Growing up, I had these two old-maid great-aunts, and they were anxious about everything. Whenever we approached an escalator, they would stop and make a big dramatic scene about getting on the escalator, saying "If you fall, the steps will cut your legs to ribbons!"

Naturally, my response was to suggest the stairs, or the elevator, instead of the obvious death trap escalator.

To this day, I am very cautious about elevators.