[Just another Joe]

In other words, we act the same way in an elevator that we do while walking down a corridor in a shopping mall. We ignore the people around us and pretend they don't exist because we simply don't know them . . . and their presence has nothing to do with what we're shopping for.

Ah, but if you are situationally aware you DON'T do this.
You PAY attention to the people around you.Being situationally aware has kept me out of some tight spots.

I learned the technique, and it is a learned behaviour, from a Cheif Petty Officer in the US Navy while I was stationed in South East Asia.

[QBFimi]

>> We ignore the people around us and pretend they don’t exist ...
>> Ah, but if you are situationally aware you DON’T do this.

Good post. I can’t believe the number of young (mostly female) dingbats walking around texting or with Ipods in their ears in places where I’m nervous. For a good read on this subject, start by Googling up: “Color codes of mental awareness”.