Do you feel shy when / myLot

India

October 7, 2015 2:20pm CST

Somebody asks direction towards rest room? Seriously, in India, it becomes embarrassing and awkward. Men ask men, but men wouldn't dare ask women. They'd opt for piddling. Women ask women but in a shy sort of way, unless a child or a senior person is around. Then they use child or the senior person as an excuse to "brazenly" ask such a question. I don't know if this happens everywhere and to everybody. These are just my observations.

8 people like this

11 responses

Bala

@everloving (439)

• Chennai, India

8 Oct 15

i see no wrong in asking it. Also certain places in India lacks direction & sign boards & at the the only other source we rely to get the information is through the general public. If the same person comes & asks you again then there might seem to be a different motive :)!!!

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vanny

@vandana7 (100314)

• India

8 Oct 15

But many people hesitate. Many. I too. Like we were traveling and I could only tell my aunt to have the bus stopped somewhere. I could not tell the driver to take it somewhere.

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Bala

@everloving (439)

• Chennai, India

8 Oct 15

@vandana7 i understand, sometimes we have to go through these & if its an women its a bit tuff to ask. In these situation its better you plan your travel well & also check the whereabouts of public toilets:).

@piyushk15 (86)

• Bhopal, India

11 Oct 15

Well said :)

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The Horse

@TheHorse (219080)

• Walnut Creek, California

8 Oct 15

Interesting cultural difference. Here in the US, I think men are more likely to ask men, and women are more likely to ask women, but it's not really embarrassing. For me, no matter who asks, it provides an opportunity to be helpful, which I enjoy. I'll look for some responses from Europeans and East Asians.

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hora_fugit

@hora_fugit (5862)

• India

11 Oct 15

Yeah, I will feel shy if I don't know where the restroom is (when I am asked). In any case, my standard reply is "I don't know." Asking me directions? You'll get nowhere.

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hora_fugit

@hora_fugit (5862)

• India

11 Oct 15

@vandana7 Will simply ask. And if they feel awkward I will pretty much wonder why...

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vanny

@vandana7 (100314)

• India

11 Oct 15

What if you need to go to a rest room, and it is a college student who is in front of you? :)

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Anna

@LadyDuck (471573)

• Switzerland

8 Oct 15

There is nothing to be shy, this is surely not a problem here in Switzerland.

2 people like this

Sharon

@simone10 (54187)

• Louisville, Kentucky

8 Oct 15

No, something like that doesn't make me shy. But with you living in another country and with your customs, I can understand why you would feel shy. Here in the U.S. we aren't shy about too many things.

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Alfredo Rossi

@amadeo (111938)

• United States

7 Oct 15

Never,never I ask any gender.What is there to be shy of.Do you know where the bano?

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vanny

@vandana7 (100314)

• India

8 Oct 15

Ha ha, I am not the only one then. Look at others who feel that way. :)

hora_fugit

@hora_fugit (5862)

• India

11 Oct 15

I don't think bano is used for catching some sleep!

theSids

@thesids (22180)

• Bhubaneswar, India

8 Oct 15

It is all in the mindsets... and the urgency

. When I was very new at Hyderabad's office, I in fact had asked about it to a girl. She gave me weird looks but then realized that I was new around and pointed me to the right direction. But yes, as you say, it is not considered decent and social asking the opposite gender, here in India.