In addition to people who listen to their portable electronic devices at increased volumes while simultaneously not using headphones or earbuds to keep the audio to themselves in public places — such as airports, restaurants, the lobbies of hotel properties, and even aboard airplanes as four of countless examples — another ridiculous act that is easily preventable seems to be becoming more common…
Another Ridiculous Act That Is Easily Preventable.
…and that is the inexplicable negligence of locking the door to the washroom, lavatory, or stall while the toilet is in use.
Due to constraints in space, many smaller restaurants around the world have washrooms that only include one toilet. The lavatories aboard airplanes are even more restricted in terms of space. This means that they are used by all genders and are not exclusive to people who are disabled or have special needs…
…and yet, when I decide to go use the toilet, I will simply open the door — only to find that the door is unlocked and that the washroom or lavatory is occupied at that moment. This experience has been increasingly occurring — and the person who is in the washroom or lavatory tends to be of the female gender, more often than not.
With many stalls in public washrooms within North America, one can at least look underneath to see if the toilet is occupied. In other parts of the world, stalls are actually more like fully enclosed rooms with greater privacy; so ascertaining as to whether it is occupied is more difficult.
As with listening to audio and video content on portable electronic devices with earbuds or headphones, I believe that people should lock the door to the washroom, lavatory, or stall while they are using the toilet — especially aboard an airplane with which indicators illuminate whether the lavatory is occupied at the time. Passengers should not have to go through the inconvenience of getting up out of their seats to use the lavatory — only to find that it is occupied but the door remained unlocked.
Final Boarding Call
Some people might say that I should knock on the door of the washroom, lavatory, or stall before I try to enter. I disagree because knocking on the door might disturb whatever is going on inside. If the door is locked and I attempt to open it, a minor rattle or two of the doorknob or handle is the worst that happens.
Whenever I use the washroom in a public place or a lavatory aboard an airplane, the first thing I do is lock the door, which takes a second or two at the most. Doing so is really simple — and it helps to prevent potentially embarrassing moments for all parties concerned.
I have experienced this bizarre phenomenon both within and outside of the United States during my travels — including at stalls within public washrooms and even at least a few times aboard an airplane during a flight — so perhaps some form of etiquette exists of which I apparently am not aware pertaining to locking doors to washrooms and lavatories…
All photographs ©2018 and ©2023 by Brian Cohen.
