Public loos

[ThisIsANickname]

AIBU to HATE when people try to have a conversation with me while I am using a public toilet? It really gets on my nerves.

I do specifically mean while I am in the stall and having a moment. I have had people actually shouting over the stall doors asking about my day and what I've been up to. I mean, really? Really, really?

And of course there is no polite way to ask someone to stop talking to you why you are relieving yourself, is there?

This has never ever happened to me or anyone else I know!

Do you know these people with no boundary's?

I agree, it's not nice at all, we should all be left in peace in the loo. Especially if we happen to have a dodgy stomach that day..... At work the other day, a colleague in the next cubicle had a conversation with her DP on her mobile whilst using the loo - horrible!

Has happened to me. Just say - oy I am on the loo - I'll talk to you in a minute.
What was worse was the man who phoned me on his mobile during which it became clear from noises that he was in the middle of doing a wee!

I tend to just ignore whoever is trying to start the conversation until I emerge from the cubicle.

Does this really happen i am [shocked]

Why would anyone start a conversation with a weeing stranger?!

even!

I don't like to be spoken to when I'm in a cubicle either. I have to say though that, sometimes, it can be a godsend. On rough holidays in the Far East once several times, there has been a lack of toilet paper in the cubicle. One has to ask if anyone else in the group is 'there' to fetch some and pass it over the door.

As for general conversation, I say there should be none. Wait until your friend is no longer in a private place!

Oh the phone calls from the loo! Obscene!

I once was in the toilets (at the sink) when someone was going while chatting on the phone. She actually said "Oh no, I've just ducked in here to talk to you away from my desk. Someone else is using the toilet."

I shouted "No, it's her" and ran out. :o

Why would anyone start a conversation with a weeing stranger?!

It's usually an acquiantance. Someone who works in another department, or the new girlfriend of someone in the group who goes to the toilets "with" you.

YANBU but it has only happened to me once albeit in somewhat unusual of circumstances.

There I was in a truck stop in the Atacama desert. A truck driver in the next door cubicle stood on the toilet seat, placed his elbows on the top of the partition and proceeded to engage me in conversation. My Spanish being somewhat lacking and suffering the after effects of a particularly spicey and garlic ridden fish stew the day before I was in less than my usual erudite form. Still, after a certain amount of hand waving, and my random Castillian he seemed happy enough with our thankfully brief encounter and wished me well.

I always suspected he just wished for a last fleeting human contact before tackling the life threatening journey over the high passes of the Andes in his overladen vehicle.

It's worse when the toilets are busy and everybody can hear your conversation :P

Try one of two things: tell her to hold on a moment and leave her hanging for a response... til you get out of the bog, or say quite clearly 'I can't talk and shit at the same time!'

@ "weeing stranger"

If that's your off-the-cuff post on a MN thread MoreBeta, I'd love to read your memoirs

Vivi - DW always says I'm full of tall stories. Well she says it but not in exactly that way.

:)

Do you mean a friend or stranger? I hate it when you're out with friends & you need to go for a poo and when you stand up to go to the loo a friend comes with you
I can't poo with a friend wee'ing next to me

I've only ever had it with friends or colleagues, never strangers. But I think that makes it worse!

I don't mind chatting to mates whilst we're peeing! Sometimes we share a cubicle if we want to carry on the conversation.. why not? Is that weird?

I'd never poo with anyone in the same room so that's not an issue!

What's wrong with "Stop talking to me, I am weeing"?

snuffaluffagus - no that's not weird at all you crazy woman

I think it's gross. The only time I talk in there is 'NO DS DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR'

snuffaluffagus you share a cubicle with people?

Out of curiosity, why wouldn't you poo? I mean, it's not like a bloke who stands for one and sits for another. You just sit there... why would pooing be any different to having a wee?

"why would pooing be any different to having a wee?"

We're talking about public toilets right? I don't know if my body would even produce a poo in a public toilet. Just too... public.

ThisIsANickname, the mirror in my bathroom isn't in the right place for me to see, but I definitely reckon I look a bit different doing a poo to doing a wee. Shift position a little, push, maybe even some kind of facial expression.. I would not like to do this in front of anyone else, even my dh. Also wiping afterwards. More involved. I don't want anyone else watching.

Maybe you should set up a full length mirror in order to watch yourself; it could open up a whole new world of conversation having for you.