FTR, I am male and I crinkle.
I worked for a few years at an architectural firm and one of my jobs was to ghostwrite “expert” articles for our architects and designers. One such piece for a commercial building magazine was on the topic of restrooms. I learned more than one could possibly need to know to write the article.
SIDEBAR: Public facilities are not properly dubbed bathrooms since you do not bathe in them, but in some cases you do rest in them. An older design option, once specifically meant to accommodate pregnant women, which is now seeing a resurgence is of the rest or lounge (seating) area in public facilities including (now) men’s rooms (outside the commode area, of course).
One interesting tidbit I learned from the designer relates to something PunditLisa said…
She’s exactly right – noise or more soundproof interior (i.e. more solid, longer/higher walls, etc.) are preferred – people don’t mind hearing what’s happening outside their stall, but don’t want to think anyone can hear them from within it.
The designer also told me that after much study (can’t imagine being that researcher), it was found that those ventillation fans that rattle loudly are considered by the general public to be “more effective” than quiet ones. They actually determined that whisper quiet fans weren’t perceived well by restroom guests.
I could go on with all I learned but, god, why would it?
As far as the poll part, I am reminded of some wise words I learned in my youth…“better to bear the shame than bear the pain.” I, too, wait to be alone though, and I’m a folder.
But, if you want to read the article to which I referred, it is available online here.
I generally don’t crap in public restrooms either. It’s not really a conscious choice for me. I just don’t feel the urge to go unless I am at home. I remember that it did take me a while to get used to the dorms and having a “public-style” bathroom be “home”. Actually, I think that when I was in college, I did go at work more often than in the dorm–work had a nice, large, generally unbusy bathroom with lots of stalls. I had my favorite stall there, too–it had the most interesting graffiti.
I never used the bathroom in high school for #1 or #2 if I could possibly help it at all. No time–plus they were gross and usually smoke-filled. The boys had it much worse, though. Their stalls didn’t even have doors! :eek: It would have to be exploding diarrhea before I used a public bathroom stall with no door!
I crinkle. More padding between hand and arse.
I don’t particularly like doing that at work, but I’m certainly not going to give myself a stomach ache over it. I do, however, try to not be going when someone else is in the bathroom.
But that can run into a stalemate if the person in the stall next to you is thinking along the same lines.
Oh and FTR, I’m a woman and I fold. Always have.
If I gotta do Number Two at work, I’ll do it. No big deal. I try to wait until the bathroom is empty if some unpleasant noises are going to be a part of the process. No sense in creating any social embarrassment or disgust in my co-workers.
I fold. Always. Crinkling just seems so messy.
I fold and I go if I must. It’s a bathroom! It’s made for that! Sheesh, how silly.
If I have to go, I go. I’d rather go if no one was in the restroom though. I have been known to stop a poop and just wait until the other occupant leaves. Of course I only go every few days so this is usually not a problem.
BTW, I fold. I’m not sure I even know what crinkling is. My dad also says women us twice as much as men. I probably use more since I also use a little TP to wrap up my tampons and pantiliners. I’m especially careful with them at work. Just the thought of someone emptying the trashcans and seeing unwrapped FHP products makes my skin crawl.
I am a crinkler that will do whatever it takes to NOT poop in a public place. I will, if necessary, but I don’t like it. Pooping at a friend’s house is also not acceptable. It’s a wonder more of us aren’t in therapy…
I’m female, I fold, I go when I need to go…
Of course, I’ve never been known as a “average” female. 
Oh, does anyone else get the “bookstore/library pooping phenomenon”? As I mentioned, I do not usually even get the urge to go unless I am at home. However, I’ve crapped in bookstore and library bathrooms many times. Perhaps I’m just more relaxed there–I don’t know.
In college, I worked in the library. Perhaps that’s why I was able to go at work there.
I don’t understand this phenomenon, but it pisses* me off on a fairly regular basis. The restrooms in the Barnes and Noble off campus and the first-floor restrooms in my university’s main library are frequently gross. How hard is to flush, for Chrissakes? I feel so sorry for the custodians.
As for why this happens, I think it’s probably the relaxation factor plus the fact that a people tend to spend long periods of time there.
*No pun intended
I’m a male so this is given as an outsider type of observation. I haven’t laughed this hard in a long time. This Post is just such a perfect example of how far apart men and women can get.
Guys go and stink up the communal crapper and brag about the stench to their buddies. Women are pinching it off and taking it home!? Woo-hoo!
And four to six squares? Jeez-louise, I always figured that the reason toilet paper is on a spindle is so that you can give it a good hard spin and come away with the appropriate 15-20 tissues ready to go. Fold, crinkle, who gives a rat’s ass as long as the toilet don’t jam.
Men go through life in full realization of the fact that we are all animals, men and women both. Women, on the other hand, think that if they can just maintain the illusion of quinessential perfection long enough we men won’t realize that they shit, fart, piss and burp like the rest of us.
Of course that’s just my opinion. I could be wrong.
[sub]But I’m not[/sub]
Well, now I feel like a total freak - it never occured to me to hold it in for hours until I ended up at home.
Yes. It isn’t like I can schedule around it - when I have to go, I go. Never gave it a second thought. & I crinkle.
I did notice that no one uses the first stall in our bathroom. Ever. It’s strange.
In general I find that people use the first stall more often than any other stall. No matter when I go, someone is always in that first stall. The first stall btw refers to the stall closest to the door. I understand the rationale, but on a percentage basis more asses touch that seat than any other, yet people still insist on using it. I’ve seen men come in and leave if the first stall is taken. People* are strange…
- I’m one to talk…I was the one who started this thread.
I don’t ever use the first stall. For the reason that it is the most used. I read somewhere that the first stall is always the most germiest. I usually go the the 3rd or 4th.
If I need to poop, I poop. I am a very regular person - usually 2 poops a day - and I attribute this partially to my willingness to poop anywhere, anytime. And, I’m a quick pooper - none of this sitting for 10 minutes reading a book. I’m in, I poop, I’m out, in a minute, minute-thirty tops. What’s the big deal about pooping at work?
BUT - if there are people in the bathroom, I’ll wait in the stall until I’ve got it to myself. The poop-plopping noises are too recognizable, and I don’t want people knowing it’s me tearing up the bathroom.
On a related note, when I was in high school ROTC, there was a little bathroom off the main classroom. Once in a while nature would call, and for some reason, my class’ student instructor singled me out for the “Shh, everyone, let’s listen to Gundy pee” remark every single time. As a result, I have learned how to decant my pee along the side of the toilet and relieve myself soundlessly.
Oh, and I’m a wrapper, and female.
Oh, my, the flashbacks this thread brings…first, the ex-husband, complaining that I use too much TP and trying to train me to use what he considered an appropriate amount. I wrap, and then wad, to get as much protection from tear-thru as possible. 4 squares is just too thin, but caring how much paper someone else uses is just …well, anal! And if it’s a public bathroom, where getting enough paper is always a struggle, there is the mercy flush during the event or before wiping…reduces odor, prevents clogging and creates noise.
Second flashback…walking into dorm bathroom to find three faucets running… frequently. Finally solved the mystery at the end of the year when one girl confessed that she could not perform without background noise.
Third flashback…to yesterday, when I went into the bathroom at my morning job to find a skidmark on the seat from our only male employee. I refuse to clean after him, but had a hard time holding it til I got to the afternoon job. As you get older, and with some medications, you gotta go when the urge first comes…holding it in is not always an option. But I always check to make sure everything is clean after I’m done. If someone else doesn’t clean it by tomorrow, I may have to publicly humiliate someone.
I was just told by a coworker of mine that this thread was probably in the realm of TMI, but I feel that people want to know this kind of stuff. From our informal poll it seems that women more often than not crinkle there toilet paper. But surprisingly of the four methods:
folding
crinkling
wading (a crinkle that is wrapped up in a fold)
hand wrap (where you wrap it around your hand then slide it off to use)
a number of both men and women enjoy the benefits of wading. There seems to be no pattern, of the 10 or so people that I know who wad, 6 are female and 4 are male. Hardly enough of a sample to draw a conclusion from.
It does sound like my initial question was answered though, that being “Do women use the bathroom at work?” The answer seems to be most women do go at work and the majority of those who do are uncomfortable about going (because of noise, smell, etc…) I thank you all for your input.
You have been known???
Not by large masses I presume…but this has still brought a wide smile to my face!!
Thanks!