As the elevator gained popularity in the late 1800s, it had a profound effect on the way we organize our cities and ourselves. It was also blamed for a rise in crime, for causing something called brain fever, for destroying civil society, and more.
1957: Do You Know What the Elevator Thinks?trello1957
“The automatic elevator is here to stay, I guess. But am I here to stay? That is the pretty question. The automatic elevator door is a thoughtful door. "The door has been taught to think." say the elevator people. If the door touches any object in the doorway. it immediately withdraws."That is a what the elevator people THINK the door thinks. You know what I think the door thinks? I think It thinks: "Gotcha this time: SNAP!" You should be able to stop an automatic elevator door by simply touching it with your hand. Man, alive! I would no more put my hand into that door than I would put it in a bear trap. When I get into an automatic elevator, I wait and watch. When I think the door is off guard. I leap in. Quick. I have had some narrow escapes. For an automatic elevator can think as fast as a wink.”
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