I have a book called the Bathroom Reader, with all kinds of short stories and trivia that you can read while in the bathroom or anyplace you're going to spent a little quality time at. One of the statistics they mention in there is that 70% of people close the bathroom door even when they're home alone. They seem surprised that figure is so high but I'm not. I'm one of the 70% that closes the door even though I live alone. I have a lot of reasons for doing so, even though I have no fear of other people walking in on me.
For one thing, I do have cats, and cat-people know how curious our little fur-babies can be. Some cats like to be everywhere you are so if you disappear into another room, they want to follow. I always wonder if cats know what bathrooms are for and what we're really doing in there. I would think they would know since animals' sense of smell is better than a human's, isn't it? So I'm not sure why a cat would want to follow me in there, unless it's to go in there after I go! I sure don't want the cats going in there. I have a litter box set up for them in another room for that purpose. And I don't want them looking at me, rubbing their bodies on my legs, or jumping in my lap while I'm on the pot so I prefer to keep them out while I'm doing my business.
Another reason I close the door is to contain odors. I might leave the door open when I'm not using the bathroom or if I just go in to wash my hands, but if I'm using the bathroom for other purposes, I prefer to keep the door closed to keep any possible sewer backups or other unwanted scents from drifting through the whole house.
Perhaps the most important reason I close the door is to stay in the habit of doing so. If I always left the door open when I went to the bathroom at home, I might forget myself when I'm visiting someone or using a public restroom and leave the door open, enabling other people to accidentally walk in on me, leading to a mortifying incident. Just as I store unopened mayonnaise in the refrigerator even though it could go in the pantry, so that I get used to seeing it there and don't accidentally put an open jar in the pantry, I keep the bathroom door closed so that it becomes the norm for me to see it that way and I don't leave it open in a place I shouldn't.
I have to wonder about the 30% who don't close the bathroom door at home. What percent of them also leave the door ajar when they're away from home? Ewwww!
Confessions of an armchair critic and general know-it-all
I have an opinion on just about everything and a wide variety of interests and experiences that give me insight into many professions. As a relatively quiet and shy person, I find myself imparting my knowledge more online, where I can talk and talk and not be worried that people are rolling their eyes or checking their watch while I drone on.
Showing posts with label Salute to Private John. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Salute to Private John. Show all posts
Thursday, January 12, 2012
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