Gate

Gate

n. Any of the roll-up tambour-style metal portcullis doors in the RECEIVING DEPARTMENT, which, when unlocked and opened via its hanging looped chain mechanism, provide via an adjustable cross-over DOCK PLATE approximately level walk-in access to the trailers brought by the TRUCK. The normal state of the Gate is closed and ARMED.

NOTE: Obviously, to open and close such a gate, you pull the chain down on one side of the other. But which side?

Answer: to open the gate, pull down on the side of the chain closest to the Gate itself, and the world outside. To close the Gate, pull down on the chain closest to you.

I know, I know—you're wondering why I'm telling you this. Well, sometimes the Gate gets caught or stuck. In those situations, it's not as if you could just tug gently on the two chains to see which does what. Brute force applied to the wrong chain is worse than pointless. So remember:

TIP: “Open = Outside,” and “Close = Closest.”

TRUE STORY: That way, at least you can be spared the embarrassment of someone else easily “fixing” it for you just by pulling on the proper side. (Is my face still red?)