Comments on: Random Thoughts on the Church, Poop, and [bad manners].

By: mondo cool

mondo cool — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 14:53:15 +0000

Noble Matt W!

By: Matt W.

Matt W. — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 14:14:26 +0000

In an odd twist of fate, there was a toilet backed up in the women’s restroom this week, so the restroom was cleared and I was sent in to plunge.

To contrast with last weeks experience, all I needed to do was jiggle the handle and give it a good solid second flush and we were good.

In other news, the women’s restroom is better lit, has whiter walls, and smells better than the men’s room. (Not to mention the two large recliners it has in the adjacent mothers room)

By: David T.

David T. — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 05:45:55 +0000

Incontinence! Incontinence, I say!

By: Matt W.

Matt W. — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 21:09:33 +0000

[Post edited for clarity. I used a term incorrectly.]

By: CAW

CAW — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 20:08:29 +0000

Here in our Lagos, Nigeria ward, I am relieved to say that I’ve been here a year and haven’t yet been forced to use the church bathrooms. When I arrived, other American expatriates warned me against them. There’s often not running water to flush and I guess they get pretty nasty. Not many people bother to take a bucket out to fill with water in the courtyard and bring it in to flush. One Sunday our Nigerian Relief Society president gave a very direct and pointed announcement that our toilets in the church were “not of good report” and we are women of the church who have learned good hygiene and we need to do better. I don’t know if they gave the same harsh talk to the priesthood, however.

By: a random John

a random John — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 15:26:53 +0000

If you’re in the USA there is maintenance to call.

By: a spectator

a spectator — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 15:21:09 +0000

I would guess this is more of an entitlement issue (not dis-similar from the gender one; someone may be used to the woman of the house cleaning up) than a poverty one, but it bothers me that many people maintain the idea that poor=dirty. Surely you know of clean, fastidiously so, poor people?

Ever read Nickel & Dimed? I liked the realization she came to when she was working at Wal-Mart. People made her section really messy and she was inclined to feel judgemental about it when she realized that the people who were being careless in her section were doing so in Wal-Mart because this was the ONE place in their lives they were the customer, the person who was right, the place where someone else would come along and clean up the mess. At home and at work, these people were the cleaners, but at Wal-Mart, they could be the queens. This realization made her feel like she was providing a service to the women and changed her attitude toward them.

Anyway, I have no idea if this is the case, but I think it is conceivable that someone might feel that outside of their home/work, they could be served rather than serve. [I agree, it should not apply at Church, but...]

By: mondo cool

mondo cool — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 15:08:50 +0000

BiV:
I am sure.

I will, however, also agree that not enough of “female” culture is observed by not enough males.

By: BiV

BiV — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 14:22:16 +0000

…and now I have responded to a “poop post,” something I vowed I would never do.

By: BiV

BiV — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 14:19:52 +0000

Are you sure this is a “poverty of culture” or an “entitlement” thing, and not just a male/female thing?

You know how Boy Scouts are trained to leave a campsite better than they found it? I think women are trained to leave a restroom better than they find it. Almost every time I enter a public restroom I wipe spilled water from the counter, paper towel some hairs from the basin, etc. I can’t imagine any woman leaving a mess such as you have described. Although not all would be as valiant as you and clean it themselves, they certainly would track someone down who could help.