 Quote:
Originally Posted by OhDear  I am placing this thread / poll in the philosophy forum because I believe there are some deep rooted philosphies that may well figure in to the protocols and practices that I am about to talk about and inquire about.
I have it on trusted word, that when a man goes to the bathroom in a public restroom, he will look straight ahead and not speak to any of the other men who are availing themselves to the "urinals."
Even if he happens to walk in and see someone he knows! He will wait til he and the other gentleman are at the sinks washing their hands before he will say so much as a "Hey how's it going?"
Now I am amused by this, and even a bit bothered. I am picturing a line of men relieving their bladders only to do so in silence.
Nearly making it a holy moment, the phallus, a shrine to their sexual identity.
But the real problem here, as I see it, is the fear of the sliding scale of sexual orientation.
Perhaps many men are afraid that if they show themselves friendly and dare to speak so much as a "What's up?" Well, on second thought, maybe saying "What's up" would be the least appropriate greeting at such a time as that, but all the same, what the heck is wrong with smiling at a friend and saying,
"Good to see ya?" , many men are afraid they would be labeled as "gay"...
Too bad people can't just accept gay folk and then they wouldn't have to be scared of being labeled gay themselves.
Shoot, I accept people who have foot fetishes, and really don't mind if someone mistakenly labels me as having the same. Who cares?
Now back to the bathroom:
Me, I have used public bathrooms as a woman, I have not ever begun a conversation unless I already knew someone who was, like me, spending a penny. But if a woman spoke up to say something about the condition of the facility or talk about the weather or something, I don't mind. And I have nearly made friends in public bathrooms. Though I have yet to leave one giving anyone a hug. I have had some good sorority moments talking about the sale at The Wet Seal or the latest fragrances in at the Bath and Body Works.
Though admittedly, unless you know someone in the bathroom, you would not be apt to talk to someone who is in a stall. Then again, that is just cos the door, the sight unseen deal, shows that privacy is called for. But sometimes I have gone to the mall and in the company of friends, and light conversation continues even when behind separate doors.
For what it's worth, I wish men could know the real bonding of simply being human. Go to the bathroom and get in touch with their fellow latrine company without being so guarded . There is a whole lot of stress we make for ourselves by the phobias we carry around with us. And I thought using the restroom meant "relieving" ourselves!
|
Back to the first post, and I'm sure a guy down the line mentions this. Having a piss in a urinal is like going up a few floors in a lift (elevator). For a few minutes we (everyone) are in a social situation where there's no ettiqette been worked out. Believe me, it's NOT big, It DOESN'T matter and producing it as a social analysis of the male condition, isn't CLEVER. | 
04-18-2007, 05:38 PM
Linear Mode
