It’s an all-too familiar scenario. The workday concluded, you’re on a packed elevator heading down.

The elevator stops and a few people squeeze on.

It stops on the next floor and one more person inches in.

It stops on the next floor, and the would-be riders see that it’s full and wait for the next one.

Somewhere along those three stops, somebody on the elevator mumbles, “I guess we’re taking the local.”

You can understand why. It’s not unfunny.

The problem is, after several decades of daily utterance, the quip has lost its zip.

Skip the “local” jokes, folks. Your fellow elevator-mates thank you.