Let’s face it, after using a public restroom, you probably want to wash your hands. That is – unless you are one of the gross people who don’t. It’s the people who don’t that cause todays topic – How to use a public restroom properly.
You might not thing that this is something that people need more education on, but you are wrong. Public restrooms are, perhaps, some of the most annoying places on earth. I aim (pun!) to enlighten at least a few people in my new quest to make it a little less… nasty.
- Upon entering the bathroom, find a stall that is not immediately next to one that is occupied, if at all possible. If there are 10 urinals, for example, why are you peeing right next to me? Actually, I know the answer to that question so please don’t answer it. This goes for the sit downs too. I don’t need to hear your poop. Thanks.
- Don’t talk to me! Save the chatter for outside the restroom. Unless there is toilet paper stuck to my shoe, please remain quiet.
- Wash your hands – with soap! I seriously don’t know what planet people come from where they teach their kids to slop up their hands and then get it wet but if you aren’t using soap you may as well just skip the whole process. The exception here is if there is nothing to dry your hands on…
- Dry your hands! What’s more gross than grabbing the handle on the bathroom door to find it wet with some strangers ghost? NOTHING!
Finally, what inspired this whole rant is a rather curious practice. Most bathrooms have one of these:
They’re wonderful, but what do you do when you get to the door? You just cleaned up and now you have to touch a potentially very nasty door. Oh, look how handy, they’ve placed a bin right next to the door so you can open the door with a piece of paper towel and then toss it out! Except they usually look like this:
Well what the hell is the point of that? Trading one dirty touch for another? BAH.
BONUS!
Cottonelle’s survey of America found that over is by far the preferred way to roll your toilet paper! Finally, something that makes sense 
For all the reasons why over is the right way, check out Current Config.
So now that I’ve vented and shared all of my bathroom pet peeves with you, share yours in the comments!
It’s quite difficult to convince my friends to go stand up for what is right. I wonder – did Harvey Milk, Martin Luther King, Jr., Susan B. Anthony have the same problems galvanizing the masses of people who would eventually bring to light the need for change? Not that I’m trying to act on the same level at all, but I really think that the current generation is so much more apathetic and generally lazy about life. It saddens me that things like a shift at Starbucks, a free Yelp! party, a class that happens weekly, or something as mundane as a light sprinkle is enough to act as an excuse for not doing what is right.
The Chicago Tribune recently posted this editorial in support of civil unions in Illinois. I find myself conflicted. I’m happy that the Trib has gone on record vocally supporting some form of gay rights yet unimpressed with the language used. The argument does little to persuade and falls short of recognizing that civil unions can only be an injured step towards the real goal of full marriage rights for same sex couples.
An editorial should fervently support an argument one way or the other. I should walk away passionately in agreement or disgust. I don’t mean to sound unappreciative, I would love for the Trib to continue publishing pro-gay rights pieces, yet in a world where Iowa can unanimously approve gay marriage rights, Vermont can override a governor’s veto blocking full marriage rights, and New York’s governor can garner national press pushing a gay marriage bill this editorial does little to inspire any real movement.
What do you think? Leave your thoughts in the comments.
Legalize civil unions at chicagotribune.com
Why are there websites that restrict your password? I’ve run into websites that disallow all of the following things:
- Passwords over 8 characters
- Passwords that start with a number
- Passwords that have characters other than numbers or letters
STUPID STUPID STUPID. Ugh.
