Maybe I'm old school when it comes to bathroom etiquette, but people really need to learn proper manners for a public bathroom. There are some things that are obvious: replacing toilet paper or notifying the next girl coming in if toilet paper is out, avoid drenching the counter with excess water while washing your hands, courtesy flushes, etc. Others aren't so obvious, but this one should be:
If you're already on the pot and your phone rings, DON'T ANSWER.
Last week, I went to use the restroom which is shared by other tenants in our building. After I did my business, I went to go wash my hands. While I was singing the ABCs in my head (because that IS how long you should be soaping your hands), I heard a cell phone start to ring from one of the occupied stalls. I fully expected it to keep ringing so you can imagine my surprise when SHE PICKED UP THE PHONE AND ANSWERED, "HELLO?" EWW. There are several things wrong with that situation since I'm a germ-a-phobe, but isn't there some kind of rule or commandment where you are not supposed to answer the phone while you're sitting on the pot? I guess it would be okay in the privacy of your own home (I don't do it because it's just too weird for me), but in the public restroom of an office building? She even picked up the phone mid-stream. I know she was sitting there literally butt-naked talking on the phone about her plans for the night. It obviously wasn't anything urgent. She could have simply finished what she was doing, wiped, washed her hands, and called the person back. FUCKING EW.
This one is a little bit different, but still has to do with cell phone/bathroom etiquette. This morning, I was in the restroom again. Just as I was finishing, one of my coworkers comes in while she was ON THE PHONE already. She gets in her stall, sits, and starts peeing all while advising her friend on the phone about what she should do about some lame ass she went out on a date with this past weekend. OMG people...is it that serious that you need to talk to people while relieving yourself?! FUCKING EW. I flushed the toilet with the hopes of it being overheard by the person she was talking to and maybe that person would have enough decency to ask my coworker to call her back. My coworker actually stopped talking and started again once the flush was done. So I guess whoever she was talking to was okay with the whole thing.
I know people use their phone to have reading material or play games while in the bathroom. For some reason, that's more okay in my head than actually having a conversation while you're peeing. But, to pick up the phone while in the act of using the bathroom or continue your conversation while using the bathroom is dirrty, dirrty , dirrty! Being drunk and doing the above is more excusable because your judgment is impaired and people might be calling to look for your drunk ass, but my coworker and the other lady have no excuse. I'm going to say it one more time so you know how truly grossed out I am by people carrying on phone conversations while sitting on a toilet in a public bathroom...FUCKING EW!
