As students at Knoch, we’ve all visited the four (or three, if you’re a boy,) bathrooms available to us. While generally having a good experience in these areas, there seems to be things that some people are missing. Now, I’m not talking about a physical thing like running out of toilet paper or the sink water not being able to contain a normal temperature. No; nothing close to those minor offenses. I’m talking about bathroom etiquette. The way some students behave there is literally animalistic. If any of the points I make offend you then please think about how much it angers me that I had to write a whole article about it, and consider that you may be a part of the problem.
Hey Neighbor
You walk into the bathroom. There’s only one other person in a stall there. If you chose to go into the stall DIRECTLY NEXT TO THEM, this is for you. I’ve been a victim of this act hundreds of times, and frankly, would never dare to commit it myself. Do you want a friend? Are you lonely in your little stall? Too bad. Don’t make it my problem. I’m not going to play footsies with you under the stall. I get that each stall is separated with a flimsy half wall, but privacy isn’t the problem. I just don’t understand why out of every option you have you chose the one directly next to a random person. If there’s a line of people waiting, by all means go into whatever stall opens up first, but when you have the option, leave some space.
Show and Tell
Flush the toilet. That’s the easiest thing you can do. I’m usually pretty understanding of forgetting things, but flushing a toilet is where I draw the line. It’s such a routine thing to do that if you forget it, it makes me wonder about what was going on in your mind that was so distracting that you forgot to flush. Nothing’s more humbling than seeing an open stall, walking in and immediately turning around. Whatever mess you made in there, get rid of it.
Home Sweet Home
Just because it’s called a REST-room does not mean you can turn it into your second home. I’m just gonna rip the band aid off and say that sitting on the floor of a PUBLIC bathroom is insane. With absolutely zero hate for our custodial staff because they do God’s work on a daily basis, the Knoch High School bathrooms are not prime real estate when it comes to places to sit (or cleanliness). Not only do we have thousands of regular chairs to sit in, but also a library full of comfy little sofas and such. Along with your homestead on the floor being uncomfortable for you, it also makes every other person who’s just trying to pee uncomfortable to see you and your friends camping outside the stall. I have genuinely walked into bathrooms, seen a group of squatters on the floor, and turned around.
Hide and Seek
Okay. Let me preface this by saying that I completely understand this one. Whether you’re having a silent mental breakdown, trying to get out of class, or waiting for other people to leave so you can do your business without an audience present, it’s valid. However, I thought I would give it an honorable mention because despite being guilty of it myself, sometimes it angers me like no other. Simply put, just go into the bathroom, do whatever you need, and get out. Why are you l i n g e r i n g in there. Especially when they once again go into the stall directly next to you and just sit. What on earth are you waiting for? Not trying to shame people for being pee shy or anything, though.
After reading this article, I wish for one of two things. You either agree with my hot takes because you’re a normal person who doesn’t do any of these things, or you learn to stop.
