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The average person pushes an elevator button 6 or 7…

“The average person pushes an elevator button 6 or 7 minutes before realizing it's not working. I did a study on this, you know.” quote by Don Rickles
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“The average person pushes an elevator button 6 or 7 minutes before realizing it's not working. I did a study on this, you know.”

Don Rickles

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

People often keep trying a solution long after it fails, highlighting human tendency to persist despite clear evidence of ineffectiveness.

In simple terms: People keep pressing a broken button out of habit.

Key Takeaway

Recognize when a method isn’t working and change it.

Themes

habit perseverance inefficiency

Mood

frustrated reflective

Type

observational humorous

When to use this quote

  • daily routines
  • technical troubleshooting
  • customer service
  • personal productivity

Key Concepts

behavioral inertia cognitive bias

Questions to Reflect On

  • Why do we continue ineffective actions?
  • How can we better detect when to stop?
A Different Perspective

Changing approach may require admitting failure, which can be uncomfortable.

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