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AIBU?

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AIBU to think violently rattling an occupied toilet door at work is rude?

83 replies

Futurehappiness · 23/09/2026 22:46

I was in the toilet cubicle at work. The door was locked, so from the outside it clearly shows that it is 'engaged'. Regardless, someone outside came along looking for a free cubicle, rattled the cubicle door really violently (to the extent I was worried it would break the lock) before moving on to another one.

AIBU to think this is really rude? It is not the first time this has happened, once I was just in the cubicle about to lock the door and a male colleague burst in nearly pushing the door. These are unisex closed cubicles which is all there are; It has to be said that when we had old fashioned dedicated female toilets this rarely happened....perhaps the men are resentful about the time women take & aren't used to queuing?

OP posts:
OriginalPeanut · 24/09/2026 18:32

Leedsfan365 · 24/09/2026 18:23

Some people don’t even look at the ‘engaged’ sign also sometimes it shows engaged when it isn’t

Yes, more than once I've walked past a queue of people who are waiting for people to come out of unoccupied cubicles

Futurehappiness · 24/09/2026 18:44

If I think a cubicle may be unoccupied I usually try the door really gingerly to make sure there is nobody in....what I don't do is try to force or rattle the door. I thought that this is what anyone with manners does.

OP posts:
beaglescurleduplikebagels · 24/09/2026 18:49

Futurehappiness · 24/09/2026 18:44

If I think a cubicle may be unoccupied I usually try the door really gingerly to make sure there is nobody in....what I don't do is try to force or rattle the door. I thought that this is what anyone with manners does.

It is, don't worry.

Unfortunately, lots of people appear to be bloody clueless, as this thread shows.

Foodwench66 · 24/09/2026 19:45

I think it's rude and also rude to knock and keep knocking on a locked bathroom door. Obviously, someone is in there doing something. They're not going to do their business faster if you knock. I'll take even longer if I get a persistent knocker. Ugh. It's a bugaboo of mine, can you tell? :)

SemiRetiredLoveGoddeess · 24/09/2026 21:57

Sounds intimidating and overly aggressive. Perhaps they couldn't read the Engaged sign.

It would have upset me

Are employers allowed to have cameras in work toilets.l don't mean the actual toilet obviously.

I would mention this to your HR. Another employer may have reported this already.

PolkaDotPorridge · 24/09/2026 21:58

I hate when that happens. I always say loudly it’s clearly engaged! So rude.

XmasCrackPies · 24/09/2026 22:01

Isittimeformynapyet · 24/09/2026 01:28

Yes it's weird, rude and just stupid.

But, as a fellow female, I have always wondered what the hell are some others doing in there?!

In my case, shitting memories out. IBS is no joke.

seahorsessky · 24/09/2026 22:05

This often happens in pubs/clubs, and it's always women then, so it's unreasonable to say it's just men!
It is rude-if one person has a genuine issues meaning they need the toilet more urgently than others, could the manager make this known? I get it might be problematic, but places have done this for colleagues with medical conditions.
If this doesn't apply, and they're just rude, maybe an email about not banging on doors would help?

nomoremsniceperson · 24/09/2026 22:35

It's extremely bloody rude, and your workplace is BVVU in not providing female toilets - especially if the unisex ones have only cubicles and aren't single stall toilets with proper enclosing walls.

ScreentimeInTheMeantime · 24/09/2026 22:37

emptygoosenest · 24/09/2026 02:34

I have to agree with this

I think some people sit there looking at their phones !

BrezhnevsLuxuriantEyebrows · 24/09/2026 22:38

TheGoddessFrigg · 24/09/2026 08:44

Perhaps they were absolutely desperate?

What is their plan, though? Are they intending to break in, wrench you off the toilet and throw you outside the door in your own mess, all so that they can then go?

If a toilet is occupied, that means it isn't available for somebody else to use; surely that isn't difficult for these people to comprehend?

If you have any doubts as to whether a cubicle is occupied, or maybe if the door is stiff and has jammed shut or whatever, or the person inside might have had an issue and need assistance, any normal person would knock, call out "Hello???" A few times and/or try the door gently and carefully.

Anybody who seeks to force open a toilet door when they know there is somebody inside (who doesn't need any emergency assistance) is, quite frankly, a pervert and/or a predator, and should face appropriate consequences for this abuaive behaviour unless they have an extremely convincing excuse.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 24/09/2026 22:48

shhblackbag · 24/09/2026 01:41

Agree. I do sometimes wonder this.

I wonder that too, but reasonably often when I’ve wondered that it’s a man who comes out.

But always rude to rattle a toilet door!

Papster · 24/09/2026 23:27

I find shouting, “I’ve got a turtle’s head peeping out” speeds things up.
At school if people were taking too long you’d chuck a cupful of water over the top

TaraRhu · 24/09/2026 23:37

How long were you taking? Maybe they just needed the loo!Sometimes I wonder what people are doing in there...

TheSmallAssassin · 24/09/2026 23:42

A man at our work recently pointed out that the only indicator on our toilet doors was a red or green window, which was completely useless to him, as he was colour blind. I did wonder if noting which way the line was oriented would help, but had a look and it is random.

BrezhnevsLuxuriantEyebrows · 24/09/2026 23:55

TheSmallAssassin · 24/09/2026 23:42

A man at our work recently pointed out that the only indicator on our toilet doors was a red or green window, which was completely useless to him, as he was colour blind. I did wonder if noting which way the line was oriented would help, but had a look and it is random.

But even then, if a door was closed, you would knock, call and/or push the door very slowly. You wouldn't just try to batter it down.

TheSmallAssassin · 25/09/2026 00:51

They're all closed @BrezhnevsLuxuriantEyebrows, I don't think I'd knock on each one every single time I needed to go for a wee. You have to push down the handle to try, they're all completely self-contained.

FFSItsTooHot · 25/09/2026 01:20

I have experienced this many times in a coffee shop that I go regularly. Despite there being an 'engaged' indicator on the lock,I still get people repeatedly trying to get into the toilet whilst I'm in there. Even shouting out that there's someone in here,or rapping on the door doesn't deter them. It's like they are determined to get in! Worse still are the ones who actually see you going into the toilet,then 30 seconds later start trying to get in! How do they think you've got out of the toilet? Travelled round the U-bend?!

peakyblenders · 25/09/2026 03:57

backformoreofthesame · 23/09/2026 23:05

You may have overreacted - it may have seemed more violent when really it was just assertive

Nah, if that was a man I bet he really did rattle it. Entitled so-and-so.

DeftGoldHedgehog · 25/09/2026 04:14

backformoreofthesame · 23/09/2026 23:05

You may have overreacted - it may have seemed more violent when really it was just assertive

Really? Do better.

DeftGoldHedgehog · 25/09/2026 04:18

BrezhnevsLuxuriantEyebrows · 24/09/2026 22:38

What is their plan, though? Are they intending to break in, wrench you off the toilet and throw you outside the door in your own mess, all so that they can then go?

If a toilet is occupied, that means it isn't available for somebody else to use; surely that isn't difficult for these people to comprehend?

If you have any doubts as to whether a cubicle is occupied, or maybe if the door is stiff and has jammed shut or whatever, or the person inside might have had an issue and need assistance, any normal person would knock, call out "Hello???" A few times and/or try the door gently and carefully.

Anybody who seeks to force open a toilet door when they know there is somebody inside (who doesn't need any emergency assistance) is, quite frankly, a pervert and/or a predator, and should face appropriate consequences for this abuaive behaviour unless they have an extremely convincing excuse.

This. Something went right through me at work yesterday and I would not have appreciated someone hurrying me out of the toilet.

Lyraloo · 25/09/2026 04:40

backformoreofthesame · 23/09/2026 23:05

You may have overreacted - it may have seemed more violent when really it was just assertive

Why is there any need to ‘assertively’ push an occupied cubicle door?

Poorandbrilliant · 25/09/2026 08:26

I would shout"im wiping my fanny, /ass, depart please "

DemelzaRobins · 25/09/2026 10:17

I had this in A&E with a ruptured ectopic pregnancy, awaiting surgery. I was bleeding heavily and it was taking a while to mop up. A man rattled the door so hard that he caused it to open. Yes, I had shouted I was there. He had tried the door repeatedly every time I went. He also intercepted the nurses everytime they came to speak to me. I was the youngest person in that area of A&E by a good 30 years but once a lady with a very nasty head injury had been taken elsewhere, it was clear that I was the most unwell and I think this man resented a younger person being treated ahead of him.

MrsShawnHatosy · 25/09/2026 10:23

I think it’s rude wherever it happens. It was done to me in a cafe the other day. Gently trying the handle once is one thing, and leaving it if it doesn’t open.