Warning: bathroom talk follows.
Maybe it is some guilt trip put on my during my potty training years, but I hate for people to know that I am going number 2. Number 1 is okay, but number 2 is not to be mentioned. When I was in school it was the worst feeling knowing that you were going to be gone long enough that everyone would know that you were in the bathroom stinking the place up.
Rationally, I know that everyone does it and that it is natural and nothing to be ashamed of. This does not stop my anxiety. If I am in public I will wait till other people are out of the bathroom before I exit the stall. I will use bathrooms in less public areas for fear that someone may see me go in and then see me come out quite a bit later. Then they would know. My anxiety about public bathrooms was increased in the 1980's with the "get AIDS from a toilet seat" urban legend. Add that to the state in which people leave public bathrooms and I would almost rather chance holding it than go in public. I judge restaurants, not by their food, but by how clean they keep their restrooms. I try not to go at friends houses. I not only feel that they know by how long I am gone but they feel disrespected that I do this in their house.
The worst part is when someone you know follows you in. Do you fake only having to go number 1 and come back later? Do you allow them to see your dirty little secret. The other day a co-worker followed me in and I hit the stall. The guy sees me and starts up a conversation. This is wrong on multiple levels. First, it breaks the rules. Second, he knows I am here and will here any noise that I make (can you try and go quietly? yes. . . yes you can). Third, by talking to me others may be alerted as to who is occupying stall number 3.
Strangely my body has compensated for this in some way. I can make it in and out so quick that people think it was only a number 1. I am unsure if this is a reaction or if I just eat enough fiber. Cell phones are the exception to me making any noise. If you are on a cell phone in a public bathroom, I will try my hardest to let the person on the otherside of the line know it.
5 comments:
hehehe... i am the SAME way. i do not like it when people know i have to take a crap. hehe. the worst is when i have to go at my MIL's. she lives in a small one bedroom condo. so EVERYONE will know your business. OH, and there's no fan in the bathroom... ugh. i hate that... and i HATE it when people talk to me when i'm in the restroom...
Man do I hear you. I am the same way. I have walked into the restroom at work needing to crap, and if my boss or another coworker is in there washing their hands, I will often go to pee and hope they leave before I am done. That way I can do my business without them knowing. If I am on the can and someone walks in, I get this feeling of dread because my company is small and not many guys work there. They'll easily know it is me on the can.Oh, and people who talk to you why you do your business are FREAKS.
I've suffered through the 3 different stomach flus that have hit this town in the past month or so. As nasty as you think the bathrooms are for regular use, you can only imagine how horrendous they are when you're on your knees, clutching the bowl, in the mens' room because the ladies' is out of order. Yucko.
I was raised never thinking, feeling or copping up to 'shall go unmentioned'. It wasn't until I was married to my current husband that i actually became aware of the fact that my shit was not delivered in little Tiffany Boxes with Satin Ribbons. (And, actually, I think they are and only humor him).
LOL, i've always wondered if it would be easier if we just ask the people in the bathroom, "hey, do you mind if i take a dump?" or act like we're going to jail or prison, "so what are you in for? a number one or a number two?"i don't particularly like people knowing what i have to do, but you can only do so much to be *polite*. i know i draw attention to myself because i'm the one laughing AT myself for not being able to go quietly. i'm not afraid to admit that i've made others laugh, too. honestly, i don't see what the big deal is. but you won't catch me using a bathroom that's filthy. especially after what i saw at a restaurant a while back.
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