Women Do It, Men Don't

[Vercingetorix]

Talk in the public restroom, that is. My wife tells me that women will carry on extensive conversations with other women in the restroom in the other stalls. They don't know each other. They may never meet each other. Yet, any topic is up for discussion.

Men, on the other hand, will barely acknowledge the existance of another person in the restroom. Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES would we talk with some guy across stalls, even if he is a friend. And forget about talking to the guy next to you at the urinals. After all is said and done...well, done at least, and we are washing our hands, at most we will ask somebody to pass the bar of soap. Any conversation...and we immediately suspect the conversationalist is gay.

Why this difference?

Note: I would post this in the "Women's Issues" sub-forum, but my recent foray into the foreign land left me scathed and scarred by their rapier-like toe-nails (each painted with dive flags). They descended on me like the Harpies of Odysseus. For any guy who dares to enter, wear full DIR-approved tech gear and be afraid...be very afraid. Here, there be dragons.

[Jaymeany]

I wish I knew and I wish it wasn't true but I keep that one open space between myself and the other "customer" at the urinal!

[Vercingetorix]

Originally Posted by Jaymeany

I wish I knew and I wish it wasn't true but I keep that one open space between myself and the other "customer" at the urinal!

Amen, my brother. One space at all times, unless there's just nowhere else (and the sink is being used already).

Wait, what?

[dmdoss]

I always talk to my "member" to insure nobody will invade the one open space rule. Seems to work.

[deepdiver47]

This is precisely why we need our own manly space to discuss these issues, call it "The Men's Lounge"

And yes it is a huge sign of weakness to speak to someone if you are in a stall. It is just god awful. I had two guys that were on either side of me (3 total and I am in the middle) that were doing that and it was disturbing. I thought less of them as men and even less as co-workers to boot. And they were talking about the weather!

[CompuDude]

Actually, the man rule I'm familiar with is this:

In the restroom, you may only talk to someone doing the same thing as you. Eye contact should be studiously avoided, of course.

This means two men at the urinals can talk. Two men in neighboring stalls can talk. (About manly topics only, of course). Two men washing their hands can talk.

A man washing his hands must not, under any circumstances, talk to a man in the stall or using the urinal. And vice versa. You get the idea.

Thus, it's fine to continue a conversation with a buddy on the rare occasion that the call of nature hits you both at the same time. (which is a whole different discussion...)

[ScubaToys Larry]

Ok guys... We now have the "Man Laws" Forum. We don't have issues... we have problems! So here is a spot for you to show your testosterone!

[tonka97]

Originally Posted by Jaymeany

I wish I knew and I wish it wasn't true but I keep that one open space between myself and the other "customer" at the urinal!

During half time at a Seattle Seahawks game, and after at least 1 or 2? 'KING BEERs' (32 oz??) I really had to go.

In the rest room men were shoulder to shoulder at the porcelin urinals...not for me but I'm about to burst!

OK! I went over to a completely vacant circular urinal, and really let go.

About 1/2 way through the letting go, a man spoke over my shoulder....

"that's the hand washing circle"

there was NO way to put the brakes on! felt like I had blown an O ring.

[Jaymeany]

Oh and you must wait until both men have "started" at the urinal before talking. Giving someone stage freight is very very rude.

[dallasdivergirl]

Originally Posted by ScubaToys Larry

Ok guys... We now have the "Man Laws" Forum. We don't have issues... we have problems! So here is a spot for you to show your testosterone!

I don't think Rick is allowed in here. He goes to a stylist.

Rick,

you can run but you can't hide!

Harpie