So when you hold the door open for people (esp. strangers) and they put their hands up as if to keep the door open as they go through, is it because they don't trust you to hold it open? Are they afraid you're going to push it shut quickly and injure them? Does it feel too vulnerable to trust you (esp. when it is indeed a stranger) completely and not have some back-up plan?

I've been wondering this for a while. Of course, it's only so common for people to actually hold doors open in our society, especially a female holding it open for any males that might be walking behind her. But even so, it just strikes me as rather odd when people walk through the door you're holding open, yet put their hands up as if to say, "I appriciate that you're holding it open, but there's a chance that you might not really desire to do so and might let go halfway through my journey over the threshhold, and so I'd like to make sure that this door stays open the entire time I'm in the doorway."

I suppose it's reasonable to feel that way. I don't reckon I feel that way too often myself, on a concious or subconcious level. At least not with doors being held open. I'll gladly do whatever I need to to NOT have to put my hands up or open the door myself .. well, not whatever I need to, but pretty close. If I have to hurry or something, that is.

I just don't know.