# Isn't it just plain wrong to defecate in a public restroom? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 3, 2002, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-it-just-plain-wrong-to-defecate-in-a-public-restroom/112092 "2002-06-03T05:02:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chris\_Luongo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7cd45c/32.png) [@Chris\_Luongo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chris_Luongo)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2002, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-it-just-plain-wrong-to-defecate-in-a-public-restroom/112092/1 "2002-06-03T05:02:35Z")
Most of my co-workers and friends think I’m nuts; I want to see what everyone here thinks. I think it’s unpleasant, unsanitary, unnecessary, and foremost, just plain inconsiderate to go poop in a public restroom. _Inconsiderate:_ Let’s say I’m at a nice restaurant enjoying a good meal with friends, and I have to urinate; no big deal. Pee isn’t really gross. I go into the men’s room, and there’s some guy defecating in the toilet stall. It stinks; it’s offensive. It is a rude interruption to the enjoyment of my meal. If my friends are also in there with me, I will often take a moment to make some unkind remarks in the general direction of the offender’s stall, as my friends think it’s hilarious when I do so. _Unpleasant:_ Who would even want to spend that much time in a public bathroom? Usually it’s filthy, and way to cold to be getting half naked. The toilet paper is terrible. There’s no reading material. Most of these places are just repulsive; I spend as little time in there as possible. _Unnecessary:_ Don’t these people have frigging houses? I mean, we all get sick once in a while, or maybe you’re on a long camping trip or whatever. But for the most part, unless you have some odd medical condition, you should be able to take care of your duties in the privacy of your own home, during the morning or evening. If you find yourself regularly thinking “I have to go NOW. I can’t wait to stop at the corner store for the latest Newsweek, and then go home and take care of business”, you have no willpower. _Unsanitary_ Maybe this is TMI, but who ever got the idea to “clean” something by dragging a dry piece of paper across it? I use soap and water to mop the floor, or to wash my car. Certainly, my own body deserves equal or better treatment. I schedule my bathroom visits so that I’ll have showered before I leave the house. Well, there it is. Why do people poop so much when they’re out? ---
**Author:** ![Grelby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a5b964/32.png) [@Grelby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grelby)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2002, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-it-just-plain-wrong-to-defecate-in-a-public-restroom/112092/2 "2002-06-03T05:07:18Z")
Um… well, I think that most people prefer to avoid having to go #2 in a public restroom, but y’know, when you gotta go, you gotta go. I suspect that most of us don’t go to quite that much trouble to avoid the necessity of crapping (“defecating”? What do you think we are, high society? ;)) in public (sic). It certainly isn’t rude, though I agree that it’s unpleasant. Rude would be not flushing, or going on the floor or something. ---
**Author:** ![BraheSilver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecccb3/32.png) [@BraheSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BraheSilver)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2002, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-it-just-plain-wrong-to-defecate-in-a-public-restroom/112092/3 "2002-06-03T05:18:31Z")
> [@](#): > > I schedule my bathroom visits so that I’ll have showered before I leave the house. If you can program your digestive tract to that precision, I need your dietitian’s number. That, and I think it’s “unpleasant, unnecessary, and foremost, just plain inconsiderate” to mock someone just because they’re voiding their bowels in the designated area. Courtesy, my friend. They quite likely know that they stink; they’re at the epicenter of the whole situation. Screaming “Eew!” at them isn’t going to help. ---
**Author:** ![DeadlyAccurate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@DeadlyAccurate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadlyAccurate)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2002, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-it-just-plain-wrong-to-defecate-in-a-public-restroom/112092/4 "2002-06-03T05:20:53Z")
Lack of willpower? That may be the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard in regards to someone’s need to use the bathroom. I’m sure most people would prefer not to have to defecate in a public place, but considering what the alternative might be, I’m sure you’ll also agree that it’s better. What would you prefer? An accident on the dining room floor? Since we’re not in the Pit, I won’t express my opinion of you making fun of people in the bathroom, but I’m sure you can figure out what it is. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2002, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-it-just-plain-wrong-to-defecate-in-a-public-restroom/112092/5 "2002-06-03T05:23:52Z")
Yes, and those people who drive on roads? Don’t they realize how _rude_ they’re being?! And don’t get me started on that whole payphone thing… ---
**Author:** ![Profane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47774/32.png) [@Profane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Profane)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2002, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-it-just-plain-wrong-to-defecate-in-a-public-restroom/112092/6 "2002-06-03T05:29:25Z")
> [@](#): > > you should be able to take care of your duties in the privacy of your own home, during the morning or evening. Some people (like me) often have to defacate more than once a day. Of course I prefer to do it at home, but I’m not going to waddle around trying to keep it in til I get there > [@](#): > > I schedule my bathroom visits so that I’ll have showered before I leave the house I’m happy with flushable moist wipes. I also manage to go to the bathroom without getting crap all over my ass. > [@](#): > > Usually it’s filthy, and way to cold to be getting half naked. The toilet paper is terrible. Umm, how the hell do you think women piss? _People who care this much about other people’s bathroom habits really worry me._ ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2002, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-it-just-plain-wrong-to-defecate-in-a-public-restroom/112092/7 "2002-06-03T05:30:18Z")
Maybe you should go pee-pee in some bushes. I doubt anyone (human, at least) will have taken a dump there. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2002, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-it-just-plain-wrong-to-defecate-in-a-public-restroom/112092/8 "2002-06-03T05:37:52Z")
So let me get this straight: A person, using a public facility, for it’s intended purpose is rude, and you making loud obnoxious comments to that person is not? Grow up guy. People crap, they smell and they grow hair. I don’t know what kind of bizzarro, sanitized world you live in, but you may want to wander around and stretch yer legs here in reality. Incidentally, I certainly don’t plan my day around it, but if I have to go, and I’m not going to be home from work for 6 hours, I go. ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2002, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-it-just-plain-wrong-to-defecate-in-a-public-restroom/112092/9 "2002-06-03T05:40:05Z")
C’mon, this question’s not for real, is it? > [@](#): > > I think it’s unpleasant, unsanitary, unnecessary, and foremost, just plain inconsiderate to go poop in a public restroom. If there were no toilets in 'em, this would never happen. Whaddya think they build 'em for? So you can comb your hair? > [@](#): > > If you find yourself regularly thinking “I have to go NOW. I can’t wait to stop at the corner store for the latest Newsweek, and then go home and take care of business”, you have no willpower. You know very little about life. ---
**Author:** ![lel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8797f3/32.png) [@lel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lel)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2002, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-it-just-plain-wrong-to-defecate-in-a-public-restroom/112092/10 "2002-06-03T05:44:18Z")
You don’t ever get those “I have to poop RIGHT NOW!” cramps where you have to waddle around with your rear in the air and every few minutes you start getting sharp pains until you go? Really, after about a few minutes of that, almost any available toilet looks really inviting (exempting ones with unflushed fecal matter in the toilet or bloody tampons lying around), no matter what kind of bad manners you may find it to defecate in a public restroom. ---
**Author:** ![brachyrhynchos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brachyrhynchos/32/376_2.png) [@brachyrhynchos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brachyrhynchos)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2002, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-it-just-plain-wrong-to-defecate-in-a-public-restroom/112092/11 "2002-06-03T05:49:35Z")
I’ll admit that I don’t care for someone else’s anally-graced molecules to be lodged in my nose. And I much prefer to use my own facilities where I can groan and grunt or, at least, read in peace. But I’d hardly begrudge or berate someone for using the facilities for which they were designed. And the relief of using one when you need it, well, it’s like finding a good cup o’ jo. That “Ahhhh” experience. ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2002, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-it-just-plain-wrong-to-defecate-in-a-public-restroom/112092/12 "2002-06-03T05:55:02Z")
I think you’ve been outvoted **Chris**. ---
**Author:** ![shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shrew)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2002, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-it-just-plain-wrong-to-defecate-in-a-public-restroom/112092/13 "2002-06-03T06:07:27Z")
The only thing I find inconsiderate about public defecation is when someone fails to execute a “courtesy flush”, or a pre-emptive flush that takes away the matter before the smell has wafted throughout the room. Most public toilets have the ability to reflush fairly quickly, so there’s no “wait time” to flush again such as there is in a private home on a private toilet. But I expect public restrooms to be used according to their design. I, like most people, prefer to use the restroom at home, but when nature calls, I obey. ---
**Author:** ![VDarlin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e56c9b/32.png) [@VDarlin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VDarlin)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2002, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-it-just-plain-wrong-to-defecate-in-a-public-restroom/112092/14 "2002-06-03T06:11:34Z")
Oh wow! This definitely brings new meaning to the term, “anally retentive”. ~V ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2002, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-it-just-plain-wrong-to-defecate-in-a-public-restroom/112092/15 "2002-06-03T07:05:23Z")
Someone who apparently schedules his bathroom visits at home so he’s _assured_ that he won’t have to “dump a load” in public scares me. ---
**Author:** ![Chris\_Luongo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7cd45c/32.png) [@Chris\_Luongo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chris_Luongo)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2002, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-it-just-plain-wrong-to-defecate-in-a-public-restroom/112092/16 "2002-06-03T07:10:38Z")
Okay, okay, so maybe I’m just nuts. Perhaps I’ll come to accept that one day. I know what works for me, but I’ll admit everyone is different. And I think maybe I came across as a little to harsh and insensitive with my original post. I think I did that “Eww! It really stinks in here!” bit maybe twice. And then I came to the conclusion of “Yeah, that was a real hoot; my friends laughed and so did I. And that dude really did stink. But it was very mean, and I shouldn’t do that anymore.” But I still get pretty much the same thought in my mind, even though I don’t say anything. I’m not perfect, but I try to realize that being mean to people doesn’t do much good. Also, my girlfriend admittedly poops a good three times a day, frequently at work. We joke around about it. I don’t think she’s a bad person for it. Also, purely by chance, I just now stumbled upon [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=118196) post about a disabled woman who suffered a humiliating bathroom accident at a restaurant. Further along in the post, others claim that wheelchair-bound and/or paralyzed people often don’t get the same “early warning” as the rest of us. Reading all that made me think a little more. I still have a strong feeling, though, that there is a little more public pooping going on than is really necessary. However, I have no facts to back that up, at least not yet. ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2002, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-it-just-plain-wrong-to-defecate-in-a-public-restroom/112092/17 "2002-06-03T07:32:09Z")
Just wait. Revelation is on the way. ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2002, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-it-just-plain-wrong-to-defecate-in-a-public-restroom/112092/18 "2002-06-03T07:44:18Z")
When I was a slightly younger man (only very slightly, as I’m still fairly young) I had some hang-ups about using the public facilities and did not need to do so outside of my own home, (although I cetainly never begrudged my fellow man the need and would rather die than humiliate someone as he did, unless it was a close friend). I now am much less hung-up about the situation, since nature calls much more unexpectedly these days. I feel very sure that the unpredictability of gauging my bowel movements is certain to only increase as I grow older. The need to relieve oneself comes unexpectedly on everyone eventually, whether disabled or not. In short, I should be ashamed because I have to _shit in a public bathroom ?!?!?_ ---
**Author:** ![Tyrrell\_McAllister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tyrrell_mcallister/32/16772_2.png) [@Tyrrell\_McAllister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tyrrell_McAllister)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2002, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-it-just-plain-wrong-to-defecate-in-a-public-restroom/112092/19 "2002-06-03T08:11:30Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by **Chris Luongo** _ > I still have a strong feeling, though, that there is a little more public pooping going on than is really necessary. However, I have no facts to back that up, at least not yet. This somehow manages to sound both incredibly amusing and vaguely menacing. ---
**Author:** ![Junior\_Spaceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Junior\_Spaceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Junior_Spaceman)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2002, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-it-just-plain-wrong-to-defecate-in-a-public-restroom/112092/20 "2002-06-03T09:08:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Chris Luongo \* > \*\*I still have a strong feeling, though, that there is a little more public pooping going on than is really necessary. However, I have no facts to back that up, at least not yet. \*\* Buddy, we’re not talking here about politicians taking too many overseas trips on tax-payers’ money for the hell of it, we’re talking about people using a public toilet for the exact purpose it was designed for. I think the half-joke before about this being anal-retentive is spot on. I don’t think this is worth pitting, but this reminds me of a certain person I used to know who would freak out at the immorality of someone eating lunch at any time other than his preferred time: “A quarter past two and you’re having lunch?!?! What’s WRONG with you?!?” Although I accept there might be a small number of people (perhaps in the single figures in the western world) who love public toilets so much that they feel the need to ‘bring it on’ even when they might not have to go, the rest of humanity goes when they need to, if the facilities are there. The only real complaint in your OP and followup is that some people’s crap stinks - hardly worthy of a thread on this message board IMHO. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/isnt-it-just-plain-wrong-to-defecate-in-a-public-restroom/112092.md?page=2)