Do you use the bathroom during a thunderstorm?

Porcelain is a pretty good insulator, so I think you'd be fine using the pot, if the lightning travels through those pipes. Talking on the phone is fine, as long as it's not a corded phone that's hooked to the wall. I'm not nearly as careful as you are baout avoiding things durning electrical storms. I'd LOVE to see the statistics on how many people get zapped during any of those water-based activities, though.

I would rather not have to use the bathroom in a storm if at all possible. After all there is water in the bowl, and seems to be a condutor of electricity. I try to wait it out as long as possible, if I can't I try to run in quick, but the funny thing is most bathrooms always seem to have the toilet right next to the window, which is a double whammy, because you are not supposed to stand in front of a window in a storm, and I really believe this, as when I was a young girl my grandmothers neighbor was sitting in a chair by the window reading in a storm, she got struck by lightning, she was lucky she lived throgh it, though it might have been caused by the tree right outside her window, but who knows. I know of a church in our area that it's steeple got hit 3 times by lightning. I also believe standing under a tree in a storm is the worst thing you can do, most people get struck this way.

We had the same experience before actually. There was a storm here and my brother decided to go for a shower. We didn't actually believe in those things you listed there, but after the experience, I guess it's good to stay out of those spaces for a while. Anyhow, what happened was, my brother was taking a shower, when lightning struck a space in our backyard (which was actually an empty lot with lots of grass and trees), we all came out to the patio to see what it was, including him. When he got back to the shower to continue, the shower head (which was plastic) was melted all over and the heater was busted. I guess that was the impact of the lightning because it was really close to our home. As for using the toilet, when you have to go, you have to go! hehe.. Plus, statistics show that occurrence are not at all impossible but it won't happen to a lot of us, if it's your time, it's your time, you will get hit even if you're hiding. =)

Wow, I never thought about the bathroom thing. I think I may avoid it now, after reading some of the responses. I was always afraid of storms as a kid and so I would get a blanket, cover myself up and go to sleep. As an adult I go to my bed to read or watch a movie during a storm, I just realized the connection with going to sleep as a child and going to my bed as an adult, hmm interesting.

Yes, I use the bathroom during a storm. I have heard that you do not bath or shower during a thunderstorm but I've done it and I'm still here. I don't think it matters much, it's a rare occurance to be hit by lightning in any circumstance.

With lightning, if it can travel up to 50 miles through non conductive air its going to have no problem traveling through pipes and water and electrical wiring in the walls. Me personally, I don't use the bathroom at the peak of a bad storm, just cause of the proximity to the window. I'm not afraid of the storms, I actually want to be a storm chaser, but I just respect mother nature as you never know. I especially don't do it at night just cause it would be awkward to have the power go out and your pissing all over the place or stuck on the toilet and can't find your way.

During a heavy storm I unplug all electronic machines as well, or at least shut them off. I am not that affraid either, but I am causius. It depends what I will do, I think it's nice to light a couple of candles and cuddle up with your loved ones.

Hi friend, i never use my bathroom when storming. Like me my family member never do this. Once my mother got shocked from water came from tap. Since that instance, i am feared to use bathroom while even raining too. I know some people wont afraid of.Thanks

I'm not sure how severe the thunderstorms are at where you live, but in my tropical country we do have some heavy rains for a few months and thunders that go on for hours. When this happens, I'd not go anywhere as far as possible. Nor I dare to talk on the phone or use my computer. I won't also use the bathroom too but not because of the pipes and water, but afraid the thunder will somehow suddenly fry my water heated and get me electrocuted!

One thing I will not do during a thunderstorm is go outside, I almost got struck once! My computer is on a good surge protector so it's safe and, being a laptop, if it does start to worry me I can just unplug it and run off of battery. My phone is a cell phone so talking on the phone is no threat during a storm. As for the bathroom, if you gotta go you gotta go, I just hurry up to avoid any unneeded risks. I will not bath during a storm and dishes, well I'm not the one who does dishes anyways, my fiance does, but I won't let him do dishes during a thunderstorm either.

vicneedscoffee when you gotta go,you gotta go ,its safe so do not worry. you have mentioned the most pertinent things but I never heard that about pipes and water. we seldom have electric storms here either.So ca.

I have never hesitated to use the bathroom during a thunderstorm but I do shut off the computer if it is really bad. When it is really coming down, I love to just curl up in bed with a good book or just lay in my bed and listen to the rain and be thankful that I am safe inside.

well to be honest ill be glued to the window watching the storm and i dont THINK that i wouldnt use the bathroom actually i can remember i had a nice relaxing number two (haha) while it was thundering and no im not lying there i think u should only stay away from tree's and cars when its thundering

I know not to shower or use the sink during the storm. The toilet thing has been running thru my head for quite some time now. I understand the reasons not to use running water. But the toilet is not running. If you are doing #2 you dont have a constant connection to the water like doing #1 so id imagine #2 is fine. My toilet is far from my window but the whole window thing doesnt bother me. I actually sit at it to watch and would sit on a covered porch if i had one. Now the going #1 is whats been bothering me because it gives you a solid connection to the water in the bowl. But this water in the bowl has no direct connection to the drain or to the tank water. Water past the bend should be gone and even if there is some its not touching the bowl water. As for the tank most equipment past the source is plastic and not flowing unless its flushed. Im trying to not be nervous about going #1 during the storm and i can no longer hold it during some of the long storms that have been hitting new england this summer. So just dont run the water and dont talk on corded phones and you should be ok.

I can remember being told not to take a shower or bath during a storm and not to be on the computer, but I have never paid attention to either of those warnings. I have heard that people have had their computers wiped out by lightning coming into them somehow, but I don't know anyone personally who this has happened to. I love storms so I can't think of anything I wouldn't do except go out into it.

I hadn't thought about this before, but it's true about water and pipes. I don't ever talk on the phone, and we do unplug the computers - but I'm afraid I do watch TV. I'm not afraid of storms (if I'm indoors) - but I don't like it when the lights start flickering!