Letters of Annoyance

Letter of Annoyance

November 11, 1999

The Globe and Mail
The National Post

Dear Editors:

We wish to express our considerable annoyance at otherwise able-bodied people who insist on using those big wheelchair accessible buttons to open doors in public places. What possible utility can these buttons have for people who are perfectly capable grabbing a handle, opening the door, and walking through? We have even witnessed the odd phenomena of these individuals, when clearly in a hurry, actually stopping to patiently watch the electric door slowly swing open.

Some of us have children and will admit that we have occasionally let the youngsters employ the power-open mechanism. Why? Because, bless their little hearts, this act fascinates their young and simple minds. "Can I open the magic door Daddy?" "OK, Honey, but just this once. Remember, these buttons are for people who need them." When I find myself standing behind an adult, who has stopped to open "the magic door" for no physically apparent reason, I can only imagine what they are thinking. With apologies to Percy Shelley, it is probably something like this . . . Behold! I am Lord Sesame, keeper of the door of wonder. Gaze upon my power, oh mere mortals, and despair.

We would implore these minor deities to confine their displays of power to the home front where they can demonstrate their mastery of the electric garage door of amazement, or the enchanted light inside the refrigerator, to their hearts' content. We hope these views are taken with the seriousness in which they are given.

Sincerely,

John Sloan, TG

For the Emily Chesley
Reading Circle


					Letters of Annoyance
	Published Letters There are inane slogans in the Forest City! (The London Free Press) Stop with the lists already! (National Post) Re: 'proactive' (Globe & Mail) The Year 2000 (Globe & Mail)				Letter of Annoyance November 11, 1999 The Globe and Mail The National Post Dear Editors: We wish to express our considerable annoyance at otherwise able-bodied people who insist on using those big wheelchair accessible buttons to open doors in public places. What possible utility can these buttons have for people who are perfectly capable grabbing a handle, opening the door, and walking through? We have even witnessed the odd phenomena of these individuals, when clearly in a hurry, actually stopping to patiently watch the electric door slowly swing open. Some of us have children and will admit that we have occasionally let the youngsters employ the power-open mechanism. Why? Because, bless their little hearts, this act fascinates their young and simple minds. "Can I open the magic door Daddy?" "OK, Honey, but just this once. Remember, these buttons are for people who need them." When I find myself standing behind an adult, who has stopped to open "the magic door" for no physically apparent reason, I can only imagine what they are thinking. With apologies to Percy Shelley, it is probably something like this . . . Behold! I am Lord Sesame, keeper of the door of wonder. Gaze upon my power, oh mere mortals, and despair. We would implore these minor deities to confine their displays of power to the home front where they can demonstrate their mastery of the electric garage door of amazement, or the enchanted light inside the refrigerator, to their hearts' content. We hope these views are taken with the seriousness in which they are given. Sincerely, John Sloan, TG For the Emily Chesley Reading Circle
					The Emily Chesley Reading Circle was established to further the study of Emily Chesley, a long-overlooked Canadian speculative fiction writer of the late-Victorian period, who lived for some time in the London, Ontario region. Letters of Annoyance and Letters of Approval are produced by the Circle as a service to the public. Join our mailing list Email: or send us email. All written material, graphics, logo, and html coding © copyright 2003-2005 The Emily Chesley Reading Circle Web Monkey : Mark A. Rayner