Bathroom Line Etiquette

[Anonymous]

Most of you are way less cynical than me b/c I know tons of people who would behave like this just because they had to go badly. If this woman had a true emergency, she could have said so. She also could have used a port-a-potty, but didn’t want to. Yes, they’re gross, but they’re way worse with young kids in tow who barely fit and don’t know not to touch anything. Grown women should not assume someone with young kids will defer to them if they just behave passive aggressively enough; that’s absurd.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My guess is those of us in our 40's and 50's are supporting the grown woman because we understand what she was going through. Port a potties suck and OP knows it. The issue was more about being gracious enough to let 1 person go ahead when you will takes 3 times as long with 3 people, especially with one in a diaper.

The ones supporting the OP's decision are probably younger with little kids.

You waited your turn and went in OP. But you will get your due one day OP. Karma is a b****.

I’m in my 40s and have young kids. I would have let the older lady go.

Same.

[Anonymous]

OP, please let it go. Stop posting multiple messages supporting yourself. The fact is you weren’t gracious and should have let her go before you and two kids. The end.

[Anonymous]

Team OP here. If it were really an emergency, she could have used the port-a-potties, and if this is a situation that happens frequently with her, she can pick up some depends. I'm not risking my kid having an accident because didn't plan ahead or is too prissy to use a perfectly fine port-a-potty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Team OP here. If it were really an emergency, she could have used the port-a-potties, and if this is a situation that happens frequently with her, she can pick up some depends. I'm not risking my kid having an accident because didn't plan ahead or is too prissy to use a perfectly fine port-a-potty.

Has anyone ever seen a "perfectly fine port-a-potty". Gosh, there was construction going on near my kid's preschool and one day a septic tanker came and was sucking out from the port a potty. The smell was around the whole block. I had to close my nose to drop my kid off. It was just vomit-inducing.

If I were the woman, I may have preferred peeing my pants than using a port a potty.

[Anonymous]

I probably would’ve let the woman go. My mother has IBS and interstitial cystitis and I know she often has emergencies. And it takes longer for three people to go to the bathroom than just one. But that would just be my decision, I don’t think OP is selfish for not letting her go ahead.
Recently, I had an older woman ask to go ahead of me in a fast food restaurant saying she didn’t feel well and really needed to go ahead of me. I said Ok thinking maybe she was really hungry or she could be diabetic or have another health issue. I had three kids with me and we were about to miss our bus but I still let her go ahead. I began to doubt what she said as she started making a very large order and was arguing with the cashier over the prices of each item and what her coupon was valid for. So , you never really know , I think any decision is fine.

[Anonymous]

After three kids, and now on my fourth, I’ve had severe incontinence issues at certain points. For those of us with recurrent UTIs or other issues, going to the bathroom publicly can be a physically painful and humiliating issue if not handled immediately. at an orchard, I probably would have worn depends or an undergarment. Even still, if she were needing to change or trying to avoid soiling, it’s really hard to mitigate an adult sized accident in a port o potty several feet away.

No, you didn’t have to let her go ahead of you, but just as many many others have stated in this 9 page response, you were less than gracious or compassionate in this case, as it takes much longer for three to use the bathroom than one.

You will be old one day, and maybe know her struggle. As will all of youbTeam OPers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Team OP here. If it were really an emergency, she could have used the port-a-potties, and if this is a situation that happens frequently with her, she can pick up some depends. I'm not risking my kid having an accident because didn't plan ahead or is too prissy to use a perfectly fine port-a-potty.

It’s good to know that so many of us on this thread were raised better than you were.

What a selfish a**.

When all else fails, be gracious. It’s not a contest.

[Anonymous]

I think the point is that the older woman was also not gracious. From OPs description she was standing chatting in line, not doubled over or in some pain as many of you have mentioned. OP had no reason to let the woman in front of her (and has said if it was a clear emergency she would have), but was annoyed that the woman made it seem like because she had to pee badly that it was her right to cut the line. You can read this from any vantage point you like, but from the description it doesn't sound as horrendous as many of you are making it seem "spoiling her pants" "couldn't walk" etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think the point is that the older woman was also not gracious. From OPs description she was standing chatting in line, not doubled over or in some pain as many of you have mentioned. OP had no reason to let the woman in front of her (and has said if it was a clear emergency she would have), but was annoyed that the woman made it seem like because she had to pee badly that it was her right to cut the line. You can read this from any vantage point you like, but from the description it doesn't sound as horrendous as many of you are making it seem "spoiling her pants" "couldn't walk" etc.

Yes, there are people out there who are just entitled and think they should go first. A true emergency? She would have quietly pleaded her case or asked to grab some TP instead of just declaring loudly like an entitled jerk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Team OP here. If it were really an emergency, she could have used the port-a-potties, and if this is a situation that happens frequently with her, she can pick up some depends. I'm not risking my kid having an accident because didn't plan ahead or is too prissy to use a perfectly fine port-a-potty.

It’s good to know that so many of us on this thread were raised better than you were.

What a selfish a**.

When all else fails, be gracious. It’s not a contest.

I think your comment says a lot about how you were raised - and none of it good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Most of you are way less cynical than me b/c I know tons of people who would behave like this just because they had to go badly. If this woman had a true emergency, she could have said so. She also could have used a port-a-potty, but didn’t want to. Yes, they’re gross, but they’re way worse with young kids in tow who barely fit and don’t know not to touch anything. Grown women should not assume someone with young kids will defer to them if they just behave passive aggressively enough; that’s absurd.

That's the right word -- absurd.

Here's a solution for the incontinent old ladies who want to cut the line over little children: WEAR DIAPERS!

[Anonymous]

Team mom + kids here. If it were really an emergency, they could have used the port-a-potties, and if this is a situation that happens frequently with her, she can pick up some more diapers. I'm not risking having an accident because she didn't plan ahead or her brats are too prissy to use a perfectly fine port-a-potty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Team OP here. If it were really an emergency, she could have used the port-a-potties, and if this is a situation that happens frequently with her, she can pick up some depends. I'm not risking my kid having an accident because didn't plan ahead or is too prissy to use a perfectly fine port-a-potty.

Has anyone ever seen a "perfectly fine port-a-potty". Gosh, there was construction going on near my kid's preschool and one day a septic tanker came and was sucking out from the port a potty. The smell was around the whole block. I had to close my nose to drop my kid off. It was just vomit-inducing.

If I were the woman, I may have preferred peeing my pants than using a port a potty.

Then own your choices!

Personally, I would prefer to use a portapotty than soil myself. I also wouldn’t blame a mom with 2 young children for my decision to soil myself instead of using a portapotty. This is the basics of being an adult, hopefully grandma can figure out choices and natural consequences soon - for her sake.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, you will love your 50s

You, too, will have a younger woman dismiss your urgent need to go. Why would a grown, older woman need to use the restroom so badly? She is just trying to cut in line! She can wait like the rest of us!

Karma, baby. You will get your turn.

Amen! Oh, but don’t worry, you can just walk over to the port a potty.

I'm in my 50s. I don't love port-a-potties, but I can use them. And I know the ick of port-a-potties for me is outweighed by the hassle of wrangling two little kids, one still potty-training. (I'm not so old that I don't remember how it was when my kids were little)

That’s great, but this isn’t about YOU.

It’s about women in their 50s. I’m in my 50s. Is it not about me because I think OP’s choice was fine?