To feel so mortified at having walked into unlocked toilet cubicle?

[Tibbb]

Interval break at a concert yesterday evening. Quite a few tipsy people around but not me as hadn't been drinking. Ladies toilets busy but one cubicle appeared available from outside and so I gently pushed open the door a little just in case.

Sure enough I had opened the door onto a woman sitting on the loo, knickers around her feet. Not sure who was more embarrassed, me or her.

I couldn't close the door from the outside and so left the door slightly ajar and went into another cubicle further down.

I feel mortified for the woman I nearly walked in on, and also feel mortified myself for having nearly done so even though the door was unlocked.

Not really an AIBU but wondering who was in the wrong here.

Merry Christmas.

Been on both sides of this situation quite a few times. My new boyfriend's roommate walked on on me when I was on the toilet and it was horrifically embarrassing at the time but looking back it's really no big deal at all.

I really wouldn't worry about it. It's not something you're going to be thinking about in a year's time

I was at a house party and sat on the toilet in a huge bathroom when a drunk man came in, removed his trousers and almost sat on top of me! I had to yell really loudly to get him to realise I was there.

Yep done that before. If in doubt just do a gentle nudge and see if anyone tries to block door or shout! If nothing happens keep pushing

On a slight tangent,many years ago the local council decided to put a toilet pod in the market square where I live(for anyone who hasn't seen one they are a bit like a portaloo but slightly more upmarket) to stop anyone sleeping in it there was a programmed amount of time before the door opened automatically if you hadn't left but a weight sensor in the floor was supposed to keep it shut during normal usage until you pressed the door open button.They'd been reports of the door opening before people were ready but nothing was done until one day a quite elderly lady was in there over the allotted time and the door slid open and stayed open. Poor woman couldn't move very quickly and was hysterical. Shop staff rushed out and tried to close the door but in the end people stood in a line with their backs to the door while she sorted herself out. It was removed after that.

This will out me to anyone who knows me but I was once mid shit in a toilet which opened directly into a cafe when someone opened the door. Worst bit was that I was waiting for someone for a meeting so had to sit in the cafe for another hour when everyone had seen me mid poo.

It was embarrassing at the time but it’s just a funny story now.

It's no ones fault just a whoops! Moment. Forget about it.

Honestly it’s no big deal. This thread has given me flashbacks to the multiple times I went with the door open as newborn dds pram wouldn’t fit in the cubicle and I was too scared to leave her unattended (hopefully pram covered most of my dignity)

I was the 'viewee' once (broken lock) and was caught legs akimbo extracting a tampon.

It's just one of those things, nobody's fault, and nothing to be embarrassed about. Though another argument for single sex loos.

More shocked at kickers around feet? Doesn’t everyone just pull knickers to knee level?

That's what I was thinking! I only pull them onto my thighs, same with jeans. If someone walked in they wouldn't see anything while I was sitting.

Her fault for not locking it, not yours. I did this the other day in a gym changing cubicle, the woman hadn’t locked the door so how did I know? I didn’t see anything thankfully because I realised before I had chance to but you know, not my fault she didn’t lock it.

It depends. If the cubicle genuinely looked empty, it's not your fault; it's one of those things. Bit embarrassing for both people, but you move on.

However, I do get really annoyed with women who try to force a door open. Some public locks are feeble as hell, so if you jiggle and jiggle at a locked door, it will eventually open.

I can understand gently poking at a door where its locked status isn't obvious to see if it moves at all whilst giving the woman inside a chance to shout, 'it's occupied!' but not the forceful rattling and pulling.

In your situation, I'm not sure what I would have done - if I couldn't close the door and there was a risk another woman would come into the toilet and try to open the door again - would I have gone to another cubicle or held the door shut for her to give her a chance to lock it? I don't know.

I've been in public toilets before where there's been a free toilet with a broken lock, and I've offered to hold the door shut with my foot for other women and girls. It's usually gratefully accepted. Thinking about it... there's a lot of trust that goes on in female public toilets!

It happens. Don't overthink it

Cabin crew walked in on me on a flight a couple of weeks ago. I'd gone to the loo with my airpods still in my ears, noise cancelling enabled. Apparently she knocked before opening the door from the outside but I heard nothing (full marks Apple). She was mortified, but we laughed about it. It happens.

Oh god I’ve been embarrassed so many times when I was younger going to the loo. On the train thought I’d locked the door, one of those you pressed the button. It wasn’t locked and someone opened it while I was on the loo. The worst thing was the bloody door takes so long to open and close, mortifying.

also in a nightclub in some sort of disabled loo, again the door wasn’t locked and it was opened - to a queue of people outside. Gah luckily I’d had a few so soon forgot about it… till now haha.

This happened to me. I was the peeing person. I was just finishing off and the door opened. Unfortunately it was at a small toddlers group in a little church so I had to walk out of the loo and sing wheels on the bus with the person who I had just been face to face with - or should I say face to muff 😮

I hope the lady isn't on Mumsnet reading this lol.

I think pants round your ankles is more a turn of phrase to indicate being caught unawares. Reckon most people go to knees in reality.

If the Daily Fail get hold of this it will be interesting. "Were YOU this woman? Do you know her or the woman who burst in on her?"

Not your fault at all.
Folk need to either lock the door with the lock, or if that's broken then sit a bag/push a foot/arm against it.

Who cares? I wouldn't think about it again.

OP clearly cares.

Once I forgot to lock a portaloo I was using at a running race, my fault completely.

Door was flung open and the guy (!) Sort of shrieked loudly and let the door crash closed again.

It happens! No one cares :)

Knicker sheild, every woman must do this!

Been on both sides- I either apologise for opening the door or say sorry door won’t lock, then not give it another thought. I agree with the pp that the little ‘nudge’ of the door is now my go to method of opening a toilet door.