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silverweb

(16,410 posts)

33. I accidentally used a men's room one time.

Sat Apr 9, 2016, 08:51 PM

Apr 2016

[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]A number of years ago, I was going to a job interview and by the time I got to the building, I had to find a restroom fast. Going into the first one I saw - not noticing that it had a male icon on the door - I walked right past the urinals in the empty room without noticing them and headed for a stall.

Someone else came in while I was there and I thought nothing of it, went to wash my hands and only then noticed the urinals - and that the shoes showing under the nearest stall were large men's shoes.

After a flustered moment of embarrassed realization, although no one else at all saw my blunder, I laughed all the way upstairs to my interview.

As long as there are stalls-only or single-occupancy choices, I have no problem at all with gender-neutral bathrooms.

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Do folks think all bathrooms should be de-gendered? [View all] oberliner Apr 2016 OP

Works for me, I really don't care who is doing whatever next to me.... daleanime Apr 2016 #1

We have degendered bathrooms at work AgingAmerican Apr 2016 #145

Non-issue except for the 'christians' PatrickforO Apr 2016 #2

Europe has all de-gendered bathrooms? oberliner Apr 2016 #4

Well nobody has ALL anything. PatrickforO Apr 2016 #15

I just wasn't sure if it was the norm in some European countries oberliner Apr 2016 #19

The UK tends to have separate-gender facilities Spider Jerusalem Apr 2016 #21

Yes, the UK is civilized. Boudica the Lyoness Apr 2016 #113

I find it horrifying that you have to pay to use public restrooms in Europe. Odin2005 Apr 2016 #52

Have you ever been to New York City? oberliner Apr 2016 #59

Yep, I remember years ago searching for a dime in my pocket to put in the lock and then turn RKP5637 Apr 2016 #79

They are still quite common in NYC oberliner Apr 2016 #84

Oops, I left that out, definitely still common in NYC. n/t RKP5637 Apr 2016 #85

THat's pretty standard all over the world... a la izquierda Apr 2016 #74

Some are free, but they're often absolute shitholes. JVS Apr 2016 #109

Go to any public toilet in Germany EdwardBernays Apr 2016 #203

Something in italy kimbutgar Apr 2016 #230

Nope. I've been to Paris, a few cities in Italy, London, Madrid, WhaTHellsgoingonhere Apr 2016 #90

Not even close. HuckleB Apr 2016 #164

it's a mix EdwardBernays Apr 2016 #202

I have seen the line at women's bathrooms, and I want no part of it. Drahthaardogs Apr 2016 #235

Yes (nt) bigwillq Apr 2016 #3

Yep. katsy Apr 2016 #5

That's a very environmentally unfriendly suggestion. Nye Bevan Apr 2016 #8

There are places that do that. Works just fine. n/t backscatter712 Apr 2016 #34

Why not just put up stall walls and doors around the urinals if they keep them? revbones Apr 2016 #55

This. Men should use urinals scscholar Apr 2016 #228

hell no Travis_0004 Apr 2016 #23

Fine. But if you go katsy Apr 2016 #144

Went into a new motorway rest area on the E80. GoneOffShore Apr 2016 #169

besides, men are slobs greymouse Apr 2016 #215

That would slow things down and create longer lines anigbrowl Apr 2016 #141

Not if it means I have to walk my daughter past men using urinals, in order to get to the stalls. pnwmom Apr 2016 #6

Would you be OK with her using an all-stall bathroom? oberliner Apr 2016 #10

If the stalls were fully enclosed that would be fine. n/t pnwmom Apr 2016 #16

That would work, but it would also cost a lot krawhitham Apr 2016 #82

Just go into the one that says "Restroom with stalls only" (i.e. no urinals). Nye Bevan Apr 2016 #13

If they're going to do this they should eliminate urinals everywhere. pnwmom Apr 2016 #20

Can't do it, that would be incredibly bad for the environment. Nye Bevan Apr 2016 #22

Then screen then off. But there wouldn't be equal access if you're expecting all women pnwmom Apr 2016 #44

That should be a universal rule anyway. dchill Apr 2016 #53

Generally yes, but it's not just a matter of changing the signs petronius Apr 2016 #7

Urinals generally have pretty good dividers so you can't really see someone's genitals (nt) Nye Bevan Apr 2016 #11

Yes, I know what usually can and can't--absent effort--be seen in the urinal petronius Apr 2016 #18

Thank you. And as a woman and as a mother, I'd prefer not to have to walk past urinal users pnwmom Apr 2016 #45

As a guy I had to take my daughters into bathrooms with urinals many times when they were young, Nye Bevan Apr 2016 #77

I know you mean well but you're being really insensitive to reality of male sexual abuse zazen Apr 2016 #206

+1000 smirkymonkey Apr 2016 #218

Works for me ok, but even better, MH1 Apr 2016 #9

Assuming the bathrooms are not single occupancy and are multiple stalls oberliner Apr 2016 #12

Like I said, if possible have all three. If not possible, I'm ok with the degendered approach. MH1 Apr 2016 #73

Dennis Hastert used the men's room, why not? dogman Apr 2016 #14

Yes. CrispyQ Apr 2016 #17

I may start a controversy here but - I could be wrong but I don't think it would work for LiberalElite Apr 2016 #24

And some religions disapprove of women with uncovered arms. Nye Bevan Apr 2016 #28

Message auto-removed Name removed Apr 2016 #62

I hadn't thought of that. You bring up an interesting point... AgadorSparticus Apr 2016 #65

Interesting point oberliner Apr 2016 #29

Religions that force gender separation are fucking stupid. n/t backscatter712 Apr 2016 #31

And scene. GoneOffShore Apr 2016 #167

Can't really say that I give two tugs of dead dog's dick about those beliefs. nt Codeine Apr 2016 #38

you know what, it would be nice if you did for the simple reason LiberalElite Apr 2016 #39

The religions that pull that garbage don't give a flying fuck about our beliefs, or lack thereof. backscatter712 Apr 2016 #94

Yup. zappaman Apr 2016 #166

Tough crap (so to speak) HERVEPA Apr 2016 #61

there should be three bathrooms Skittles Apr 2016 #66

no i like the idea that at a big event the mens room is quick in quick out dembotoz Apr 2016 #25

Only if you don't address "potty parity." Warpy Apr 2016 #27

and very often, the need to deal with children Skittles Apr 2016 #69

Oh, gawd yes Warpy Apr 2016 #72

Bathrooms at work in the hspital were always genderless Warpy Apr 2016 #26

Interesting last paragraph. peace13 Apr 2016 #107

Pervs can never be sure of that, can they? Warpy Apr 2016 #138

No, I think there should be separate restrooms for women and transpeople XemaSab Apr 2016 #30

As it turns out, more Republican lawmakers have been arrested for bathroom crimes than trans people. backscatter712 Apr 2016 #32

I accidentally used a men's room one time. silverweb Apr 2016 #33

Americans have such hang ups with bathrooms! Texasgal Apr 2016 #35

I know, is it the end of the world if someone glimpses a penis? (nt) Nye Bevan Apr 2016 #37

Apparently so. Americans seem to have a lot of hang ups. yardwork Apr 2016 #40

Were you sexually abused as a girl or young woman? Millions of young girls have been. pnwmom Apr 2016 #49

totally agree n/t zazen Apr 2016 #209

Well it could be the end of the world Boudica the Lyoness Apr 2016 #102

yes. La Lioness Priyanka Apr 2016 #36

That seems to be the popular choice oberliner Apr 2016 #41

I think showers and locker rooms should be gender neutral as well Reter Apr 2016 #42

Perhaps "Men" and "Women" signs will seem as archaic as "White" and "Colored", Nye Bevan Apr 2016 #43

Do you really think so? oberliner Apr 2016 #48

Already in more and more places they have no legal meaning. Nye Bevan Apr 2016 #111

I do think we are heading in that direction oberliner Apr 2016 #112

Well, I didn't actually say that I expect it to happen soon. Nye Bevan Apr 2016 #114

You suggested that men/women restrooms could be as archaic as white/colored oberliner Apr 2016 #115

we can't erase reality of male violence against women with new names zazen Apr 2016 #208

This! smirkymonkey Apr 2016 #219

Not everyone has zero sense of privacy -- especially people who have been sexually abused. pnwmom Apr 2016 #47

Mixed gender showers would be cruel to some. goldent Apr 2016 #128

Yes, plenty of middle-aged men would love to shower... EL34x4 Apr 2016 #129

+1, the people who support this seem to not have grade school children uponit7771 Apr 2016 #163

And a flabby middle-aged woman showering with teen boys? TexasMommaWithAHat Apr 2016 #192

No Thanks RobinA Apr 2016 #46

I think so, sadly, I don't see it happening. Odin2005 Apr 2016 #50

Yes. eom BlueMTexpat Apr 2016 #51

as a tarheel I have had occasion to think about this Mary Mac Apr 2016 #54

Don't really have a problem with it myself liberalfromaustin21 Apr 2016 #56

Here is your 5th rec and YES! Jeffersons Ghost Apr 2016 #57

I can see it now. SheilaT Apr 2016 #58

Message auto-removed Name removed Apr 2016 #63

I agree laundry_queen Apr 2016 #64

Yes. You nailed it. SheilaT Apr 2016 #68

That seems logistically impossible oberliner Apr 2016 #83

I do recognize that it's not entirely feasible SheilaT Apr 2016 #147

At my previous job there was whistler162 Apr 2016 #146

My experience is different. Turin_C3PO Apr 2016 #134

Having been a janitor in quite a few places, public women's restrooms are generally disgusting... Humanist_Activist Apr 2016 #80

I'm completely with you. smirkymonkey Apr 2016 #197

It's a simple matter of architecture jberryhill Apr 2016 #60

And an un-simple matter of cost. n/t pnwmom Apr 2016 #71

I would like to say yes because quite honestly that would be a SCOOOOORE! for women AgadorSparticus Apr 2016 #67

As a guy, when my daughters were young I had to take them into restrooms with urinals many times. Nye Bevan Apr 2016 #76

Family Restrooms HockeyMom Apr 2016 #98

I like those too!! AgadorSparticus Apr 2016 #142

Doors can be put around urinals. AngryOldDem Apr 2016 #88

Sounds like Cooper Union is mainly changing the wording on the signs goldent Apr 2016 #70

That is not what they are doing oberliner Apr 2016 #75

Very common EdwardBernays Apr 2016 #78

I've been through quite a bit of Europe TexasMommaWithAHat Apr 2016 #193

I've seen them EdwardBernays Apr 2016 #194

I have seen them in very small commercial buildings Sen. Walter Sobchak Apr 2016 #217

All I can say is that Android3.14 Apr 2016 #81

Prediction: most will become Men's Only by default unless everyone is super drunk, when women have WhaTHellsgoingonhere Apr 2016 #86

Yep. In an effort to appear "progressive" on the issue, EL34x4 Apr 2016 #210

Yes. AngryOldDem Apr 2016 #87

yes kpete Apr 2016 #89

No gollygee Apr 2016 #91

There is nothing to fear oberliner Apr 2016 #95

"Restroom Single Occupancy" HockeyMom Apr 2016 #92

I've never understood that oberliner Apr 2016 #96

When we paid membership in the 80's for "European Health Spa", I had chance to participate in this.. MrMickeysMom Apr 2016 #93

Why does it matter what the gender is of the person in the next stall? oberliner Apr 2016 #97

I'm not comfortable with either, truthfully... MrMickeysMom Apr 2016 #104

Understood oberliner Apr 2016 #108

Not to get OT, but what about other women breastfeeding? HockeyMom Apr 2016 #125

Heck, I don't consider that in the same league with micturition and defecation... MrMickeysMom Apr 2016 #135

I don't, too risky. n/t Yo_Mama Apr 2016 #99

As long as I dont have to watch them take a crap, I don't care. nt bemildred Apr 2016 #100

In europe there were gender free bathrooms, it wasn't a problem peacebird Apr 2016 #101

I think for most adults this matters very little, aside from the cleanliness aspect. Calista241 Apr 2016 #103

How would you address that situation for young people? oberliner Apr 2016 #106

I think they'll go to Boys, Girls and then have single bathrooms without restrictions. Calista241 Apr 2016 #127

Think alcohol and men. peace13 Apr 2016 #105

Many such people do not have procedures oberliner Apr 2016 #110

I say add more family restroom to accommodate your concerns. peace13 Apr 2016 #118

A friend who was in Boulder recently took these photos mnhtnbb Apr 2016 #116

Sorry but no. romanic Apr 2016 #117

If you are using the urinal, Nye Bevan Apr 2016 #119

IKR? Rex Apr 2016 #123

I should've rephrased that romanic Apr 2016 #131

I will file your concern in file right next to the file of... LostOne4Ever Apr 2016 #132

... romanic Apr 2016 #137

If you've ever been to a Bucees, you know they have the answer AwakeAtLast Apr 2016 #120

I haven't oberliner Apr 2016 #121

It is a gas station/mini mart in Texas AwakeAtLast Apr 2016 #124

Uni-sex bathrooms don't seem to have caused the fall of European nations. Rex Apr 2016 #122

Where do people get the idea that all the restrooms in Europe are unisex? EL34x4 Apr 2016 #130

I like it the way it is Politicalboi Apr 2016 #126

YES!!! A million times yes! nt LostOne4Ever Apr 2016 #133

I don't care as long as there are enough of any restrooms. hedgehog Apr 2016 #136

1973, gender-neutral bathroom, Brussels. kwassa Apr 2016 #139

If they do I'm never putting the toilet seat down GummyBearz Apr 2016 #140

If they were designed to have walls ceiling to floor treestar Apr 2016 #143

little girls and pervs in the same rest room? eniwetok Apr 2016 #148

Do you not have a similar concern with respect to boys? oberliner Apr 2016 #149

yeap... uponit7771 Apr 2016 #165

I say it depends on the situation jonks2746 Apr 2016 #150

I know a lot of women, my wife included, who would not use a gender neutral bathroom Agnosticsherbet Apr 2016 #151

Why not? oberliner Apr 2016 #152

Men Agnosticsherbet Apr 2016 #154

What about them? oberliner Apr 2016 #155

It may be, but I think women can make the decision as to what they find objectionable Agnosticsherbet Apr 2016 #160

OK, but if it's male "plumbing" that women find "objectionable" in bathrooms, Nye Bevan Apr 2016 #161

Plumbing isn't the issue, it is the men in bathrooms. Agnosticsherbet Apr 2016 #162

So if it's not the "plumbing", what is it? Nye Bevan Apr 2016 #188

The preference of many women I know. Agnosticsherbet Apr 2016 #190

Thank you for showing some sensitivity. smirkymonkey Apr 2016 #198

Rape, robbery and peeping. n/t Yo_Mama Apr 2016 #224

People used to find a lot of things objectionable that are now considered the norm oberliner Apr 2016 #177

See my post with photos # 116 mnhtnbb Apr 2016 #153

I don't get the hangups here, having lived in Japan for a long time... UtahJosh Apr 2016 #156

If all bathrooms were like the ones at Bucee's gas stations/stores, Ilsa Apr 2016 #157

Gender merging is the new human race Equinox Moon Apr 2016 #158

It's A Fad RobinA Apr 2016 #174

Not just no, but HELL no. alarimer Apr 2016 #159

Did you read the Cooper Union article? oberliner Apr 2016 #173

Do you have any grade school children? Also, are we just talking about stalls or bathrooms with... uponit7771 Apr 2016 #168

Isn't there the same concern about boys under the current system? oberliner Apr 2016 #172

Yes, that's why I mentioned children and I have a problem with my grade school boy using restroom uponit7771 Apr 2016 #181

What about your grade school boy using restrooms with grown men? oberliner Apr 2016 #184

I'm there with him in separated bathrooms, that one is easy for people with school aged children... uponit7771 Apr 2016 #186

Absolutely. Americans obsess about this. As do people in countries overly concerned with "modesty". GoneOffShore Apr 2016 #170

Nope. It's not about what I am comfortable with, but what EVERYONE is comfortable with Bucky Apr 2016 #171

Many people are not comfortable with the current system oberliner Apr 2016 #175

Accomodating the needs of less than 1% of the population shouldn't require disrupting the lives of Ex Lurker Apr 2016 #179

That U of Toronto story is disturbing oberliner Apr 2016 #180

Thank YOU! smirkymonkey Apr 2016 #199

It's self-defeating. By making the women's restrooms unsafe, it also makes them Yo_Mama Apr 2016 #225

Absolutely not. Segregated bathrooms are the way to go. closeupready Apr 2016 #176

+1, I don't think many who support this have grade school aged children uponit7771 Apr 2016 #183

That, and also we live in a Kim-Kardashian society in which indiscretion closeupready Apr 2016 #185

+1, "pornified"...lol... I love this place.. uponit7771 Apr 2016 #187

Hehe closeupready Apr 2016 #189

I have two school aged kids EdwardBernays Apr 2016 #204

Of course. Esp. with kids involved. Yo_Mama Apr 2016 #226

I'm mostly in favor of it, but with one reservation... Jester Messiah Apr 2016 #178

I'm fine with it honestly. liberalnarb Apr 2016 #182

Hell, no! TexasMommaWithAHat Apr 2016 #191

a few things EdwardBernays Apr 2016 #201

Yes for single occupancy. eridani Apr 2016 #195

first, we should stop with the confusing semantic implication that people are bathing in them. Warren DeMontague Apr 2016 #196

I for one can't believe this thread made it to 200 posts. Orrex Apr 2016 #200

Did you go to Oberlin? dragonfly301 Apr 2016 #205

Yes indeed oberliner Apr 2016 #207

He lived in Dascomb in 08-09 dragonfly301 Apr 2016 #211

I lived in Dascomb and North too oberliner Apr 2016 #213

All of the bathrooms in every home where I've lived have MineralMan Apr 2016 #212

Reading the thread, fear by women of predatory men appears to be the main objection Nye Bevan Apr 2016 #214

Actually, that is not so obvious, really. MineralMan Apr 2016 #216

People don't have to go into the bathroom to get abused at home TexasMommaWithAHat Apr 2016 #223

You pick and choose who is in your home. Restraining orders are sometimes necessary. Yo_Mama Apr 2016 #229

I really don't care individually, but... Sen. Walter Sobchak Apr 2016 #220

Yes, it is still an issue. Also robbery. At low traffic times. Yo_Mama Apr 2016 #227

Restrooms should be like the CN Tower's restrooms - HughBeaumont Apr 2016 #221

It shouldn't be an absolute, all or nothing sort of deal. Glassunion Apr 2016 #222

Thanks for this post. LAS14 Apr 2016 #231

What is your take on the subject? oberliner Apr 2016 #233

I like the practical discussion here... LAS14 Apr 2016 #234

Me too oberliner Apr 2016 #236

No Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Apr 2016 #232