What does this mean

Standing on stairs in both directions is a correct orientation, either to go up or down (unless it's single direction stairs of course). The only "wrong" way to do it is sideways, there is no "backwards".

Can't stand backwards on stairs. It's immoral, they'll arrest you

Can’t stand backwards in a hallway or a room either. There really isn’t anywhere one could stand backwards, unless the frame of reference is moving (e.g. escalators, airport peoplemover belts).

Backwards is a concept that entirely hinges on motion, come to think of it. No such thing as a static backwards.

I think it means there is no backwards. If you're going down the stairs, stop and turn around, you're facing forward in the up direction. You could walk backward on stairs but not stand backward.

But, this is true of most places you stand. Sidewalks, middle of your living room, in a park. You can only stand backwards in places that have a specific direction to stand, such as in a line, an elevator, a classroom.

Pants.

I should clarify: animate objects can’t be backwards without a frame of motion.

You can when you face your back to the lift's door

the stairs where i work were actually built backwards because of a misprinted blueprint so i can only stand on them backwards

Is this a glass half empty thing?

I now want to use all stairs as sideways as possible. I will be doing this the next time im in public. Someone needs to be the crazy one.

I could stand on stairs in either direction, but I'm not sure how to stand in both simultaneously.

A car parked on the wrong side of the street.

Staring backwards at a landscape or art or statue.

You can absolutely stand backwards in a group that’s all facing one way.

Yes, as stairs work both ways, up or down. However one can walk backwards or forwards either up or down stairs, if one wishes to do so. Other options do exist, please see Parkour.

And Michael Scott is running around my head now dramatically saying "parkour". Thanks 😅

elevators with rear doors:

a y o a

You dropped these

I for my part only ever stand backwards 😌

I would argue that a parked car is not an animate object and that a street has an implied frame of motion

Well, that's not true. The correct orientation is "facing the direction that I'm going".

Ah yes, but you can look backwards while on stairs.