Hang on while I flush

[serene]

This is a very important poll. Well, not really, but someotherguy insisted that I not just ask my friendslist about this question, but that I divide the respondents by gender. So here we go:

[Poll #1347290]

Comments

[sistercoyote.livejournal.com]

It is inaccurate to say that I am "irritated" at this survey, but you need a median answer: I am a woman and I am neutral on the subject of phones and bathrooms, for much depends on context.

[serenejournal.livejournal.com]

I think "no big deal" and "I'm neutral" are close enough for me.

[custardfairy.livejournal.com]

Not really irritated, but while I think taking the phone into the bathroom isn't necessarily polite, I'm not grossed out by it either. It depends on who one is speaking with, the relationship that exists there, and how that person feels about the phoner taking a pee or poo whilst chatting.

[jenhowell.livejournal.com]

I checked "no big deal" - but I should clarify that I only do this with people I'm very close to, and generally I ask them if it's okay. So "it's no big deal" in some cases, in other cases I wouldn't do it and would simply exit the phone conversation.

I don't know if I would ever call it "weird, wrong, gross" though. There are a lot bigger fish to fry.

[leback.livejournal.com]

Good point -- I answered "weird, wrong, gross," but that's a description of my feelings, not a general-purpose judgment.

[pyrzqxgl.livejournal.com]

I once had a housemate who had a job doing fundraising calls for a battered-women's shelter, and she would sometimes do them from the bathtub.

Personally I would avoid it if at all possible, but I'm not really a phone person anyway.

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

I think it's gross, but there are circumstances in which I've done it -- specifically, if I'm on Minute 14 of "Your Call Is Important To Us" and I have to go, I WILL make an exception to my general rule.

[mamagotcha.livejournal.com]

Yes, this.

While I don't mind terribly when others do it to me (although I might poke a little fun at you for it if you don't tell me and I figure it out), I won't do it to someone else. It's not terrible, it just feels... impolite? disrespectful? just not quite right.

I'm also afraid of dropping the phone into the pot.

[xiphias.livejournal.com]

For comparison: in general, talking on a phone in PUBLIC is also wrong and gross. Semi-private is okay. But if you're walking around in public? Totally wrong to be on a phone. At LEAST duck into an alleyway or something and be out of sight of people.

Obviously, this is not true in case of EMERGENCIES. If you want to dial 911 while running in full view of people, that's more than okay. But having a conversation with someone who's not even physically there while walking? Just wrong.

[clever-doberman.livejournal.com]

I basically agree, but mostly because people have a hard time hearing, so THEY talk louder, and I don't want to hear their conversation.

and in a restaurant, absolutely not.

in a movie theater, not even texting.

[mackenzie]

When I have to use the bathroom, but I'm in the middle of a great phone conversation, I make an "uh huh" noise, mute the phone and potty real quick, unmute to make another "uh huh" noise, and then mute to flush.

[lizzibabe.livejournal.com]

I voted twice: both as "no big deal" and as "wierd/wrong/gross". my reasoning is as follows. I used to not care if I went to the bathroom while I was one the phone, mostly because I have an odd sense of boundaries and will share TMI stuff without realising it's freaking Beaker out. Now I care because I understand now that it squicks other people immensely to hear me pee. Now I'll end the call with or without a promise to callback and then go to the bathroom.

[deakat]

Context is everything. I'll bring a phone into the bathroom if I'm taking a bath or if I'm expecting a call, but it won't be in use if I'm attending to elimination. That requires my full attention. :)

[19-crows.livejournal.com]

I checked the wrong box - I should have ticked "someone who doesn't have a phone."

But I do think it's weird/wrong/gross for other people to bring their phones into the bathroom, and my husband does too.

I'm going to vote again.

[redbird]

To be more precise, I don't talk on the phone when in the bathroom. However, much of the time my cell phone is in my pocket, and if it rings then I may answer and say "I'll call you back" rather than let it go to voicemail, since not everyone I'd want to talk to leaves voicemail.

[tiger-spot.livejournal.com]

"Into the bathroom", literally, I don't have a problem with. "Onto the toilet with you" is icky.

[boxofdelights]

Actually I don't mind the phone in the bathroom. It's the phone + any use of the toilet which is weird/wrong/gross.

[krasota.livejournal.com]

Mute buttons are a good thing. Flushing is ick. Quiet potty use (possibly with the water running), no biggie.

Then again, I have a toddler, so I can always just say, "ooops, gotta flush a poop".

In reality, I don't take the phone into the toilet with me these days, mostly because a toddler will follow me in, steal the phone, and run off with it. Since I cannot chase him before he dials Timbuktoo, I just arrange to use the phone when I'm not in need of the commode.

[marea93.livejournal.com]

To modify my answer, I will use the toilet when on a long convo with someone I'm close to, like my daughter. It took me a long time to get to the point where I would do this - it wasn't until after she had done it a few times that I decided I could too. But I will only pee; for anything more serious I like total privacy. Interesting discussion.

[jmkelly.livejournal.com]

Like xiphias, I checked both the "sure" and "ick" boxes for my gender. It's gross -- I wouldn't want to talk with someone while they were enthroned -- but I've done it myself, typically when I was at work and somewhat harried.

[kalmn.livejournal.com]

i think being on the phone and talking on it while using the toilet is gross and weird. my mom does it all the time, though.

however, i text my sister from the bathroom all the time. usually they say "guess where i am? hahahahaha." ahem.

[klwalton.livejournal.com]

Mute buttons and a finger over the microphone area work well. I don't talk on the phone much, but when I do, it's for a very long time, so I have developed coping mechanisms.

:)

[kightp.livejournal.com]

I don't mind what *other* people do, but my phones are all tethered to the wall, and none of them reach into the bathroom.

[baerana.livejournal.com]

it's not a HUGE deal, but i try to avoid it, especially flushing

[firecat]

That's basically my attitude.

Fortunately I have not been aware of anyone doing their business while I am on the phone with them.

Back before e-mail I used to have hours-long phone conversations with people and I occasionally did it if there seemed no graceful alternative.

[clever-doberman.livejournal.com]

let's see, what shall I say without someone having to say "TMI"......

I have a recycling box in my bathroom cuz I sometimes sit and sort the mail.

I bring the phone in there because I don't want to miss a call and my phone also has games and my calendar, so I may conduct biz or play solitaire while sitting.

I don't mind the sounds coming from other people's phones. it's just a part of life to me.

I haven't thought much about other people not liking my sounds, but I could ask (or just hurry the process). Flushing, however, is too loud.

clean hands touching the phone is a must. that's all I'll say about that.




very interesting question, and I am surprised at how many people are unhappy with the notion of hearing bodily functions on a phone. that's not a judgment on my part, just my own POV.

[clever-doberman.livejournal.com]

oh, and WHY is this a very important poll?

[gramina.livejournal.com]

I went with "no big deal" -- but it really, really depends on the person I'm talking to, for me.

If I would talk to them through the bathroom door with no sense of awkwardness (or if I'd be willing to leave the door open ;) ) then I''m ok with taking the phone into the bathroom with me; if not, then not so much.

[wordweaverlynn.livejournal.com]

Yes. That.

[therealjae.livejournal.com]

"a woman, and I think taking the phone into the bathroom with you is a little bit wrong, but I do it anyway."

-J

[nooks.livejournal.com]

I've done it, not that I can remember why.

It's only gross when other people do it.

[cerulean-me.livejournal.com]

I'm a woman... while I don't think bathroom phone chats are ideal. When they are necessary (just spent 45min on hold with the dmv and had to go!) I try hard to keep the person on the other end from knowing, and appreciate the same courtesy.

I do not, however, think it's gross, assuming all the proper handwashing goes on.