I feel like if I made eye contact with said person that is acknowledgment that I saw them and therefore feel rude if I don’t hold it open so I stand there holding the door open for an awkward amount of time.

This. But having said that, I’m always inclined to be a door holder especially if I see someone coming up with their hands full, if they’re dealing with a baby or small child or they are elderly and it’s a heavy door.

Well, I feel that's unavoidable. You always know where a line will end up but you don't always know who needs to get off the elevator first, and people will always let you off when you need to get off. So to me it's not important where I end up in the elevator.

I do hate when people try to enter the elevator the minute the doors pop open, though. I'm almost plowed into on a daily basis at the parking ramp elevator bc staff leaving are so eager to get the hell out of there they can't wait 2 seconds to see if someone is trying to exit. I get it, but still. Simmer down.

If I hold the door open for someone, I expect them to get ahead of me and don't expect anything except a "thank you". It does spike my guns if I don't get that.

This is a job for the "Were You Raised By Wolves?" podcast. They might have even discussed it already.

What should happen: The people you let in all step aside to let you go to the counter first.

What does happen: Everybody says thank you and gets in line in the order they entered the store. We have a lot of old people and snowbirds here so I'd be grateful for a thank you and shocked if someone let me into line.

This scenario reminds me of the opening scene of the show Loudermilk on Netflix

youtu.be/pzFtyZh69fQ?si=26aUvyePDOCl-dqy

(Hope my link works)

I don’t see it as a payback. If I had gone into the store by order of arrival, I would have been ahead of the other 4. In a post office type place, that could easily be an extra 20 minute wait and I may not have planned that into my errands timing. But it seems rude not to hold the door for someone with packages in hand. I was the other person this happened to. Our UPS Store is crazy busy, but luckily for me I was there in a lull.