Tuesday, March 18, 2008

URGENT QUESTION

How do you feel about people brushing their teeth in public restrooms?

How do you feel about people making loud, back-of-throat spitty noises as they spit out their toothpaste in public restrooms?

How do you feel about people leaning down to drink directly out of the faucet in a public restroom?

Today I've seen three people brushing their teeth in various law school restrooms and I'm curious about others' feelings on the issue. Share.

19 comments:

Andrew said...

It's not as gross as someone, say, changing their baby's diaper in the law school restroom.

As we learned from Debbie Downer a few weeks ago, that would be disgusting, and burdensome for non-parents to put up with.

Danielle Dallas said...

Since I brush my teeth in public restrooms I may be biased in favor of the behavior. HOWEVER, I do not do the throat-clear nor do I drink out of the faucet directly (for some reason a few drops to dampen the toothpaste on the toothbrush is acceptable but a mouthful or more is akin to drinking out of the toilet bowl . . .?) I do sometimes hesitate, though, to brush in restrooms where the water drains from the sink slowly--mucous in public restroom sinks is gross just like finding hair or used bandaids in sinks. What are people thinking? Just clean up after yourself. Brush your teeth, get rid of your garlic breath, but grab a paper towel on the way out to leave the sink presentable for the next person. My two cents.

Anonymous said...

eww...That's disgusting. If I was pregnant, I probably would have puked.

Anonymous said...

Teeth-brushing, that's okay.

Slurp n' gurgle... well, obnoxious, but perhaps forgivable.

Gulping down public water? Alarmingly nasty. This must be ended.

Mar said...

Nasty. Sorry. Actually probably one rung on the nasty ladder above talking on your cell phone in the bathroom.

Anonymous said...

I am going to defend this practice, for purely humanitarian reasons. Say for what ever reason someone is homeless or with out a properly running water. we can all think of perfectly plausible situations in which this might happen to someone on a students budget. Also I think, before we get outraged we need to remember that they are performing an act of proper dental hygiene which is much better the alternative http://www.truveo.com/Saturday-Night-Live-Hedley-and-Wyche/id/908078810
just a thought.

Anonymous said...

one time i had to pump in a restroom in a courthouse. is that bad? i was in a stall at least!

KT said...

Sometimes I've brushed my teeth in airports when I was on really long flights across the world, but I HAD NO CHOICE! And, yes, it grossed me out as I was doing it. But, um, I definitely didn't drink the water out of the faucet. And, I didn't enjoy it. But, what was my alternative? Stinky breath?

gurrbonzo said...

Haha! Good responses. I am still making up my mind. I definitely support oral hygiene and think brushing one's teeth is important. The throat clear is pretty gross if I have to hear it, and the leaning down to sup from the faucet (especially when your bum is blocking the only other sink so I feel I'm in your way when I try to wash my hands) is pretty bad. However, location matters immensely and I think we can excuse Tickiworld and other travelers, because in airports, you just do what needs to be done. And erin's pumping is excused.

Stephanie said...

After much consideration (two seconds) I have decided the airport is the only acceptable place. Because anywhere else can just wait a few hours, right. But the "sup from the faucet?" shudder.

Jennifer said...

Brush away, people! I certainly don't want to have to sit next to Mr. Stinky Breath in class, or in the carrels, or really anywhere. (but if you drink from the faucet ANYWHERE - public or not - your manners suck and it is really time to re-evaluate your upbringing!)

Anonymous said...

Someone educate me. What's wrong with drinking from the faucet? I don't think I've done it, but how is that different from a drinking fountain?

zacharoo said...

This is why we have chewing gum and Binaca, folks.

ebv said...

Fine, great, dandy. For me. However, for those people, I do NOT want to know exactly what kind of horrible bacterium have landed on their respective toothbrushes. Imagine the...materials floating around in that area. Now grab something that will collect some of that material on it. A brush will do just fine. Now stick that brush in your mouth and swish and swab and swallow! Yum!!!

Stephanie said...

alright you. BEST. JOKE. EVER.

i think we are friends now.

i thought that woman had somehow found the blog and was going to come after me with her spikey stilletos....im paranoid like that.

Anonymous said...

Not a huge fan of public grooming; brushing teeth, popping zits, spit-bath...ya know, whatever.

xox

PS Glad I found your blog, compliments of Facebook.

Fun Fantastic Family said...

The real question is whether or not it is okay to bust out a farmer blow while in the public restroom. Cast a nay vote for me on that.

Changing a diaper in a public restroom is disgusting? Maybe in the law school bathroom, but public restrooms in general? I would much rather have the kid (or my own) sitting next to me changed and not crying then screaming and stanking it up all at the same time.

gurrbonzo said...

Jay, you hate jokes? Diapers are meant to be changed. Andrew was poking fun at Debbie Downer who acts like anything parents do is a large burden on non-parents. PLEASE, America, of course of course of course, change the diaper.

Fun Fantastic Family said...

Didn't read the second part of his comment... sorry. I am just a huge fan of jumping to conclusions