Please stand clear of the doors...

I'll admit that I made a mistake on the train this morning, although I did my best whilst still in the situation to avoid all eye-contact and therefore deny all responsibility for the incident.

When boarding the train this morning, I was at the front of a large queue of people on the platform behind me. There was a concentration camp-style crush to board which always makes me a bit sad with humanity that nobody wants anybody else to have their seat for what is essentially a twenty minute journey.

As I boarded, I may have brushed against a button. That button may have been mounted on a post, and it may have automatically closed the doors behind me.

I may have heard the hiss as I walked on, and I may have heard the sound of limbs flailing as they became entangled in the doors.

Did I look back? No. No I didn't.

It's every man for himself on trains these days...

You still have to do it for yourself

You know what I'm talking about.

Pedestrian crossings in the UK require you to push a button in order for the crossing to know you are there. At this point, there is a sign in bright orange that illuminates just above the button you just pushed that says PLEASE WAIT. Now, the traffic system chooses the right break in the traffic to turn the lights red and let you cross.

Straight forward, don't you think?

So why is it that, even though the PLEASE WAIT sign is illuminated, there are people on the crossing waiting and the system is it work, people still feel the need to push the button. Just in case. Just to make sure.

Irrational? Yes. Un-necessary contact with a button that lots of urine-soaked hands have pushed? Indeed.