Thursday, January 31

There are 5 loos in a row ...

... at work. So one generally gravitates to one of the end ones when the need arises. So, just say I do that, of the 5 empties, I select an end one.
Is it only me who finds it weird and creepy that the next woman to come in, of the 4 remaining empties, selects the one directly next to mine?

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

I don't think so and here's my reasoning - the end stalls are the most popular - so, you head to the end stall out of habit, realize after you have passed the first few stalls that the end one is in fact occupied, and run into the nearest stall because your brain has already informed your bladder that you are in the bathroom and your bladder is ready to go.

That's my theory.

cookiecrumb said...

Did she tap her feet?

LBA said...

One of my pet freak-outs ( although I used to amuse work colleagues with my toilet hangups and gripes .. ;)

I always take the most remote toilet from all others. So if you're in 5, i'd select 1, or 2.

I neither want to hear, or smell you. And i'd rather not know it was you, or exchange post-wee banter while washing our hands.

Did I say i've got hang-ups ?
Someone sitting right next to me gives me stage-fright...

LBA said...

oh - and I don't do the 'girlfriend' toileting thing when out at a restaurant either.

I go to the toilet to pee.
Alone.

Ms Brown Mouse said...

H&B - My thoughts EXACTLY - I hate when someone speaks to me while I'm in there - it's just wrong.
Cookie - I don't think she tapped her feet - is this significant?

e said...

The tapping of the feet refers to one of our politicians (what was his name?) who pled guilty to lewd conduct in an airport bathroom, and then when the story came out, resigned. The tapping of the feet is supposedly a signal that one is available for anonymous bathroom hanky panky.

As for theories: it's a little weird, but I myself have been inexplicably drawn to the stall next to the only one that is being used. Then I'm in there thinking, "WTF did I do that for??" and am embarassed. I think it's something to do with our grouping instinct or whatever you want to call it.

Anonymous said...

Thank Ms DMM for bringing this topic up which has fascinated me for years. I also find that in a row of empty loos, someone will invariably hop into the one RIGHT NEXT TO MINE. This happens at work and it is freaky! Especially when customers take their BOY CHILDREN in to the cubicle with them and the BOY CHILD pops his head UNDER the cubicle door to say hello to you.
This happened to me about 3 months ago. His mother thought it was hilarious. I, on the other hand, almost had a heart attack.
This kid was about seven years old. I can understand 3 and 4 year olds in the ladies lav - but a seven year old?
Next time, he'll probably ask the lady cubicle user for her telephone number.

Anonymous said...

To expand on E's post - Senator Craig (an ultra conservative who represents that he thinks homosexuality is evil) was busted soliciting anonymous male sex in an airport restroom. Apparently, there's some kind of code that includes placing your foot in another man's stall, tapping, and running your fingers under the stall wall in a certain fashion, indicating an invitation for anonymous sex. Craig did this to an undercover cop. Ooops. He was busted, tried to play the "I'm a senator" card, was still busted and then plead guilty.

Then it all came out in the press. He denied it (saying he has a "wide stance" when using public restrooms), and tried to appeal his guilty plea, saying he would resign if his appeal failed. It failed, he did not resign.

Gotta love conservative homophobes getting caught in the act! God Bless America!

Anonymous said...

If you want to read a little more... http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/08/28/craig.arrest/index.html

Ms Brown Mouse said...

Well thank you all for decoding the foot tapping - what a lark. How do they work out these codes n such? Fair blows the mind.
CAW - if that had happened to me I'd have let out a scream and kicked the kid in the head - you could argue you were so terrified you acted on instinct and you could be pretty bloody sure his mum wouldn’t let him pull that little prank ever again!

Roo said...

There's a foot tapping code, really? Have I led the most sheltered gay life ever? 9 ahem, no, but you know what I mean, who makes these things up?)

Anyway - toilet rules apply to us blokes too - 3 urinals, two end ones being used, I can never use the centre one, cubicles are always one an occupied, skip one rule too.

I did once show a supplier around a new build on a motorway service station before it opened to the public, and she said that she had never seen the inside of a blokes loo, so I showed her around. I'll never forget her face when I had to explain to her what the " Nice and fancy metal banding/decor" was for, on the inside of the cubicles and why "You don't see anything that nice and fancy in the ladies" ... .. a peach ;o)

Ms Brown Mouse said...

Roo, you've just reminded me of when my little brother came out of a gents when he was wee, bringing with him all the "lollies" he'd found in the trough! Our father was horrified.

Urban Koda said...

Proper etiquette would be 1 - 5 - 3 and then politely wash your hands and come back later or find another one elsewhere in the building.

Talking is highly discourage and in the case of men, the only appropriate looking, is dead straight in front of you.

Urban Koda said...
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