# Mamas, don't follow your babies into the men's room **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 13, 2009, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mamas-dont-follow-your-babies-into-the-mens-room/506294 "2009-08-13T15:32:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2009, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mamas-dont-follow-your-babies-into-the-mens-room/506294/221 "2009-08-16T22:07:55Z")
> [@Bryan\_Ekers](#): > > There was a time when the touching went on for a full hour _and_ you got absolution afterward as a freebie. I went there once! We got stale crackers and bitter Kookaid too! ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2009, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mamas-dont-follow-your-babies-into-the-mens-room/506294/222 "2009-08-16T23:55:17Z")
> [@wierdaaron](#): > > The concept of “being molested in seconds” is intriguing to me. Trying to envision such an act, besides well as probably being illegal, is difficult. The perpetrator would have to look like a villain from a hana-barbara cartoon, complete with black cloak, pointy chin, and curled mustache. He would tiptoe in, slowly reach out his hand, strike like a cobra, and then disappear. Depends. Groping is certainly a type of molestation, and that can happen in seconds, in a crowded area. ---
**Author:** ![wierdaaron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/eada6e/32.png) [@wierdaaron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wierdaaron)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mamas-dont-follow-your-babies-into-the-mens-room/506294/223 "2009-08-17T00:03:10Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Depends. Groping is certainly a type of molestation, and that can happen in seconds, in a crowded area. Based on my impression of the average child molester, it seems like they’re more after the whole thing and not just a quick grab. A man groping a grown woman is more of a humiliation thing, isn’t it? Pedos are basically trying to screw the childhood version of themselves, so they’d want to make an event out of it. And I know it’s awkward to talk about what child molesters think and want, I think it’s more useful that letting them remain some kind of abstract boogeyman lurking in restrooms and bus stops waiting to steal your kids. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mamas-dont-follow-your-babies-into-the-mens-room/506294/224 "2009-08-17T00:33:09Z")
Of the folks I’ve known who were molested as children, I can think of at least one who was groped (in a video game arcade) and one who was flashed (from a car). Molestation can and sometimes does happen quickly. ---
**Author:** ![Jamicat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c67d28/32.png) [@Jamicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jamicat)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mamas-dont-follow-your-babies-into-the-mens-room/506294/225 "2009-08-17T00:35:44Z")
Considering I was once a victim at 8 of such perversion in a park restroom… I do prescribe in the vision that bathrooms should be one door and separate stalls, left for women right side for men, wash area in the middle and be done with it. It’s a bathroom for Humans, not some litter box with clumps or cedar chips on the floor. In the old days …we dug a hole and that was that. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mamas-dont-follow-your-babies-into-the-mens-room/506294/226 "2009-08-17T01:36:43Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Of the folks I’ve known who were molested as children, I can think of at least one who was groped (in a video game arcade) and one who was flashed (from a car). Molestation can and sometimes does happen quickly. True, altough proving “flashing” in a restroom could be tricky and pretty much impossible in a lockerroom. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mamas-dont-follow-your-babies-into-the-mens-room/506294/227 "2009-08-17T02:17:14Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > There’s something about bookstores and libraries that inspire me to eliminate all bodily wastes. We’ve had threads about this before, and it seems that I’m not the only one who’s affected by these places. There was this fantastic used book store in Virginia BEach, and I know exactly what the problem was… it shared a building with a dry cleaners, and there was soething hitting the perfect vibrational frequency that matched my guts. I dont care if I had shat, and been given an enema, after 10 minutes in there I would have to crap like nobodys business ☹ Major suckitude … so I had to give mrAru a list of books I was interested in to see if they had them or not because I gave up trying to ever manage to shop there for more than 10 minutes at a time ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mamas-dont-follow-your-babies-into-the-mens-room/506294/228 "2009-08-17T02:54:40Z")
There’s a compromise solution to the problem of public restroom child dangers, which vigilant mommies may be willing to endorse. Simply make public johns off-limits to anyone over the age of 12, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. During those times children can wee freely without fear of molesters, and parents can accompany them if they wish. At other hours adults may use the facilities, although voluntary compliance with any mommie requests (should children be in there) is encouraged. For those unwilling to make a little sacrifice, remember that it’s worth it if even one child’s life can be saved. Impractical, you say? Nonsense! I have just two words for you - [astronaut diapers](http://hamptonroads.com/node/219521). ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mamas-dont-follow-your-babies-into-the-mens-room/506294/229 "2009-08-17T03:04:26Z")
Before I could coach at a local high school, I was fingerprinted and had a background check through the DOJ. How about the same for a “Public Restroom License”? And yes, I’m kidding. ---
**Author:** ![wierdaaron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/eada6e/32.png) [@wierdaaron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wierdaaron)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mamas-dont-follow-your-babies-into-the-mens-room/506294/230 "2009-08-17T03:07:14Z")
Parents, why not simply outfit your youngsters with shirts that say “I have various contagious diseases” before sending them alone into potentially dangerous restrooms. Have you also considered removing the legs from your children’s beds so that no monsters can hide under them? ---
**Author:** ![fessie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@fessie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fessie)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mamas-dont-follow-your-babies-into-the-mens-room/506294/231 "2009-08-17T03:22:48Z")
[Matthew (age 9), his mother, and Matthew’s three-year-old brother were attending a family function at an Oceanside campground on November 14. That night Gail Gerhard, Matthew’s aunt stood outside when Matthew went into the beach’s public bathroom. Twenty-year-old Brandon Wilson followed Matthew into the restroom, exiting a short time later, and walking right past Matthew’s aunt. Matthew’s aunt grew concerned when Matthew did not come out of the restroom, and told police she entered the restroom to find her nephew dying on the bathroom floor. Matthew Cecchi was drowning in his own blood. There was nothing anyone could do to help Matthew, although many tried desperately to revive him and stop the bleeding from his wound. Matthew’s mother would tell jurors how she softly rubbed her son’s hair as he died that night on the restroom floor. The coroner would testify that Matthew died slowly; painfully aware of had happened to him in the final seconds before Brandon Wilson slashed his throat. A family reunion a time of coming together became a family tragedy, a family’s nightmare.]([http://http](http://http)://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art28027.asp) Statistically unlikely? Sure. But mothers are haunted by such things. We just are. Family restrooms are an excellent solution and are becoming more commonplace. They also provide more space, so they’re helpful for adults with disabilities, particularly those who are being assisted by an opposite-sex family member. ---
**Author:** ![Indistinguishable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/90ced4/32.png) [@Indistinguishable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indistinguishable)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mamas-dont-follow-your-babies-into-the-mens-room/506294/232 "2009-08-17T03:35:57Z")
What’s a family restroom? ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mamas-dont-follow-your-babies-into-the-mens-room/506294/233 "2009-08-17T03:36:53Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > There’s a compromise solution to the problem of public restroom child dangers, which vigilant mommies may be willing to endorse. > > Simply make public johns off-limits to anyone over the age of 12, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. During those times children can wee freely without fear of molesters, and parents can accompany them if they wish. At other hours adults may use the facilities, although voluntary compliance with any mommie requests (should children be in there) is encouraged. > > For those unwilling to make a little sacrifice, remember that it’s worth it if even one child’s life can be saved. That’s barbaric. How about segregated bathrooms–bathrooms for female kids, for female adults, for male kids, and male adults. Perfect solution! Not. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mamas-dont-follow-your-babies-into-the-mens-room/506294/234 "2009-08-17T03:44:01Z")
> [@fessie](#): > > Statistically unlikely? Sure. > > But mothers are haunted by such things. > > We just are. I suppose it was only a matter of time before we had a **fessie** manifestation (infestation?) in this thread. **fessie** has shown up in various threads before [to defend antivaccinationists](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=424103) and uninformed parents who use [homeopathy on sick children](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=410055) (a form of abuse that recently led to [conviction of a couple for manslaughter](http://www.smh.com.au/national/parents-guilty-of-manslaughter-over-daughters-eczema-death-20090605-bxvx.html?page=-1) after their nine-month old daughter died. **fessie** ’s ideas on how best to protect children are, shall we say, singular. Allowing one’s kids to go without vaccines due to inaccurate fearmongering? Justifiable. Letting their illnesses go without proper treatment because you buy into homeopathy? Well, those doctors don’t know it all. Allow your kid to go into a public restroom unsupervised? OMIGOD!!:eek:!!:eek:!!:eek:!! ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mamas-dont-follow-your-babies-into-the-mens-room/506294/235 "2009-08-17T03:49:38Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Well, TruCelt is the nutbar who, in the “is this guy a stalker” thread, stated that women have “women’s intuition” and if it tells them that he’s a bad guy, she should take action. > > Not just ignore the guy or walk away, but TAKE ACTION. > > That combined with this shows that she has some serious (mental health) issues regarding men. Hmmmnnn. I’m not really sure how to respond to this. You’ve taken a tiny part of that post out of context, combined it with a complete misunderstanding of my point here, and then set yourself up as some sort of psychiatric psychic. It’s so far gone as to be quite impressive, really. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mamas-dont-follow-your-babies-into-the-mens-room/506294/236 "2009-08-17T03:56:27Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Okay, I figured I could use a reality check after reading that. Since when are we talking about a 2-year-old? Exactly, it was an example of the type of information you didn’t have. Information without which you ave no right to make sweeping statements about how I am parenting my child. It would take hours to type out all the ways that you are wrong about that, so I tried to just slip in what might clue you to how wrong you just might be. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mamas-dont-follow-your-babies-into-the-mens-room/506294/237 "2009-08-17T04:04:14Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > There’s a compromise solution to the problem of public restroom child dangers, which vigilant mommies may be willing to endorse. > > Simply make public johns off-limits to anyone over the age of 12, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. During those times children can wee freely without fear of molesters, and parents can accompany them if they wish. At other hours adults may use the facilities, although voluntary compliance with any mommie requests (should children be in there) is encouraged. > > For those unwilling to make a little sacrifice, remember that it’s worth it if even one child’s life can be saved. > > Impractical, you say? Nonsense! I have just two words for you - [astronaut diapers](http://hamptonroads.com/node/219521). How about we change that to something like this… Nobody under a certain age can use the restrooms because of the inherent dangers. Any parent caught allowing their child into such a place shall be charged with criminal negligence and child endangerment. The kid can take a dump at home. It’s safer. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mamas-dont-follow-your-babies-into-the-mens-room/506294/238 "2009-08-17T04:04:36Z")
So why were you posting about all the reasons you’d try to make sure no other adults could come into the bathroom with your kid if they can’t even use the bathroom alone? I think the only time someone could criticize you is if you were saying something like in the OP where you wouldn’t let any other adults into the bathroom where your young child was going in (because you’re the wrong gender to accompany them and they’re too old to go in the same bathroom as you). Someone doing that would be a bit insane. ---
**Author:** ![fessie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@fessie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fessie)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mamas-dont-follow-your-babies-into-the-mens-room/506294/239 "2009-08-17T04:09:10Z")
I knew I could count on you, **jackmannii**. You’re simply an ass. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [August 17, 2009, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mamas-dont-follow-your-babies-into-the-mens-room/506294/240 "2009-08-17T04:12:28Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > Exactly, it was an example of the type of information you didn’t have. Information without which you ave no right to make sweeping statements about how I am parenting my child. It would take hours to type out all the ways that you are wrong about that, so I tried to just slip in what might clue you to how wrong you just might be. What? Are you actually getting self righteous about something that you’re completely wrong about? Face… meet palm. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mamas-dont-follow-your-babies-into-the-mens-room/506294.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mamas-dont-follow-your-babies-into-the-mens-room/506294.md?page=13)