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Original poster

Humiliated by work colleague about smelly toilet

85 replies

JadeyGreen · 01/04/2025 14:17

My workplace has a shared toilet - it’s outside the office in a corridor so people can’t see the comings and goings.

Anyway, I noticed this smelt really foul when I went in this morning (no big deal, it’s a toilet after all). As I walked out and opened the door, my colleague was waiting to go in.

A couple of minutes after, my colleague walked back into the office and announced ‘JadeyGreen, what on earth did you have for breakfast? it absolutely stinks in there’

I obviously protested my innocence -
but it was really humiliating in front of the c.15 colleagues who were in work today. We have quite serious roles and this isn’t the sort of comment people usually make.

AIBU to feel offended?

OP posts:
Unpaidviewer · 01/04/2025 16:23

She was obviously embarrassed and didn't want anyone thinking it was her. I would think she came across as insecure and immature if I were a colleague.

SwedishEdith · 01/04/2025 16:23

CoffeeCantata · 01/04/2025 16:22

I feel for you, OP.

One of my pet hates in life is to have to go into a smelly loo and then have the person waiting outside think it's me. But my more rational self knows that gong to the loo and doing a poo is a fact of life and poo can be smelly.

So, horrible though it is to encounter a really stinky loo, it's human life and this man needs to a) get over it and b) have it explained to him that it's the worst possible form to comment on anything to do with other people (outside family) going to the loo. You just don't do it.

Definitely take it further - he needs to learn.

It wasn't a man

CoffeeCantata · 01/04/2025 16:22

I feel for you, OP.

One of my pet hates in life is to have to go into a smelly loo and then have the person waiting outside think it's me. But my more rational self knows that gong to the loo and doing a poo is a fact of life and poo can be smelly.

So, horrible though it is to encounter a really stinky loo, it's human life and this man needs to a) get over it and b) have it explained to him that it's the worst possible form to comment on anything to do with other people (outside family) going to the loo. You just don't do it.

Definitely take it further - he needs to learn.

WillyBanjo · 01/04/2025 16:20

A bit off topic but we have two single sex toilets at work in a female dominated workplace so not enough women’s toilets.

The women use the men’s and there is a distinct hi occurrence of poos in the men’s. So much that I no longer use the men’s to poo and use the customer toilet instead for the reasons in the op post.

It is one of many reasons single sex toilets. Also @JadeyGreen whoever said what was said is really out of order. You could have been ill or on medication and shit shaming even in this case when it wasn’t you is horrible.

SwedishEdith · 01/04/2025 16:17

When I come out of a smelly toilet, if there's someone waiting, I make a point of saying "that was not me" and wafting my hand.

LillylollyAndy · 01/04/2025 16:17

looks like karma

MemorableTrenchcoat · 01/04/2025 16:15

Thebloodynine · 01/04/2025 16:13

Cited faulty evidence? What is wrong with you?

Show quote history

What’s wrong with you? You incorrectly deduced it was a man, but it wasn’t. End of story.

slimshady18 · 01/04/2025 16:15

This thread is fucking hilarious😂 I love when people are insecure about getting something wrong

Thebloodynine · 01/04/2025 16:13

MemorableTrenchcoat · 01/04/2025 16:10

They just mindlessly guessed. You cited faulty ‘evidence’.

Show quote history

Cited faulty evidence? What is wrong with you?

MemorableTrenchcoat · 01/04/2025 16:10

Thebloodynine · 01/04/2025 16:03

4 posters before me all replied saying “he” and “him.” I posted a possible reason for the assumption when it was questioned why people were assuming.

Why are you singling out my post? There are 4 others.

Show quote history

They just mindlessly guessed. You cited faulty ‘evidence’.

BabyRuthless · 01/04/2025 16:08

@Thebloodynine haven't singled you out! You were the only one explaining why you thought they were male, so I responded with clearly not (as OP clarified).

Thebloodynine · 01/04/2025 16:04

BabyRuthless · 01/04/2025 16:00

Clearly not ^

Show quote history

4 posters before me all replied saying “he” and “him.” I posted a possible reason for the assumption when it was questioned why people were assuming.
Why are you singling out my post? There are 4 others.

Thebloodynine · 01/04/2025 16:03

MemorableTrenchcoat · 01/04/2025 16:00

Your assumption was incorrect.

Show quote history

4 posters before me all replied saying “he” and “him.” I posted a possible reason for the assumption when it was questioned why people were assuming.

Why are you singling out my post? There are 4 others.

Original poster
JadeyGreen · 01/04/2025 16:01

Coconutter24 · 01/04/2025 16:00

I took that to mean it could of been a man or woman that made the smell before OP went in

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That’s what I meant :)

OP posts:
MemorableTrenchcoat · 01/04/2025 16:00

Thebloodynine · 01/04/2025 15:08

She points out that it is a shared toilet; the only reason to say that is to let us know that it is used by men as well so we can assume the person waiting to go in was a man.

Show quote history

Your assumption was incorrect.

Coconutter24 · 01/04/2025 16:00

Thebloodynine · 01/04/2025 15:08

She points out that it is a shared toilet; the only reason to say that is to let us know that it is used by men as well so we can assume the person waiting to go in was a man.

Show quote history

I took that to mean it could of been a man or woman that made the smell before OP went in

BabyRuthless · 01/04/2025 16:00

Thebloodynine · 01/04/2025 15:08

She points out that it is a shared toilet; the only reason to say that is to let us know that it is used by men as well so we can assume the person waiting to go in was a man.

Show quote history

Clearly not ^

Original poster
JadeyGreen · 01/04/2025 15:59

To clarify, it was a woman colleague.

OP posts:
notacooldad · 01/04/2025 15:58

That's a standard banter in my work place!
The person on the receiving end gives back as good as they get.
I know our work place isn't for everyone!

deeahgwitch · 01/04/2025 15:54

I’d be mortified and very upset if someone said that to me at work in front of others particularly when I was innocent .

jellyfishperiwinkle · 01/04/2025 15:53

Horrible. I've had that from other women in a small office, gossiping and giggling and who couldn't believe I would do a number 2 in an office toilet. Didn't know it was harassment at the time but still thought they were pathetic.

Skimpyy · 01/04/2025 15:48

Thats completely OOO.

Even if it had been you - maybe IBD, IBS etc he would be harassing you for an illness.

I would email him and ask for an apology cc your boss and his boss and all the 15 people who overheard.

mathanxiety · 01/04/2025 15:31

That was incredibly rude and grossly unprofessional.

RandomUsernameHere · 01/04/2025 15:24

I took it to mean that it is not within the office space, so potentially “shared” with people from different companies.

Thebloodynine · 01/04/2025 15:08

slimshady18 · 01/04/2025 15:05

What do you mean especially coming from a man? Op didn’t mention whether their colleague was male or female.

Show quote history

She points out that it is a shared toilet; the only reason to say that is to let us know that it is used by men as well so we can assume the person waiting to go in was a man.