I don't know what people think when they see someone waiting for the elevator. I imagine that it depends on what the person standing there looks like. If the person waiting for the elevator is in a wheelchair, using a cane or crutches, or is in some other way obviously in need of an elevator, then I imagine most folks don't give the waiters a second thought. But what about the people that look like they are otherwise healthy? What do others think about them? Again, I can't read minds, but I always wonder if those walking by think that the person waiting is just lazy.
Now, I wait for elevators for a moderate amount of time. I can do stairs. But I have bad knees. When I walk too many stairs, my knees burn for anywhere from a few minutes to a few days. If I am in a hurry, I do take the stairs, but I really would rather ride up or down. I often wonder if people look at me and think, "What a lazy bum. No wonder he's fat." No one has ever said that to me, but I always wonder.
I sometimes look askance at others that are waiting for the elevator, but then I have to remember my own reasons for waiting for the elevator. It's not always about being lazy. There are many legitimate health reasons that make folks avoid stairs. Elevators are not always about avoiding exercise.
I think there is at least one more "floor" to this topic. Look for that coming soon.