Bathroom Etiquette

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

I came home today after drinking several large iced coffees, and told my mother, who seemed eager to speak with me, that I needed to use the bathroom immediately (implying that she should hold her thoughts for a moment). Instead, she just started talking to me right through the door, reading the TV guide listings and then asking me to select a program.

My feeling is that I was kind of busy, and that if someone goes into a bathroom in a private home and shuts the door, it should be sacrosanct. You should not force people to strain to hear your voice over the sounds of their own eliminations. When I thought about it, though, talking to a friend while in a public bathroom stall seems fine to me.

Why is that? Does your bathroom etiquette change dramatically from place to place, or in regards to different people or situations?

― Laura H. (laurah), Monday, 25 July 2005 01:48 (twenty years ago)

After many years of marriage, a conversation might continue through the bathroom door, but only if it's not on a heavy life-or-death topic. And it's the exception, not the rule.

― Truckdrivin' Buddha (Rock Hardy), Monday, 25 July 2005 01:54 (twenty years ago)

My brother called me the other week on his mobile phone whilst ON THE TOILET HAVING A CRAP. Which he informed me of, when I asked why it sounded all weird like he was on speakerphone. He even got all grossed out at his own stink and complained about it as the toilet flushed, while still on the phone to me.

― Trayce (trayce), Monday, 25 July 2005 02:07 (twenty years ago)

(then again thats par for the course with my brothers, who in their mid 30s still love their toilet humour).

― Trayce (trayce), Monday, 25 July 2005 02:07 (twenty years ago)

why is it considered all impolite or embarrassing or whatever to fart at a urinal? it's still the bathroom

also my girlfriend left me advice pls ok thanx bye.

― loggedout, Monday, 25 July 2005 03:18 (twenty years ago)

Who said that it was impolite?

― Pleasant Plains /// (Pleasant Plains ///), Monday, 25 July 2005 04:08 (twenty years ago)

I have one son and two dogs. I do not have privacy in the bathroom, ever. I would much prefer to, and to not talk to them while any of them are on the hopper, either.

Maybe one day.

― luna (luna.c), Monday, 25 July 2005 04:15 (twenty years ago)

Better hope your boy don't end up like my brother then! =)

― Trayce (trayce), Monday, 25 July 2005 04:33 (twenty years ago)

I always talk to my wife through the bathroom door. I'm not sure really why i even close it.

― Adam In Real Life (nordicskilla), Monday, 25 July 2005 05:10 (twenty years ago)

How about actually using the toilet while your partner is in the same room? Is that beyond the pale for most people?

― Laura H. (laurah), Monday, 25 July 2005 05:12 (twenty years ago)

My wife and I have been married twenty years. Nothing is beyond the pale.

― Aimless (Aimless), Monday, 25 July 2005 05:17 (twenty years ago)

i just tell whoever it is that "i'll be in my office" and shut the door, as busy executives do.

― not gettin' hassled, not gettin' hustled (Jody Beth Rosen), Monday, 25 July 2005 05:40 (twenty years ago)

Toilet paper roll - over or under???

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Monday, 25 July 2005 06:51 (twenty years ago)

Under! RARGH and I'm the only one who seems to think this too! So I resign myself to it.

― Trayce (trayce), Monday, 25 July 2005 06:52 (twenty years ago)

I think I heard Miss Manners (whoever that is) said under too! But why??

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Monday, 25 July 2005 06:59 (twenty years ago)

under

― not gettin' hassled, not gettin' hustled (Jody Beth Rosen), Monday, 25 July 2005 07:13 (twenty years ago)

i want to hear about urinal etiquette! it intrigues me...

― dahlin (dahlin), Monday, 25 July 2005 10:24 (twenty years ago)

Urinal etiquette, as covered in many other threads I'm sure. So many rules...
1. Don't stand immediately next to anyone if you can avoid it. In fact, stand as far away as possible from anyone else.
2. Don't make eye contact.
3. Look at what you're doing when you start, then gaze vacantly straight in front of you, until you finish. Don't show too much interest in your penis or any interest at all in anyone else's.
4. Don't talk. Anything louder than a quiet sigh is suspect.
5. Don't fart.
6. Actually, it's all fairly obvious I guess

― beanz (beanz), Monday, 25 July 2005 10:29 (twenty years ago)

If the loo paper goes over, its harder to grab a decent length of paper before it tears, esp if the roll is full/new.

― Trayce (trayce), Monday, 25 July 2005 10:31 (twenty years ago)

I disagree - I definitely prefer over for the reason you cite supporting the Under camp. But maybe this has something to do with differing thicknesses etc of loo paper in different parts of the world, which has an entire thread about it I think.

― beanz (beanz), Monday, 25 July 2005 10:33 (twenty years ago)

ditto
i always grab twice as much paper when pulling from under. no good!

― dahlin (dahlin), Monday, 25 July 2005 10:59 (twenty years ago)

No wait - that didn't come out the way I meant it: I prefer Over because I find it easier to grab a decent length of paper that way. And when I'm at someone's house and their loo roll is Under, I think they're tight arsed. In a financial way, not a loo-roll-using way.

― beanz (beanz), Monday, 25 July 2005 12:37 (twenty years ago)

-- loggedout (urina...) (webmail), July 25th, 2005 12:18 AM. (later) (link)

Awww, logged out has a new email address!

― Tumililingan (ex machina), Monday, 25 July 2005 12:40 (twenty years ago)

I wasn't aware it was a faux pas to fart at a urinal, I always thought the louder the fart the better! At least in the type of pubs I go to...

― Colonel Poo (Colonel Poo), Monday, 25 July 2005 13:13 (twenty years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.