To wonder why people knock on the doors of public toilets?

[RoboticSealpup]

I just saw a woman walk up to the occupied toilet in a cafe and knock on the door. She didn't even wait for half a minute before doing it. Why do people do this? Is it to tell the person inside to hurry up? Is so entitled! Do they also go up to people in front of them in queues and tell them to be quicker? Do they think someone is sitting in there enjoying a leisurely poo wee whilst reading a book? Most people don't enjoy being in public toilets so don't need to be told to get the hell out asap.

Maybe to check that someone is inside rather than it just being locked from outside?

To check if there's anyone in there surely! The occupant would shout if there was.

If it was a café, I assume only 1 or two toilets?
If she was desperate, I don't think a quick tap on the door is unreasonable so that the person inside knows there is a queue. Some people do seem take a very long time in the loo.
I don't see it as entitled.

Probably to see if there is someone in there.

It is annoying if you're the person in there though! It's alarming to be knocked on mid-wee!

Surely you can either see from the lock whether it is engaged, or you try the handle. Weird to knock and expect the person inside to shout back. Just wait your turn.

If people are taking longer it’s likely because they need to, not just for the lols.

Probably to see if there is someone in there.

So pulling the door (no handle) and finding it doesn't open, combined with the lock showing "occupied" in red doesn't send that message strongly enough?

If she was desperate, I don't think a quick tap on the door is unreasonable

She didn't look like she was desperate. She was sitting in another part of the café before, so didn't run in of the street or anything.

*off the street

Robotic.

My local cinema has loo doors that swing shut by themselves, and there is no noticeable red/green notch thingy. I think the doorknob turns a different way or something to "show" occupied, but that means going up and peering closely at 6 or 8 different door handles to see!

So invariably it means randomly trying all the doors; or (more commonly) everyone waiting for women to emerge from the same few cubicles they know are occupied.

A lot of cafes seem to keep their toilets locked until someone wants to use it. She was probably checking this wasn't the case.

YANBU, it's very rude

Because you feel a right nincompoop waiting patiently for a vacant toilet where the door has shut itsel and the locks are squiffy and appearing to be engaged.

Because a lock might be broken or the occupant (maybe a child) might not have locked it and it is embarassing to barge in on them.

There isn't always a red thing to show it's occupied. So it's not unusual to check if maybe the door was stuck or locked from the outside or even if the red thing was a mistake and was broken - those things are always breaking.

the 'indicator' often isn't accurate and perhaps she thought a tap was less aggressive than rattling the handle. I'd rather someone tapped than tried the handle - what if I hadn't locked it properly!

I always do this, to check if anybody is in there. When I was younger I never locked cubical doors as I had this crazy fear of being trapped in there! So just in case anybody feels the same as I once did I always knock. What's the big deal?

This is a pet hate of mine.

The last two times I have been to a particular leisure centre I have had problems with using their toilets. The first time a woman tried the door, I called out that it was occupied. She then repeatedly tried the door until she had shaken it so much it came unlocked and she opened the door. I am not ashamed to say I lost it at her.

The more recent time someone tried the door twice, then started banging on the door after I had already called out to say it was occupied. Wtf?? When I opened the door they had gone, presumably into one of the other cubicles.

I was in and out in less than 4 or 5 minutes both times as it was only a quick wee. What is wrong with some people?

I was in and out in less than 4 or 5 minutes both times as it was only a quick wee how on earth does a wee take 4 or 5 minutes?!

stormwhale if it was a quick wee what took 4 or 5 minutes though? Just curious because I’m always astonished how long people take in public loos. Some people may have additional needs, or need a poo, but not everyone. If I have a wee I am in and out in 30 seconds but about 5 minutes seems to be average and I just don’t get it!

Agree about knocking though, very rude.

5 minutes is ages! That would be settling down with a book because you're a bit constipated.

I think it’s fine. The occupant has no idea someone is waiting unless told somehow usually. If I’m in a toilet I work faster knowing someone is waiting. If nobody is there I faff around in no hurry.

Having said that I usually cough or shuffle noisily rather than a slightly ruder knock to let the person know someone is there. If they are taking ages I might try a ‘oh, maybe it’s actually empty’ try of the door handle and then say ‘oh sorry!’ on discovering someone is definitely in there.

It was a cubicle with toilet, sink and hand dryer. I have been generous with my timing I think as I literally weed, washed my hands and used the rubbish drier. I would think about 4 minutes is right for all that.

fair dos.

What's the big deal?

It really stresses me when someone does this! I feel like some random stranger is telling me I'm taking too long, even though I always hurry as much as I can, as I imagine most people do. It appears that I'm in a minority, though.