Isn't that the point of fixing the problem, though - to use up less energy thinking about the damn thing so you can concentrate on things that are more interesting? If there was a door handle that said "Look! I didn't fall off! Amn't I clever?" every time you opened it, it would be almost as distracting as one that fell off.

Perhaps, but it would be distracting in a good way. For instance, if I get distracted from a complicated train of thought by somebody smacking me round the head, that's just bad all round. But if I'm distracted to an equal degree by someone kissing me (assuming it's someone I actually wanted to be kissed by), then on the one hand it's a shame about my train of thought, but on the other hand, I'm not sure I wouldn't rather be distracted like that more often!

I think we differ on this point. If I was distracted by somebody kissing me when I was thinking about something I would be a bit irritated that they hadn't told me first so I could write down where I'd got to and pick up where I left off later.

I suppose it would depend on the proportions. If someone distractingly kissed me every time I was trying to think about something complicated, I might start to feel that that was all very nice but really there ought to be enough space in my life to include both kisses and getting useful stuff done...

I would also wonder why this person was hanging around my lab with nothing better to do than kiss people; for starters they could make everybody some tea.

:) Although, if feeling productive is sufficiently helpful to our actual productivity, maybe we all ought to tape "look how clever I am for opening doors" notices to all our doors... :)

I fear my labmates would not appreciate this.

Then serves them right for not making tea before offering to kiss people :)

My labmates do not kiss their colleagues! (Thankfully)