Gender Public Bathrooms

[UGetPaid]

I had lunch at a restaurant last Sunday with my family. Just as our food was being delivered, I realized that I hadn't washed my hands (after recently touching a lot of handrails and other germy surfaces) so I got up to go to the bathroom to do that. I also needed to use the facilities anyway. I forgot that this restaurant's bathrooms were single seaters, and the men's room door was locked when I got there. So I waited. Another guy walked over while I was waiting, and then a third! Meanwhile a woman came over and went into the ladies room while we had a line waiting to get into the men's room!

After a few more minutes we heard the electric hand dryer in the men's room blowing and the guy behind me shot me a glance and an eye roll as if to say "Finally!" We were all a little bit shocked when the door opened and two adult women walked out of the men's room to see us standing there waiting in a line. They both started laughing and one of them remarked that it had a shorter line than the ladies room when they went in. I wasn't all that amused. My food was getting cold and there was a line behind me, so I decided to just wash the paws and give up the room to the next guy in line.
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[/size]So my question is this: Was it a fair/opportunistic move or their part to take advantage of the empty facility even though they were not men? Or was it foul to tie up the men's room when none of us knew it was women using the men's room while we all passed on the opportunity to use an empty women's room because it is specifically meant for girls and not for guys?[/color]
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[/color][/size]I understand just from the plumbing and process that facility breaks generally take longer for the fairer gender and I know that for the most part I don't have to suffer through bathroom lines as long as the ladies sometimes do. For that I am thankful. To be honest, if it wasn't for them thinking it was so funny when they came out laughing about it without offering any apology, I probably wouldn't have minded much.[/font]
[/size][/color]Before I get jumped on by anyone, I'm not trying to whine (although I realize it may come across that way) - I'm just trying to get other perspectives on the scenario.

[UGetPaid]

(And also why the heck is it SO impossible to copy/paste text into the forums and always end up with these formatting tags that are impossible to edit/delete?)

[linderlizzie]

They were probably laughing because they were nervous about what had happened.  I don't think it's a crime to use the opposite bathroom when the other has been occupied for some time. But having two in there at once seems a bit excessive since one could have gone in and the other could have waited until she came out. That way she could have used the women's if it became available.

As to the formatting, preview your comment before you post it and you'll see where those irritating formatting tags are and you can get rid of them. They are not impossible to delete. Just check before you post.

[UGetPaid]

As to the formatting, preview your comment before you post it and you'll see where those irritating formatting tags are and you can get rid of them. They are not impossible to delete. Just check before you post.

I actually did that three separate times and they kept popping back up in different configurations when I would save my revisions. But thanks anyway.

[Skyisbluetoday]

 

[vickysue]

I think it was wrong, the women should use the women's and the men the men's. bathrooms. It is not fair to either sex to keep the other  ones from going.  Although I was just a little  upset here about 3 months ago when I went into the women's, a single   and  when I went in there was a man in there  zipping up thank God.  He had not even locked the door.  I guess I had a shocked look on my face, He just laughed  and said if I didn't like  tough.
gave me the finger and left. How rude.

[kathleenkleinhans]

I will stick with the Ladies room!

[hitch0403]

My advice.....hopefully the food is worth the wait.And if it is,go to the bathroom home before you dine out there.

[davissy]

Why were there 2 women in the bathroom when there's only one toilet in there??

I do think it's rude of them to take so long.  If it's so urgent that you need to use the opposite gender's bathroom to relieve yourself, then it's only common courtesy to make sure you finish up ASAP.

The lines are usually longer at the women's bathroom not because it takes longer for women to relieve themselves, it's usually because young children (boys and girls) usually go with the mother to the bathroom.  And when the children are so young that the mother doesn't want them out of sight -- you get situations where the mother + 2 children are inside 1 stall at the same time. 

[mardukblood2009]

I hate public bathrooms. I wish I could bring my bathroom with me every place I go. I am on the road a lot so I would say they are a necessary evil.

[swell455]

Shocked as I am to thin women don't like urine and vice versa, I don't mind it if we can do the same as men if necessary.

[freedavis]

I hate public bathrooms overall so dirty

[Skyisbluetoday]

I feel that if a person has to go that bad, then I'm ok with the other bathroom usage, as long as nobody is in that restroom! 

[bremer51]

I would never use the men's room. I would never use a restroom that's designated for both genders. I can barely use a restroom solely for women.  I'm terrified of other people's germs.  I only like my germs.

[michele2042]

Personally I don't have a problem with it at all, even two women going in at the same time.   As far as laughing, I can't tell you how many times I have stood in line for the women's restroom while the men filed in and out of theirs.  Many times the men would look at some of us in line and smile, laugh or snicker.   Women take longer because they have to remove more clothes to just pee.  Men just unzip and done.