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Announcing lavatorial intent.

(93 Posts)
ginny Tue 07-Oct-25 19:50:54

Am I the only one who can’t understand why people seem to need to announce that they are going to g to the loo ?
Why not just say” excuse me, I’ll not be long” or words to that effect and return quietly having made yourself comfortable.

ginny Wed 08-Oct-25 08:30:20

Bluebelle Why do they need to know ? I’m not coy , of course we all need to use the loo. Checking on food is something quite different. Maybe I don’t like someone putting the picture of them sitting on the loo into my head.😀 Even worse when they say going for a pee, a whizz, and what if they announce that they need a number 2, and this has happened. I really don’t know why I find it so unacceptable, I suppose we all have our little quirks.

ginny Wed 08-Oct-25 08:34:01

By the way don’t get me started on fart jokes or deliberate farting ( what a horrible word). 🤨 I really might start clutching my pearls and having an attack of the vapours.

M0nica Wed 08-Oct-25 08:47:05

BlueBelle

Ginny you say you don’t want to announce where you’re going, may I ask why? do you have a problem with people knowing you need a wee. if you were getting up to look at a bird outside the window or if you were a smoking and getting up to go out for a few drags or if it was at home and you were cooking and needed to go and check the food would you be equally silent about the reason or isit just the loo you are coy about

Quite agree.

Witzend Wed 08-Oct-25 08:50:48

Casdon

I prefer people to say they are going to the bathroom/lavatory/toilet/loo or whatever they call it, to those who say ‘I’m just popping to the little boy’s/girl’s room’ - that is really cringy.

Across the pond its ’rest rooms’ which always amuses me.

Visgir1 Wed 08-Oct-25 08:56:14

It more rude to just get up and leave.
Everyone and every living being needs the Loo it's normal.

Caleo Wed 08-Oct-25 08:56:57

When I was a schoolgirl we were taught to say "may I be excused?"?.
The result was 'to be excused' meant to go to the toilet. E.g.

" I had to be excused while I was out for a walk".

Euphemisms happen willy nilly.

Magenta8 Wed 08-Oct-25 09:00:06

Mollygo

Do tell, Ashcombe.
I don’t know the ^other connotations^

Snorting coke.

Inhaling powdered cocaine through the nose. often done in the loo via a rolled up bank note.

TheWeirdoAgain60 Wed 08-Oct-25 09:43:23

I always say ''I'll be back in a minute.''

I don't mind when someone says they're off to the loo/toilet/bathroom, but I can't abide it when they very loudly announce ''I'M OFF FOR A WEE!'' Like they're expecting an Oscar for such a performance!

One woman I work with very loudly announces ''I NEED A POO!'' Then, when she gets back, she says ''You should have seen the size of it!'' And she'll say it during a break when we're eating!

That's why she's only a work colleague, not a friend!

I'm far from being a prude, and am quite open-minded, and don't object if someone says quietly ''I need a wee/pee'' but when they announce it proudly and loudly, it makes me cringe!

keepingquiet Wed 08-Oct-25 09:46:10

Good grief we all do it. If someone says they need the loo I wouldn't give it a second thought... except if they get stuck in there, but that never happens.

Granmarderby10 Wed 08-Oct-25 09:52:50

Hmmm 🤨 anyone announcing like a toddler (I NEED A POO) would be a problem for me.

ginny Wed 08-Oct-25 09:53:23

If you read my later posts you’ll see that this thread was really quite lighthearted.
In fact t far from being coy , I worked as an auxiliary nurse for 10 years so have seen and dealt with the whole range of bodily functions. Just don’t see why they need to be announced in social settings.

Magenta8 Wed 08-Oct-25 10:04:47

My mother told me that when she was at school that if they needed the loo they used to raise their hand and say "Please may I leave the room." One day her friend told her in a shocked whisper "I saw a boy leave the room in the street."

henetha Wed 08-Oct-25 10:13:54

Seems like a non problem to me. Living alone I don't need to say anything, but when there is someone here I just say I'm going to the loo.

Aldom Wed 08-Oct-25 10:16:36

Just had an amusing memory come to mind..... during my husband's funeral service , at a hushed moment, my two year old granddaughter called out in a very high pitched voice.....*I need a wee*.

Allira Wed 08-Oct-25 10:43:56

Magenta8

My mother told me that when she was at school that if they needed the loo they used to raise their hand and say "Please may I leave the room." One day her friend told her in a shocked whisper "I saw a boy leave the room in the street."

😂😂😂

Astitchintime Wed 08-Oct-25 10:49:05

We always say when we’re going to the loo as we don’t have a lock on the bathroom door (no intention of putting one on either) and if we’ve got company no one wants to catch someone else ‘mid stream’!

Witzend Wed 08-Oct-25 10:50:20

Ages ago, but I still remember a very ‘proper’* neighbour telling me that her dog had ‘gone to the toilet on the carpet’. 😂

Witzend Wed 08-Oct-25 10:54:53

Astitchintime

We always say when we’re going to the loo as we don’t have a lock on the bathroom door (no intention of putting one on either) and if we’ve got company no one wants to catch someone else ‘mid stream’!

Eek! Why no lock? I feel sorry for any guests at your house, or is on purpose, to put them off?

I still remember the angst I felt on my French exchange at 14 - no lock on the bathroom door! The only thing that actually happened was Monsieur once walking in on me in just his baggy Y-Fronts, but it turned going to the loo into an anxious exercise every time.

Athrawes Wed 08-Oct-25 10:59:03

Crumbs I didn't realise it raised such a discussion! We all need access to a toilet of some description, it's part of us as human beings. If we have spilt something such as a drink or sticky food is that any different?

Magenta8 Wed 08-Oct-25 11:10:10

When there is a difficult lock or no lock you just sing "She'll be coming round the mountain when she comes." as loud as you can until you have finished. This has the added advantage of covering up any embarrassing noises you might make.

Magenta8 Wed 08-Oct-25 11:10:36

Other songs are available.

Caleo Wed 08-Oct-25 11:28:14

Excreting is undignified in our culture. That is why we mostly prefer to excrete in private. Many if not most of us learn within the family circle that one locks the bathroom door.

Some of the replies here have been humorous. Lavatorial humour and euphemism is for hiding the fact that excretion is private , in our culture.

Allira Wed 08-Oct-25 11:41:51

Well, it's not dignified in any culture 😁

It's not the most dignified of bodily functions is it!!

Mollygo Wed 08-Oct-25 11:58:10

Allira

Well, it's not dignified in any culture 😁

It's not the most dignified of bodily functions is it!!

Excreting is undignified in our culture.
🤣🤣
I await with bated breath any information about cultures where excreting IS dignified.

ViceVersa Wed 08-Oct-25 12:11:57

Everyone does it - even the Queen! I have no problem with it at all - and we have no locks on our bathroom door either (took them off when the children were very little after our niece managed to lock herself in her own bathroom and the door had to be broken down). As for the farting, you really wouldn't want to live in our house - between me with my IBS/DD, husband who could win Olympic medals if it were a sport and the dog, you'd definitely be clutching those pearls!