Am I too old-fashioned?
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (347936)
Rockingham, Australia
March 6, 2025 7:36pm CST
An old couch-surfing friend has got back in touch lately. She is now qualified as a metallurgist and is a FIFO (fly in fly out) worker on a remote mine site.
She doesn’t know many people here and looks to us as someone she can discuss her multitudinous issues with. She is very Germanic; everything is black and white and she rubs people up the wrong way quite often, meaning she annoys them.
She tends to over-stay her visits so we encourage her to ring if she wants to talk to us. Vince puts the phone on speaker as, despite having lived in Australia for many years (she’s 49) she still has a very strong accent. On speaker phone, I help with translating if Vince is having trouble.
However, the other day the phone went a bit funny then she said she was ringing from the toilet! Is this really okay with people nowadays? Socially acceptable? I don’t want anyone ringing me while they’re sitting on the toilet. Would it worry you?
The photo is of a sign seen in a toilet in one of our tourist towns.
22 people like this
21 responses
@allknowing (142023)
• India
7 Mar
Even if I did I will not make the announncement
9 people like this
@allknowing (142023)
• India
7 Mar
@JudyEv The writers and poets I read get ideas sitting on that throne
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (347936)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 Mar
@allknowing Maybe but I still don't want them ringing me from there.
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (72195)
• United States
7 Mar
Oh, I hear people on their phones all the time in the restroom. I think it’s taken the place of/become the new phone booth!
7 people like this
@kareng (69978)
• United States
7 Mar
@JudyEv Well I typed that being sarcastic!! I loved the name/term you gave it. So true though because it has become rather common here in the States. Personally, though I think and feel that it is RUDE to the other person on the phone and other people in the restroom!
2 people like this
@AmbiePam (96433)
• United States
7 Mar
I never talk to someone while using the bathroom. I find it rude. I do know some people who will do that with their family, but would never think of using the phone in the bathroom with anyone else. But to me, it’s just something I will never do. If I did, my mother might faint in Heaven.
If I had to bet, I would imagine men do that way more often than women.
4 people like this
@JudyEv (347936)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 Mar
I would never do this and, if I discovered someone was talking to me from the loo, I'd hang up. 
You can tell I'm old! lol
You can tell I'm old! lol
@JudyEv (347936)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 Mar
Surely you can spare the time to go to the toilet without your phone.
@1creekgirl (42785)
• United States
7 Mar
Yes, that's TMI too much info. I hope she doesn't make a nuisance of herself.
That sign is hilarious.
3 people like this
@kareng (69978)
• United States
7 Mar
NO! I would not like that or tolerate it. I would tell them to call me back later when you aren't busy and hope they would get the hint. Otherwise, I'd be busy and tell them I couldn't talk right now.
It's not socially acceptable, but I have seen people or heard people on their phones in a public restroom before. It's just weird!!
2 people like this
@rebelann (113400)
• El Paso, Texas
7 Mar
I've never seen a sign like that before, kinda funny.
I recall using a public toilet some years ago and a young woman was in a stall not far away chatting and laughing with someone, I wonder if the person on the other end could tell where she was.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (143077)
• United States
7 Mar
I'd rather people not call me if they're using the toilet but if they're just in the restroom to get privacy, there's not really a problem with it. After all, it's just another room in a house.
Maybe explain to your friend that you don't need details like which room she's in when she calls.
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (143077)
• United States
7 Mar
@JudyEv I totally understand. I'm sure she will too, if you need to explain it to her.
1 person likes this
@xFiacre (13289)
• Ireland
7 Mar
@judyev Chit chat from the potty is very bad form. Several times I have been offended during a phone conversation when it has been accompanied by a thunderous flush and I’ve just hung up. Equally unpsetting, offensive and disturbing is being addressed by someone standing outside the bathroom door during my performance. My family all know not to do such an improper thing. Nor would they wait at the door while I finish if they needed to go.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (347936)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 Mar
I'd hang up if I knew too but in this case it was difficult. Vince didn't realise and I couldn't say anything without her hearing as she was on speaker. I should have said something anyway I guess. I certainly will next time.
@TheHorse (224354)
• Walnut Creek, California
8 Mar
@JudyEv Have you read that "meme" about Heaven and Hell? Actually I have not in years. But it's something like: In Heaven, all of the humorists are British, all of the chefs and lovers are French, all of the car makers are German, and all of the priests are Italian. In Hell, all of the chefs are British, all of the car makers are Italian, all of the lovers are German, etc.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (184190)
• United States
7 Mar
I can see ANSWERING the phone if it rings while you're in the loo if you are expecting an important call; but to MAKE a call from there is poor etiquette. Have a good day.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (41672)
•
7 Mar
I honestly don't see the need to take the phone to use the toilet. The only time my phone goes in the bathroom is when I am going to take a shower, I put it on a shelf by the towel stand. I've never fallen in the shower or had any emergencies in there. I don't answer it in the shower..,.it's just there.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (41672)
•
7 Mar
@JudyEv
I read online not long ago that most people's phones have more germs than their toilet. Now, that's pretty sad. I've just never been one to take the phone to the bathroom....it seems kind of stupid to me, but hey...I am old fashioned, too!
1 person likes this
@Beestring (14999)
• Hong Kong
7 Mar
I will not do that but that doesn't worry me if someone is calling me from the toilet.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (162475)
• United States
7 Mar
I am one of those who does not believe the phone belongs in the toilet. Too much potential for germs or for dropping phones in water.Let alone the forced intimacy with who ever is on the other end of the line.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (347936)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Mar
It's the forced intimacy that bothers me. Surely some places are 'sacred'.
@snowy22315 (186393)
• United States
7 Mar
Oh interesting...are that many people perching on toilets such a problem?. About your friend, some people have no couth.
. About your friend, some people have no couth.1 person likes this
@lilacskies (10002)
• United States
7 Mar
People do all kinds of things in the bathroom. Some don't even use the bathroom for its purpose!
1 person likes this
@lilacskies (10002)
• United States
8 Mar
@JudyEv Yes, unfortunately this strange behavior has been around since my own parents were teenagers.
1 person likes this
