Why?

[ellendria]

My mother works in a building where her company shares the ladies room with the other companies on her floor. There's an epidemic of women there who apparently don't wash their hands after going to the bathroom, she says. You can tell. We've all sat in the stall while someone leaves an adjacent stall and we listen and watch through the little seam

Comments

[zenken]

Maybe your mom needs to be more direct. Try 'WIPE YOUR ASS, YOU NASTY BITCH'. Should translate well into New Yorkese.

[lady_zathras]

Well, I don't know these people of course, but I could imagine that having someone try to decide and put rules around what they do in such a private area as the ladies room might have made them a bit upset. (I know I wouldn't want anyone to tell ME what to do there.) Not that I think your mother deserved such a rude response, of course. But it's just a thought. >.

[zenken]

You don't understand the problem. People are uncivilized.

We have the same signs at work, along with "Your mother does not live here. Clean up after yourself." and "Jimmy Hoffa took the last soda and he's never been seen again. If you take the last soda or snack and want to see your family again, please refill it from the stock", "Turn off the coffee machine if the coffee pot is empty" and the nerdy "Germs spread from contact. Please wash your hands after going to the bathroom. If there are too many bugs in our code, we may require you to wear a hairnet." Not one person complains or writes on the signs. Some people choose to ignore the signs (mainly the snack one), but no one is offended. It's part of being mature and knowing that even as an adult you *might* have faults (such as being absent-minded or inconsiderate).

Rules are not made to govern the civil and moral. Of course, one person writing a sign does not make a rule.... I would call it a 'friendly suggestion'. :)