What do you need that much room for?

I once commandeered the handicapped stall at a party after too many shots of tequila. It's roominess meant that I became a stop on the party tour. At one point I looked up from leaning over the toilet and the were four people in there, hanging out with me.

It's sad that it's the NYCers who brought this up, because it had never occurred to me as a potential problem.

That's the logic I heard in my small town. I'm sure it has happened, but it just seems so hassle-laden as far as thefts go.

Can we all agree that bathroom stalls without doors are evil?

I haven't seen those since elementary school. That was just horrible.

I don't think I get it. Why would you need to say something? Why not just wait? I do kind of think not answering is iffy. (I'm presuming they asking if it is in fact occupado?)

No one waits, there's another bathroom about 50 ft away. And the comments are usually something like "Oh, there's someone in here" without a questioning tone of voice. You can see feet under the stall door from the entrance. It seems like excessive chattiness to me, but I am at the other extreme.

I haven't seen those since elementary school. That was just horrible.

Oh, yes. Even worse was when I was the first in my 5th-grade class to get her period, and had to deal with pads, etc., in full view of anyone else in that bathroom. Yuck.

I always hang my purse on the hook. I figure the chance of encountering the semi-mythical over-the-door purse thief is tiny and the chance of something disgusting getting on my purse if I put it on the floor is large.

I haven't seen a fold down shelf in ages. I always liked those.

I've seen these in several airport restrooms. I guess they figure folks will be carrying a lot of stuff around while in airports. And when I have my purse, coat, and carryon bag on one of these, there's no way it's flipping back up.

I have never been in a multi-bathroom that didn't have doors on the stalls.

You all had them in your schools? Where'd you grow up, Soviet Canuckistan?

I can't remember if my K-2 school had doors on the stalls, but I do know that the 3-5 school didn't. Junior high (6-8) definitely did, though, so either they started trusting us not to TP the entire bathroom, or they decided the privacy was more important at that age.

Oh, yes. Even worse was when I was the first in my 5th-grade class to get her period, and had to deal with pads, etc., in full view of anyone else in that bathroom. Yuck.

Oh holy crap. I would've...I don't know, made my mother call in sick for me for the week or something. I was the first girl I knew to get mine (summer between 5th & 6th), and I was already plenty mortified without that kind of humiliation. Seriously, I'm sitting here infuriated on your (and any other girl this happened to) behalf. (Can I assume you're ok now, 20 or whatever years later?)

I always hang my purse on the hook. I figure the chance of encountering the semi-mythical over-the-door purse thief is tiny and the chance of something disgusting getting on my purse if I put it on the floor is large.

Ginger is wise.