# Poll: Do you/should you use the toilet if your partner is in the bathroom? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 15, 2014, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-should-you-use-the-toilet-if-your-partner-is-in-the-bathroom/688525 "2014-05-15T14:05:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Nikki\_Tikki\_Tavi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3da27b/32.png) [@Nikki\_Tikki\_Tavi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nikki_Tikki_Tavi)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-should-you-use-the-toilet-if-your-partner-is-in-the-bathroom/688525/41 "2014-05-16T00:06:03Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Not the same. As Seinfeld pointed out there is good naked and bad naked. This. Bathroom door is, has been, and always will be shut when I need to be in there and anyone is home, romantic partner or not. I also do not clip my nails in front of my partner, pluck my eyebrows, brush my teeth, shave, or do any other sort of beauty ritual. Even filing my nails only happens if I break one and it’s all jagged and has to be dealt with right then. I might be uptight, but I like my privacy and the bathroom is the Cave of Solitude. ---
**Author:** ![gwendee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-should-you-use-the-toilet-if-your-partner-is-in-the-bathroom/688525/42 "2014-05-16T00:10:42Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > One of the many "never again"s that I had to put behind me when I decide to marry again was my previously-stated refusal ever to share a 1-bathroom home with anyone else. We normally give each other bathroom privacy, but occasionally she’ll be in the shower when an urgent deuce calls. And deuces are wild. Ditto. It would never be a first choice for either of us, but sometimes ya just gotta. And I’d only go in there if he was in the shower. If he was shaving or brushing his teeth I’d ask him to speed it up or step out. Years ago I lived in a house share with a fluctuating assortment of people. Two of them ended up becoming a couple and moved into one room together. Should’ve started by saying that this house that had anywhere from 5 to 9 residents, and often many overnight visitors had one bathroom. I can’t imagine enduring that now. Anyway, once these people hooked up they got into a routine of going to the bathroom together in the evening. There were times she’d wait for him halfway up the stairs and kind of tap her foot, “Are you coming? Hurry up.” The rest of us found it kind of odd. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-should-you-use-the-toilet-if-your-partner-is-in-the-bathroom/688525/43 "2014-05-16T00:16:03Z")
> [@OneCentStamp](#): > > Well, for one, you’re about 90% likely to see her poop. Let’s just say if I ever had thoughts of her delivering at home, her first labor would have disabused me of that notion. Luckily I have a strong stomach. On the plus side, walking into the hospital with a bucket and announcing that she is throwing up with every contraction means that you don’t have to wait in the lobby very long. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-should-you-use-the-toilet-if-your-partner-is-in-the-bathroom/688525/44 "2014-05-16T00:28:06Z")
> [@PurpleClogs](#): > > Sitting on the toilet, for either sex, is just unattractive. I don’t get why anyone would want to be seen like that. It’s not a matter of wanting to see, it’s a matter of it being no big deal. We’ve seen each other healthy, sick, dressed up and just woken up. We’ve gotten thrown up on by our kids. I’ve seen her in the hospital. No flushing while the other person is in the shower, and I prefer her to not bump me while shaving, but that’s about it. How are people going to cope when you are both 80 and full of problems? ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-should-you-use-the-toilet-if-your-partner-is-in-the-bathroom/688525/45 "2014-05-16T01:23:58Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > It’s not a matter of wanting to see, it’s a matter of it being no big deal. We’ve seen each other healthy, sick, dressed up and just woken up. We’ve gotten thrown up on by our kids. I’ve seen her in the hospital. > > No flushing while the other person is in the shower, and I prefer her to not bump me while shaving, but that’s about it. > > How are people going to cope when you are both 80 and full of problems? When problems happen you deal with them. There is no need to start training for our 80s when we are in our 30s-40s. Seeing her bodily functions now will not help me in anyway. Why would it? ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-should-you-use-the-toilet-if-your-partner-is-in-the-bathroom/688525/46 "2014-05-16T02:10:22Z")
Eh, no one in the house gives a shit one way or another. As stated above, if you gotta go and there no other alternative, shit happens. And bodily functions have never fazed me, as I’m perfectly capable of compartmentalizing various necessary acts. Especially if, in one instance, the husband needs to be an object of desire and in the other, an instrument of pukitude because he’s sick. 'Tis just life. Married 21 years. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-should-you-use-the-toilet-if-your-partner-is-in-the-bathroom/688525/47 "2014-05-16T02:15:53Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > It’s not a matter of wanting to see, it’s a matter of it being no big deal. We’ve seen each other healthy, sick, dressed up and just woken up. We’ve gotten thrown up on by our kids. I’ve seen her in the hospital. > > No flushing while the other person is in the shower, and I prefer her to not bump me while shaving, but that’s about it. > > How are people going to cope when you are both 80 and full of problems? I expect I’ll cope just fine, just like when he’s vomiting now I clean up after him and when he’s sick I tend to him. I’d just rather poop in private, if I can, thanks. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-should-you-use-the-toilet-if-your-partner-is-in-the-bathroom/688525/48 "2014-05-16T02:24:17Z")
You left out: “I am a cat, and I stand in the litter box with my ass over the edge, and poop on the floor. And I don’t give a rat’s ass who’s watching.” ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-should-you-use-the-toilet-if-your-partner-is-in-the-bathroom/688525/49 "2014-05-16T02:28:20Z")
Boyfriend and I will often pee together at the same time (or when one of us is brushing our teeth or shaving or showering), but that’s it. No pooping with the door open, or letting the other in for any reason during a #2. Unless it was an absolute emergency, then I’d be willing to do it. But we have 2 bathrooms anyway so I voted for the peeing only option. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-should-you-use-the-toilet-if-your-partner-is-in-the-bathroom/688525/50 "2014-05-16T03:31:18Z")
One-ing, only if absolutely necessary. Two-ing, absolutely no way. ---
**Author:** ![PurpleClogs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f04885/32.png) [@PurpleClogs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PurpleClogs)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-should-you-use-the-toilet-if-your-partner-is-in-the-bathroom/688525/51 "2014-05-16T03:48:27Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > How are people going to cope when you are both 80 and full of problems? Hire someone! ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-should-you-use-the-toilet-if-your-partner-is-in-the-bathroom/688525/52 "2014-05-16T06:16:13Z")
> [@PurpleClogs](#): > > Hire someone! Sure, pooping in front of a stranger is OK… ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-should-you-use-the-toilet-if-your-partner-is-in-the-bathroom/688525/53 "2014-05-16T06:19:36Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > When problems happen you deal with them. There is no need to start training for our 80s when we are in our 30s-40s. Seeing her bodily functions now will not help me in anyway. Why would it? Aha! If the problem is that the SO points to what he or she has done and demands comment, I understand why privacy is desirable. In our house we poop and flush with nether regions hidden. BTW I’m not objecting to anyone’s queasiness. Just astounded. But I never had any issues with diapering our kids either, and never understood the meme of the Dad being icked out by it. Shit, after all, happens. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-should-you-use-the-toilet-if-your-partner-is-in-the-bathroom/688525/54 "2014-05-16T09:15:41Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > I think people who grew up with one bathroom, or with lots of siblings, tend to not think twice about such things. If you’ve gotta go, you go. > > That being said, if there’s another bathroom available, I’ll use it. Yup. We have one bathroom, and it’s just not practical for us to wait all the time. I would if I could, but I can’t. ---
**Author:** ![jabiru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@jabiru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabiru)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-should-you-use-the-toilet-if-your-partner-is-in-the-bathroom/688525/55 "2014-05-16T09:26:44Z")
Nope. Never have and never will. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-should-you-use-the-toilet-if-your-partner-is-in-the-bathroom/688525/56 "2014-05-16T10:21:28Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > How are people going to cope when you are both 80 and full of problems? If I thought there was any chance I’d live to be 80, I’d be taking better care of myself now. ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-should-you-use-the-toilet-if-your-partner-is-in-the-bathroom/688525/57 "2014-05-16T11:01:50Z")
I voted for option 1 in the poll because it does happen, but actually my preference is to poop in private. It’s the wiping stage that causes more of an issue for me, for some reason - probably because more stuff is (potentially) on display than when you are sitting there doing your business. So if my missus is in the shower I’d almost always opt to use the other toilet, for preference. Similarly, I’d rather she didn’t poop while I was brushing my teeth, but she doesn’t seem to care about it. But it’s not really an issue. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-should-you-use-the-toilet-if-your-partner-is-in-the-bathroom/688525/58 "2014-05-16T11:13:00Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > But I never had any issues with diapering our kids either, and never understood the meme of the Dad being icked out by it. Shit, after all, happens. It’s funny you think caretaking (diapering kids, tending to elderly spouse) and wanting bathroom privacy are at all related. ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-should-you-use-the-toilet-if-your-partner-is-in-the-bathroom/688525/59 "2014-05-16T11:48:02Z")
Peeing is fine. But my mother held court on the pot when I was a kid, never a flicker of modesty, no matter how repellant the stench or the sound. Knowing how I felt being on the other side of that I swore i would never be the one to disgust someone else in that way. I am therefore exceedingly uptight about it with everyone, friends, lovers, strangers. When my male roommate moved in we had a discussion about the shared bathroom and agreed that we both preferred to pretend we did not have bowel movements and that lighting matches is required. ( yes, its a bit of an announcement in itself, but a far less disgusting one than the natural aroma of poo.) ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2014, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-should-you-use-the-toilet-if-your-partner-is-in-the-bathroom/688525/60 "2014-05-16T12:02:19Z")
You know that the honeymoon’s over And romance is a dying flower When she comes in to take a shit While you are in the shower. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-should-you-use-the-toilet-if-your-partner-is-in-the-bathroom/688525.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-do-you-should-you-use-the-toilet-if-your-partner-is-in-the-bathroom/688525.md?page=4)