# People who read the paper in the stalls at work... **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 28, 2001, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-read-the-paper-in-the-stalls-at-work/84294 "2001-09-28T13:01:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sasquatch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@Sasquatch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sasquatch)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-read-the-paper-in-the-stalls-at-work/84294/1 "2001-09-28T13:01:33Z")
Every time that I go into the bathroom at my workplace, I’m greeted by the sounds of rustling newspaper from at least one or more of the stalls. Is the toilet THAT comfortable of a reading place? Do people know that they’ll be looked at as goofing off if they sat at their desks and read the paper, so they head into the bathroom to do it? Perhaps privacy is being sought, but surely there are better places to get some privacy than in a bathroom stall. If you’re one of these people who think of the bathroom as a library, please explain the allure of it to me, because I just don’t get it. ---
**Author:** ![Geobabe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/geobabe/32/3908_2.png) [@Geobabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geobabe)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-read-the-paper-in-the-stalls-at-work/84294/2 "2001-09-28T13:25:06Z")
I think the paper is to kill time while they’re waiting for something to happen, if you know what I mean. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-read-the-paper-in-the-stalls-at-work/84294/3 "2001-09-28T13:37:40Z")
Read the society column and tell me you’re not motivated to launch a sea pickle. ---
**Author:** ![bdgr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a87d85/32.png) [@bdgr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bdgr)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-read-the-paper-in-the-stalls-at-work/84294/4 "2001-09-28T13:40:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Geobabe \* > \*\*I think the paper is to kill time while they’re waiting for something to happen, if you know what I mean. \*\* Thats it exactly. I can read the paper at my desk If I want. ---
**Author:** ![Bluepony](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Bluepony](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bluepony)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-read-the-paper-in-the-stalls-at-work/84294/5 "2001-09-28T14:02:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lieu \* > \*\*Read the society column and tell me you’re not motivated to launch a sea pickle. \*\* **SNORKKKKK!!!** (sounds of coffee nose squirted on my desktop monitor) Sea pickle! Damn you **lieu** , that was hilarious! Now clean up the coffee off my damn mouse pad! ---
**Author:** ![lno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@lno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lno)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-read-the-paper-in-the-stalls-at-work/84294/6 "2001-09-28T14:09:01Z")
What else are we supposed to do? Talk over the stall divider to you? Just be glad I don’t bring in a small TV and set it up in the corner. ---
**Author:** ![GrizzRich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7ba0ec/32.png) [@GrizzRich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrizzRich)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-read-the-paper-in-the-stalls-at-work/84294/7 "2001-09-28T14:47:22Z")
Because, frankly, doing your business in the stall is BORING!! It’s just something to keep our minds occupied whilst we’re “stocking the lake with brown trout”. /slight hijack/ Our bathrooms at work are outfitted with motion sensors that will turn out the lights 10 minutes after the last movement \ is made. So, read the funnies quickly and finish up, or one will be “left in the dark”, literally. /here endeth the slight hijack/ ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-read-the-paper-in-the-stalls-at-work/84294/8 "2001-09-28T15:03:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sasquatch! \* > **Do people know that they’ll be looked at as goofing off if they sat at their desks and read the paper, so they head into the bathroom to do it?** That’s my primary reason. And also the boredom thing. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-read-the-paper-in-the-stalls-at-work/84294/9 "2001-09-28T15:15:26Z")
Speaking as a former secretary/receptionist, there were times when I would go hide in the bathroom, just to get away from the desk for 15 minutes without having to make conversation in the coffee room. And I’d take something to read with me. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-read-the-paper-in-the-stalls-at-work/84294/10 "2001-09-28T15:31:49Z")
As a non-smoker, it’s my equivalent of a cigarette break (although occurring a lot less often, obviously). Nobody can wander up and hit me with ‘ah, if you’re not too busy at the moment…’. The phone doesn’t ring. No new emails are popping up. I used to eat lunch at my desk, until I realised that it made it open season as far as the ‘everybody’s at lunch … hang on, there’s Matt’ brigade went. This is a similar situation. ---
**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-read-the-paper-in-the-stalls-at-work/84294/11 "2001-09-28T15:35:45Z")
… I can also hearily recommend the Rothman’s Football Yearbook as heavy-duty bathroom reading for my British compadres … ---
**Author:** ![selie\_b](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@selie\_b](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/selie_b)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-read-the-paper-in-the-stalls-at-work/84294/12 "2001-09-28T17:09:01Z")
**And why on earth do you leave your paper on the floor?** Are you thinking someone else will want to pick it up and read through the flecks of mud? Are you afraid to touch it yourself, now that it has been subjected to farty air? ---
**Author:** ![CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crankyasanoldman/32/11670_2.png) [@CrankyAsAnOldMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrankyAsAnOldMan)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2001, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-read-the-paper-in-the-stalls-at-work/84294/13 "2001-09-28T17:19:40Z")
Persephone, BunnyGirl, MrBlue92, Shadowfox, Juniper200, and Brynda have seen the bathrooms at my office. They can testify to the fact that in addition to newspapers, we have back issues of women’s magazines, TV Guides, and several novels. I remember one of my coworkers complaining because someone removed one of the books she was ever-so-slowly working her way through in the john. ---
**Author:** ![Dragonblink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Dragonblink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragonblink)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2001, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-read-the-paper-in-the-stalls-at-work/84294/14 "2001-09-29T02:19:24Z")
One day, while working at a large bookstore, I discovered a full set of plastic silverware and a Playboy magazine on the floor. In the _LADIES_ room. Oh well, anything’s better than finding a mystery log … ---
**Author:** ![Payne\_N.Diaz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b77776/32.png) [@Payne\_N.Diaz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Payne_N.Diaz)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2001, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-read-the-paper-in-the-stalls-at-work/84294/15 "2001-09-29T02:28:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by GrizzRich \* > \*\*Because, frankly, doing your business in the stall is BORING!! > It’s just something to keep our minds occupied whilst we’re “stocking the lake with brown trout”. > > /slight hijack/ > Our bathrooms at work are outfitted with motion sensors that will turn out the lights 10 minutes after the last movement \ is made. > So, read the funnies quickly and finish up, or one will be “left in the dark”, literally. > /here endeth the slight hijack/ \*\* Ooh, I’ve had that happen before–not amusing, especially as the motion detector couldn’t see over the stall at my frantically waving arm. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2001, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-read-the-paper-in-the-stalls-at-work/84294/16 "2001-09-29T02:30:18Z")
I’ve been thinking about why I always go in there and read the paper…and I can’t explain it. I guess it’s kinda relaxing. As for the rustling, that’s for the benefit of the guy that doesn’t know I’m in there, so he talks to himself, farts, or is otherwise embarrased when he realizes he’s not alone. Rustling the paper right away lets him know I’m around. As for leaving it in there, **selie b** - I love it when I find the sports page waiting for me. I pick it up and read it without thinking anything is wrong with that, and I’ll leave what I’ve finished reading for the next guy. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2001, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-read-the-paper-in-the-stalls-at-work/84294/17 "2001-09-29T02:58:29Z")
I once had words with a fella that had a habit of taking the _company supplied_ paper out of the _cafeteria_ into the john, doing his business, and then _returning the damned thing_. It’s a little unsettling to be munching on a tuna-salad sandwich and wondering “Hmmmm… I wonder if this paper’s been in the stall with Ron? On his naked lap… While a few scant inches below…” [Shudder.] ---
**Author:** ![aggiej](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ec9cab/32.png) [@aggiej](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aggiej)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2001, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-read-the-paper-in-the-stalls-at-work/84294/18 "2001-09-29T05:48:17Z")
i always head to the stall about 10am and go through at least two sections of the l.a. times. it’s an easy way to goof off without anyone’s knowledge. you can’t see me in the stall and i wait until the bathroom’s empty before i exit. that’s a free 30 minute break! ---
**Author:** ![bdgr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a87d85/32.png) [@bdgr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bdgr)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2001, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-read-the-paper-in-the-stalls-at-work/84294/19 "2001-09-29T05:59:42Z")
I love finding reading material in the john…Especially the frys ad. ---
**Author:** ![Mudshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mudshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mudshark)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2001, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-read-the-paper-in-the-stalls-at-work/84294/20 "2001-09-29T06:05:10Z")
In the stalls at school, there is always a Victoria’s Secret catalog. I wonder what that is doing there? :rolleyes: [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-who-read-the-paper-in-the-stalls-at-work/84294.md?page=2)