From the beginning of youth, people have been forced to utilize public restrooms during outings. It often results out of necessity, since it is a common fear among people to use a public facility. There are plenty of things to fear about them on top of all of the other horrors awaiting.
1. Germs.
Public restrooms are fair game to everyone, and everyone has germs. What if the person coming out of the stall before you has the flu, then you go in after them, forced to touch the handle of the door that they just contaminated because their hands were unwashed? It is a nightmare for people who suffer from a fear of germs. The risk of coming into contact with some form of illness is likely, even if the chance is small.
2. Trash cans (for the ladies)
Often times, restrooms will have mini waste baskets in the stalls in women and family restrooms, but then there are the occasional facilities that forget that women menstruate. What exactly are we to do with the hygiene products that we need to dispose of? We can't flush these items. In these instances, we are forced to wrap it up in toilet paper and carry it out of the stall with us to throw into the main trash bin that is in the restroom. For everyone to see. That can be embarrassing and uncomfortable because women can give disapproving looks as well as men can. So a tip for those establishments that do not understand the purpose of waste bins in stalls: it's so women don't leave bloody tampons laying around for employees to clean up later.
3. People lacking the ability to flush
And you know who you are, by the way. It's baffling that a significant number of grown people do not flush after using a public facility. I don't understand why people cannot grasp the concept of flushing after using the restroom, especially in a public restroom. Other people do not want to see what comes out of strangers and vice versa. It's gross leaving bodily waste for someone else to see when they walk into an empty stall. It's not that difficult to press a button or push the lever down on a toilet. C'mon people, have some common sense about this.
4. Aim
This does not just apply to men. Apparently, some women cannot aim correctly either, which is an issue since women sit down to piss. Maybe it's because some hover? It would be reasonable to think that if your aim is off, then you would clean up after yourself. Apparently not. I do not want to clean up anyone else's piss when I am forced to use of public restroom, so clean up after yourself. It's not that difficult. If you want to be gross, do it at your house where you're the only victim.
5. Automatic appliances
What could go wrong with a sink that can automatically tell when hands are underneath it or a dispenser that produces paper towels? A lot. The motion-sensors are not reliable. Half the time, they cannot even sense the motion they're designed to detect. People usually have to wave their hands frantically underneath the faucet before the water flows, and that flow is brief. Very brief. Then there's the paper towel dispenser that only forks over a small portion for drying hands. Why only this small portion? The inventors of these machines should realize that people are going to need a larger portion to completely dry their hands after putting up with the automatic sinks. Occasionally, there are the instances when people have to dry their hands on their pants leg or shirt because the towel dispenser decided to be moody and not give up the towel. That is a lot of hand waving put to waste in that moment.
6. Sex
So...this particular concept should not even be considered when entering a public restroom. The main reason is because public facilities, more often than not, are disgusting! Why someone would even entertain the thought of "getting it in" in a public restroom is beyond rational thought. I know that it can be hard to control sometimes, but have sex in your own bathroom, at home, where you're confident about the condition of the facility instead of attempting where strangers defecate.
7. Talking
The golden rule: don't. Talking to people that you do not know in public restrooms is just not a good idea. It creates an awkward situation for both parties, especially if the person you're attempting to communicate with is in the stall next to yours. Personally, I don't want people talking to me in the bathroom, even if I know them. Using the restroom is a very private aspect for many people, and trying to make small talk is not the most awesome idea for anyone involved.
8. Children
Children are a completely different beast when it comes to public restrooms. While some women opt to utilize the family restroom so that their somewhat older children (8-10) can come in with them, others do not. They allow their 10-year-old son to come into the women's bathroom with them. Newsflash: if your kid is over 8, they can go pee on their own in their designated restroom. They no longer need you to hold their hand while they go potty. Also, many kids are unaware of restroom etiquette, as are some adults. They do not understand why flushing is important and that using a wad of toilet paper to clean themselves is unnecessary. All they need is a little bit. They don't need to use the entire roll of toilet paper.
9. TP
This one is simple. If there is not any toilet paper in a stall, let others know about it before letting them walk into the stall and starting urinating, then realize that there isn't any toilet paper. That's just common courtesy, folks. What if you went into a stall after someone vacated it and there wasn't any toilet paper? You'd be PISSED and you know it. And for those who feel the need to use an entire roll of toilet paper, it's NOT necessary. Don't you watch the Charmin commercials? Common sense should come into play here.
10. Creepers
Yes, it's a thing. Why, you ask? Honestly, I have no idea why some people choose to hide in the other sex's restrooms and creep on them while they're urinating. Imagine that you're in a stall in the women's restroom. Someone comes in and occupies the stall next to you. Of course, you assume that it's an older woman because of the shoes that are visible under the stall barrier. It's at that point where it becomes awkward because both of you need to relieve yourselves and one refuses to give in first. You decide to give up, clean up, and leave the stall when you notice the person next to you begin to mirror your actions. You think, "You gotta be kidding me," but you continue and exit the stall to wash your hands. You're reaching for a paper towel when an older man exists the stall, smiling, and says, "Oh, I'm in the wrong one." The smile indicated that he knew what he was doing in there, and you know too. Your skin feels like it's crawling, a creeped-out tingle racking your body. This is the one experience that ruins public restrooms. As if they weren't horrible already. Having an old man creeping on you while pissing just takes the cake.
