I do think that even light hearted some of the generalisations in this thread are a bit over the top and it's a hard one to judge on let it stay or close it just due to the subject, when it comes to condescension I think you win the prize Durulz, you're probably more offensive than any of the light hearted comments on here. Always easy to jump in a have a quick slap about you, harder to help guide people and help them.
Me personally, I think that i'm surrounded by people that have no issues at all with me opening doors for them, etc etc, I do it for anyone that comes behind me or coming towards me on the other side.
I think what we're talking about is that when our efforts to be polite are unappreciated it's usually at the end of a cutting retort or the like. I think that we should be polite and not worry at all about the few times it seems to go down the wrong way, most people really do appreciate it and I think there's few people that only open doors for females rather than everyone that's around them. IF we open the door, move out of peoples way etc etc all's good, there's more smiles and more gratitude and peoples spirits are lifted, those that would like to take offence that someone has opened a door foo them, well, let them get on with it.
please don't let the thread stray, or we will close it. It would be interesting to have some female input to this, any thoughts ladies?