Questions Regarding Corporate John Etiquette

Say you're on day two of your recommitment to the Weight Watchers bandwagon, and you've consumed an amount of water identical in volume to what park supervisors use to replenish the community pool because it's all you can do not to "accidentally" remove a bite-sized Snickers from Betty's candy bowl. Say you've just taken care of business when another employee makes her way to the adjoining stall and strikes up a conversation to learn if the new business polos have made a positive impression on the masses. Say she continues to talk as you hear the sound of her urine splashing into the commode.

Do you keep talking? If the billing specialist doesn't mind chatting it up mid-pee, should you? What about when the situation's reversed? Is it considered rude to zip your lip once your arse hits the porcelain throne? At what point is bodily function allowed to trump witty banter?

For me, it's after the locking of the stall door, the equivalent to shutting the door to my office; if I was up for a dialogue, I'd leave the damn thing open and invite you to pull up a chair. Otherwise? Let me one and two in peace.

What say you, Internet?

Comments

[David McNelis]

I think it depends on your relationship with said co-worker. For example, most people in the office I wouldn't consider having a conversation with 'mid-stream' (well, ok, I'm a guy, its acceptable when not behind closed doors), but there are a couple of people that I am comfortable enough with / good enough friends outside the office, whom I would have no issue have a conversation with in that compromising position.

[Mrs. Ca]

I can't pee if someone else is in the room, let alone the other option. When I'm out with my mom, sister, and/or friends, they usually will talk to me and I'll answer as minimally as possible, but I usually try to either go at a different time or get a stall on the other end of the room. I try to avoid it as much as possible, and definitely don't encourage it.

[mjd]

In most cases, I prefer not to engage in conversation while taking care of the process of excretion. Although I still can do business, I prefer privacy. Most conversations wait until you are out in the fresh air? I guess if your stall is out of toilet paper, you might ask for some from the mate in an adjoining stall.

Occasionally, I have noticed people talking on phones while using the bathroom. Not me...no way.

[Lost A Sock]

Oh, ACK. Unless you're close pals, having invited each other to a trip to the potty, no conversations. JMHO. :0)

[Mrs. S]

At work - the closed stall door is the signal. With good friends (at the mall or something, I guess?) then whatever you're both/all comfortable with.

But at work? Mid-stream chatter is just wrong on so many levels. What can you say DURING that you can't stick around and say AFTER, right?

[Lisa]

I'm with you, Frema. Once the stall door is closed, the conversation is over. Regardless of who I'm with or where I am.

[Britt]

I have a hard time responding to co-workers while I pee, too. The worst was when I walked in the restroom and found a lady lying on the restroom floor at work. I asked her if she was ok, and she said she was feeling ill and needed to lie down. I don't know why she chose the bathroom floor when we have a perfectly good sofa in the faculty room. She talked to me the entire time I peed about how sick she was and so on and so forth. Then when I got out of the stall, I had to step over her to wash my hands. It was horrible!


My best friend are the only ones who can talk to me while I'm in the stall, and they can only do it if we are the only ones in the bathroom. I can't converse infront of strangers.

[Sambo V.]

Hmmm, public urination has always been a bit uncomfy for me.

[debi]

LOST A SOCK is right.

[Anonymous]

Thanks all of you.............I really was in need of a belly laugh and all of you provided it!!!
What a topic!!

Aunt Ruthie

[Luke]

Perhaps women should start following the standard men's room guidelines. No talking. Ever.

That way you don't have to figure out how close of a relationship you have with said friend and/or co-worker. You both automatically know that there is no conversing until both parties have finished their business and vacated the premises.

[butterflygirl]

depends on the relationship and if I entered the bathroom already conversing then I would keep at it.

[Silly Hily]

Co-workers? No! I'm totally okay with family and friends though.

[Lauren]

Like most here, I'm okay with the mid-pee family convo. But once, one of my professors was speaking with me when she was mid pee! WHAT?! I mean, I know profs pee and all, of course, I'm almost one myself now. But still, a bit extreme, I could have come to her office later. Honestly.

Hi, by the way. I'm cruising blogrolls, what with me being the only one in the office this week, and I came across you... somehow? I forget. But hi!

[daddy d]

TBC should be the order of the day. However, there are so many layers of meaning for Taking Care of Business. Thereby, what business are we taking about or not taking about in said room. In any case, I would make it FTBC. The added F means first. So, then the operational rule is first things first, each on every time.

[Elizabeth]

I would keep talking if she was my good friend and we went into the restroom together. But if said good friend was already in the loo, I would not strike up a conversation if I recognized her shoes; maybe after she came out of the stall, though.
Maybe this sort of lady should request a "conference stall" be put into the ladies room so she could conduct meetings whilst whizzing.

[Um Ibrahim]

When you don't feel comfortable responding, don't respond. This will stop the conversation or at least put it on hold.

[CPA Mom]

umm..no conversation...ever!! We have two stalls, and I won't even go in the room unless both are empty. I must have my privacy...stop talking to me beyatch! Ahem...I must have issues.

[Jenabeeb]

I agree with most everyone else. I feel extrememly uncomfortable talking to people as I'm "going." Only recently have I felt comfortable talking on the phone to a few VERY close of friends of mine while I'm "busy" - and only because they have done the same thing with me.

As far as in person, I feel uncomfortable talking with whoever it is.