Bathroom Subcultures!
Inspired by hareega’s recent bathroom dilemma, and reminded by a story of my own in Al -Rai newspaper building in Amman, I decided to share something that I recently learnt about men/women bathroom subcultures!
I was at a business meeting in al Rai building few years ago when I had this strong urge to visit the ladies’, only to discover that the ladies’ do not exist…all the bathrooms were gent’s! But I really had to go and so I decided that a man got to do what a man got to do so I ventured in. My first reaction was shock at the structure of the bathroom they have these sinks that I later learnt are called urinals. My second reaction was being scandalized at how dirty men’s bathrooms are! When I was done I obviously wanted to leave but I was faced with a second dilemma, there were men in the bathroom! I waited a bit, listening with all my heart, and when I was sure that no one was there, I ventured out… however to my complete chagrin, there was ONE man there at those sinks! Imagine the situation a woman in men’s room in AMMAN! emboldened by the ridiculousness of the situation I did what a woman would do in a bathroom… I smiled, said hi and stormed out of the whole building never to come back again!
Men and women have completely different bathroom cultures…While women’s restrooms are networking lounges and counseling centers, where we can meet interesting people. Men’s bathrooms are exactly that… bathrooms! In our bathrooms, we discuss everything, people, clothing, events, our problems, our friends’ problems and gossip. While we apply make-up, we discuss application techniques and brands; we pass toilet paper under the gap, and continue our conversation across the wall even with strangers, while going about our business… it is rare but not unheard of that two women would go in the same cubicle to finish the conversation!
Men on the other hand discuss NOTHING! Absolutely nothing! They don’t talk in the bathroom, even if they were there with their best friend… they try to keep the conversation to a minimum! They certainly will not talk, while sitting on the toilet, and they will never meet another man’s gaze. What I found most interesting was that men also have a territorial ritual while in the bathroom. If there are five urinals in a row, the first man will choose the urinal furthest from the door, the second man will choose the urinal furthest from the first man, the third man will choose the one in the middle and the fourth will go in a cubicle!!!
funny! I always wondered why girls go in groups to the bathroom!
True Jordanian
(http://livejournal.com/users/)
lol mariam it's so funny! how come fish girls' bathroom in that building?! it's so weird, never knew that there is such a thing in Jordan! this is way funnier than when u fell in Poland
Lara M
(http://livejournal.com/users/)
jameed requests a full account of the incident in Poland.
jameed also admits that he has used the women's restroom at least two times in his life. he has found them to have higher hygienic standards than their men's counterpart. he attributes that to the inability of most women to pee standing up.
(http://livejournal.com/users/)
ahhh… well some of the best conversations i have ever had were in the ladies'and i promise some of the most interesting people!
(http://livejournal.com/users/madas)
Lara,
Fada7tina! i did not die of embarassment in Poland, because i have couple of worse stories! unfortunately… i am that type of person. Someone who would put herself in mawaqef baikha!
Actually there were bathrooms, but for some reason they were locked and the key was missing…maybe in that floor, there were no women… i dont know really….but when i went there, there was no bathroom!
(http://livejournal.com/users/)
Hi,
I've posted the long delayed 2nd “Madas requests” on my blog.
…….Don't you dare say that you need me to sign this comment also
(http://livejournal.com/users/)
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3169770,00.html
Dear Friends,
The civilized world and democracy generous lessons coming to the region left right and center, all is well and quite at the western front. Yet Palestine and Palestinians are suffering an Israeli holocaust under the eyes and ears of the civilized compassionate world. As if Palestine and the Palestinians are the private domain for the ugly Israeli practice.
“I'm shocked and it hurts me a lot, when a father of a 13 year old daughter said.” If the soldier murderer shot my daughter with 30 bullets, the court murdered her again today 100 times. By releasing the murderer free to kill more”
For all Palestinian and non friends, I want you to read the story as reported by the “Ynetnews” Israeli press,(linc Below) and put your self as a judge for a minute, and if you feel what I feel, or better be feel what the poor father felt, when his 13 year old was shot not by one bullet, but 30 bullets, I want you from the depth of your sense of right and wrong to stand up and do something to stop the killing of Palestinian children.
Please do something to help wakening up the world’s conscience. Justices will see to end all hostilities, but it has to be for both sides.
Please read the article and circulate. the link: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3169770,00.html
I cant forget that I was born and raised in Palestine ,and I can trace my ancestors property to 500 years without having to go to curt to prove it ,and if I do go to curt my rights are all of Palestine ,yet I cant even visit my home town .Am I a victim ?yes I am an an Israeli Holocaust survivor .
It is about time we have to stand for our rights, and stop all the havoc carried by the IDF Israeli defense foresees, D stands for defense!!!! Yet the fighting is not inside Israel, it is inside Gaza and the Western Bank, internationally recognized as Palestinian territories.
Do something before another child dies.
Thank you
I am an Israel holocaust survivor
Please circulate
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3169770,00.html
(http://livejournal.com/users/)
I'm hareega (long time maraim!)
Well, what happens in the barthroom stays in the bathroom.
But you reminded me with my childhood when i used to stand beside my brother and cousin and have a competition. We used to go to our grandfather's farm and stand on a big rock and start peeing and the one whose piss goes longest wins. That was one of my favorite competitions (besides “meen begdar yakol akbar ka3boolet mansaf bidoon ma yetshardag”)
(http://livejournal.com/users/)
Dear Miyam,
you have certainly unleashed people's inhibitions about the 'restrooms experience'…
Im Zuz
(http://livejournal.com/users/)
laa khalas, I learnt the lesson… I am slow but not SSSSSSSSSSSLLLLLOOOOWWWWWWW
(http://livejournal.com/users/madas)
well thank you for the article, I feel my post was very silly, when i read this article…
(http://livejournal.com/users/madas)
7areega!
That was by far the most digusting male competition i have heard of
but actually i laughed… the question is, why would you put akal il mansaf biddon tashardog in the same category with the longest pee?!!!
(http://livejournal.com/users/madas)
HI
well… it is time, no?!!! a kiss for zuz from Miyam!!
(http://livejournal.com/users/)
I was that man……j/k
Anyways here is my spamissh posttt
Hi,
I just wanted to inform you that we started a geographic aggregator @ http://www.iopblogs.com. We already started aggregating some countries, and just thought that you might be interested anyways submit your blog to http://www.iopblogs.com its a geographic aggregator, its in beta stage for now…i would love it if Jordan was next (my home country)
again for my spammish post
ciao,
(http://livejournal.com/users/)
Well, ladies bathrooms are the best simply!! I mean, is it just me or do we oversocialize in the bathroom? I've met one of my most interesting friends in the bathroom LOL
(http://livejournal.com/users/aminothehero)
in sweden, men and women have the same bathrooms!
rami (http://ramiswall.blogspot.com)
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