# Trapped in a bathroom: did she over-react? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 12, 2013, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trapped-in-a-bathroom-did-she-over-react/676191 "2013-12-12T19:51:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trapped-in-a-bathroom-did-she-over-react/676191/81 "2013-12-13T05:01:43Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Two hours to poke through some drywall and insulation? That’s the crazy part. I’d put my boot through the wall in about 30 seconds. > > Anyway, the wall can be repaired for like a hundred bucks. No big whoop. Is that through the 5/8" fire-retardant stuff required in modern (USA) construction? Was it even specified as drywall?. But if I got locked in the office on a Friday night, I’d do whatever required to escape. And if my boss or the building management came after me, I’d be talking to a lawyer. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trapped-in-a-bathroom-did-she-over-react/676191/82 "2013-12-13T05:19:51Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > Is that through the 5/8" fire-retardant stuff required in modern (USA) construction? > > Was it even specified as drywall?. > > But if I got locked in the office on a Friday night, I’d do whatever required to escape. And if my boss or the building management came after me, I’d be talking to a lawyer. Did you read the story? 😕 Did you see the pictures? 😕 I can tell by looking at it that it’s 5/8 drywall. ---
**Author:** ![runningdude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e9c0ed/32.png) [@runningdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/runningdude)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trapped-in-a-bathroom-did-she-over-react/676191/83 "2013-12-13T05:24:38Z")
> [@boytyperanma](#): > > Sadly her lack of building knowledge appears to have led to a lot of unnecessary damage. Why she beat the door to hell or put another hole in a random part of the wall is beyond me. In this article or one of the linked articles, she started one hole, but hit a metal plate in the wall, so started another. ---
**Author:** ![epbrown01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trapped-in-a-bathroom-did-she-over-react/676191/84 "2013-12-13T05:42:19Z")
> [@epbrown01](#): > > She was inside the bathroom an _entire shift_. No one makes rounds? No one investigates seeing a pile of 200 paper towels outside the ladies room on the monitor? At the very least, that would indicate possible flooding/water damage happening inside - not something for security to ignore all weekend. > [@carnivorousplant](#): > > I thought that it was Saturday. > With all those people there, surely someone would have needed the bathroom. No, I’m referring to building security. Even on Saturday, we had a couple of people - one watching the lobby, one watching the monitors in an office, and every couple of hours they alternate walking thru the building floor-by-floor; that seems to be SOP. In the entire shift, no one from security noticed a big pile of paper towels outside one bathroom on the monitors, or during their walk-around? Hell, security didn’t notice someone _pounding/kicking her way thru a wall_? In an empty building, sound carries. The guys in the caper films can apparently relax with their duct-crawling and video looping ways. ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trapped-in-a-bathroom-did-she-over-react/676191/85 "2013-12-13T05:55:29Z")
> [@runningdude](#): > > In this article or one of the linked articles, she started one hole, but hit a metal plate in the wall, so started another. From the picture there is no reason logical reason you’d try to break out the Sheetrock on the first wall. The logical place it her second hole next to the door so you could either access the latch if possible or reach the door knob. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trapped-in-a-bathroom-did-she-over-react/676191/86 "2013-12-13T05:58:01Z")
> [@boytyperanma](#): > > From the picture there is no reason logical reason you’d try to break out the Sheetrock on the first wall. Female and panicking. Seriously. Logic doesn’t enter into the equation. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trapped-in-a-bathroom-did-she-over-react/676191/87 "2013-12-13T11:17:10Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Female and panicking. Seriously. Logic doesn’t enter into the equation. Hey, I’m a guy, and I probably would have tried breaking through at some random spot, too. And I even have an advanced degree with the word “architect” in it! (Okay, so it’s preceded by the word “landscape,” that much is true…) ---
**Author:** ![AnaMen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dfb087/32.png) [@AnaMen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnaMen)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trapped-in-a-bathroom-did-she-over-react/676191/88 "2013-12-13T12:35:54Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Female and panicking. Seriously. Logic doesn’t enter into the equation. What an offensive statement. What would she have done differently if she had a penis, picked the lock with it? ---
**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:** [December 13, 2013, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trapped-in-a-bathroom-did-she-over-react/676191/89 "2013-12-13T12:41:36Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Female and panicking. Seriously. Logic doesn’t enter into the equation. What does this even mean? You attribute an awful lot of logic and composure to a penis. :rolleyes: ---
**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:** [December 13, 2013, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trapped-in-a-bathroom-did-she-over-react/676191/90 "2013-12-13T12:52:37Z")
If I’m ever in that situation, I hope I’d have the presence of mind to do exactly what she did. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trapped-in-a-bathroom-did-she-over-react/676191/91 "2013-12-13T13:17:16Z")
> [@AnaMen](#): > > What an offensive statement. > What would she have done differently if she had a penis, picked the lock with it? “Female” means she _probably_ doesn’t have a lot of experience with building construction techniques and layouts, and wouldn’t have thought upfront that she ought to try digging a small hole through the hallway wall so she could reach the doorknob (instead of trying to dig a whole-body passage through some other wall that leads to some unknown space). If you find that offensive, visit a few home construction sites and see how many of the builders are men and how many are women. Likewise, go to a few houses where the owners are doing major remodelling, and see how many of the folks doing the heavy mechanical work (framing walls, putting up drywall, etc.) are men and how many are women. Yes, there are _some_ women, but I predict it’s mostly men. “panicking” means, hey, she might have panicked. Some dudes are prone to panic too, so that shouldn’t be inherently offensive. In her shoes, I wouldn’t necessarily be looking for a lawsuit. But if my employer gave me an ounce of grief for any of that damage, I’d insist on being paid time-and-a-half for the 8 hours I was locked in there, and I might make vague threats of a lawsuit that would incur legal costs for my employer that would be far in excess of my overtime pay. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trapped-in-a-bathroom-did-she-over-react/676191/92 "2013-12-13T13:18:19Z")
I think that the paper towel bit was actually quite clever. I doubt I would have thought of that. I probably would have attempted to kick the down down\* within the first hour and put a hole in the wall shortly thereafter if that didn’t work. \*With my penis. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trapped-in-a-bathroom-did-she-over-react/676191/93 "2013-12-13T13:20:44Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > You attribute an awful lot of logic and composure to a penis. :rolleyes: From experience with mine, I’d say it is the opposite. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Debaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3da27b/32.png) [@Debaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debaser)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trapped-in-a-bathroom-did-she-over-react/676191/94 "2013-12-13T13:30:49Z")
I don’t blame her for making a hole in the wall to get out. That’s reasonable given that she was already in there overnight and was looking at possibly spending the rest of the weekend in there. However, she definitely seems like a drama queen. > [@](#): > > “I came undone,” says Perrin. “I was crying. I felt like I was escaping a bad dream, like when you have a nightmare and you wake up and your heart is pounding and you realize, ‘Oh, I was just dreaming. Did that just happen. Am I OK?’” She’s either a very delicate flower, or is angling for a lawsuit. She got locked in a bathroom. It’s not the end of the world. The above quote sounds like someone who is being taken out of [Nakatomi Plaza](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Die_Hard). ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trapped-in-a-bathroom-did-she-over-react/676191/95 "2013-12-13T13:42:31Z")
had she been there for the weekend, wouldn’t it basically be more than 50hrs of solitary confinement? ---
**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:** [December 13, 2013, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trapped-in-a-bathroom-did-she-over-react/676191/96 "2013-12-13T13:47:08Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > “Female” means she _probably_ doesn’t have a lot of experience with building construction techniques and layouts, and wouldn’t have thought upfront that she ought to try digging a small hole through the hallway wall so she could reach the doorknob (instead of trying to dig a whole-body passage through some other wall that leads to some unknown space). > > If you find that offensive, visit a few home construction sites and see how many of the builders are men and how many are women. Likewise, go to a few houses where the owners are doing major remodelling, and see how many of the folks doing the heavy mechanical work (framing walls, putting up drywall, etc.) are men and how many are women. Yes, there are _some_ women, but I predict it’s mostly men. > > “panicking” means, hey, she might have panicked. Some dudes are prone to panic too, so that shouldn’t be inherently offensive. I think this an overly generous reading of the original comment. > [@carnivorousplant](#): > > From experience with mine, I’d say it is the opposite. 🙂 Yup. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trapped-in-a-bathroom-did-she-over-react/676191/97 "2013-12-13T14:01:26Z")
Not a over reaction, But seems quite normal to me. Not sure why a boss should be pissed at her, perhaps pissed at maintenance for allowing it or security for missing it, are not they suppose to be patrolling, would expect her boss to be apologetic and perhaps to at least give her and her husband a gift card for a local restaurant for the time they lost together, if not a paid day off, as she did stay a extra 8 hours. Most specifically her boss may consider the liability that he is now opened up to and perhaps concerned that she may sue the company for damages. ---
**Author:** ![alexandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e68b1a/32.png) [@alexandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alexandra)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trapped-in-a-bathroom-did-she-over-react/676191/98 "2013-12-13T14:02:28Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > “Female” means she _probably_ doesn’t have a lot of experience with building construction techniques and layouts, and wouldn’t have thought upfront that she ought to try digging a small hole through the hallway wall so she could reach the doorknob (instead of trying to dig a whole-body passage through some other wall that leads to some unknown space). > > If you find that offensive, visit a few home construction sites and see how many of the builders are men and how many are women. Likewise, go to a few houses where the owners are doing major remodelling, and see how many of the folks doing the heavy mechanical work (framing walls, putting up drywall, etc.) are men and how many are women. Yes, there are _some_ women, but I predict it’s mostly men. Saying that her building construction knowledge is worse than the average man is nothing like saying “logic doesn’t come into it”. ---
**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:** [December 13, 2013, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trapped-in-a-bathroom-did-she-over-react/676191/99 "2013-12-13T14:18:27Z")
> [@alexandra](#): > > Saying that her building construction knowledge is worse than the average man is nothing like saying “logic doesn’t come into it”. I would even argue the case that just because men are more likely to be involved in construction that the specific men _in her office building_ would be anymore knowledgable about construction than any random woman, unless you argue male collective knowledge. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2013, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trapped-in-a-bathroom-did-she-over-react/676191/100 "2013-12-13T14:19:00Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > “Female” means she _probably_ doesn’t have a lot of experience with building construction techniques and layouts, and wouldn’t have thought upfront that she ought to try digging a small hole through the hallway wall so she could reach the doorknob (instead of trying to dig a whole-body passage through some other wall that leads to some unknown space). > > If you find that offensive, visit a few home construction sites and see how many of the builders are men and how many are women. Likewise, go to a few houses where the owners are doing major remodelling, and see how many of the folks doing the heavy mechanical work (framing walls, putting up drywall, etc.) are men and how many are women. Yes, there are _some_ women, but I predict it’s mostly men. > > “panicking” means, hey, she might have panicked. Some dudes are prone to panic too, so that shouldn’t be inherently offensive. > > In her shoes, I wouldn’t necessarily be looking for a lawsuit. But if my employer gave me an ounce of grief for any of that damage, I’d insist on being paid time-and-a-half for the 8 hours I was locked in there, and I might make vague threats of a lawsuit that would incur legal costs for my employer that would be far in excess of my overtime pay. Thank you. That was the intent of my late night comment. Trying initially to burrow through a wall as opposed to making a small hole was illogical. I wasn’t trying to be offensive. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trapped-in-a-bathroom-did-she-over-react/676191.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trapped-in-a-bathroom-did-she-over-react/676191.md?page=6)