History Main / MaleRestroomEtiquette

[[AC:Radio]]

* [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzO1mCAVyMw This]] Website/YouTube video explains these rules in greater detail and links them to the very fabric of our civilization.
* ''{{PVP}}'': [[http://www.pvponline.com/2010/09/21/potty-mouth/ Skull]] breaks rule #4.
* In ''VideoGame/CustomRobo'', Harry has to go to the bathroom when nearing the BigBad. You can choose whether or not to follow. If you go in, two Mooks will confront you after using the urinals. Harry makes a comment about them not washing their hands.
* Series/{{House}} and Wilson are often seen being quite loose about this; they often chat in the bathroom. However, when House gets some kind of bladder constipation and goes into the bathroom with Wilson and pretends to use the urinal but doesn't pee, that's treated as wrong.
* Mentioned in ''{{Roseanne}}'' when Roseanne dresses as a guy and goes to a urinal. After unsuccessfully trying to start a conversation... "Oh! It's like an elevator!"
* Mentioned repeatedly in Creator/IsaacAsimov's ''Literature/TheCavesOfSteel'' and its sequels. In the society of the future Earth, the women's "Personals" are social centers, but the men adhere strictly to the no-interaction rule.
* There's one ''QuestionableContent'' [[http://questionablecontent.net./view.php?comic=222 strip]] where Marten describes Steve trying to talk to and look at him while they're peeing as "the creepiest thing a dude can do to another guy at the urinals".
* Averted in ''Series/BabylonFive'', where Garibaldi would from time to time have actually discussions with both Sinclair and Sheridan while using the facilities.
* ''Film/RealGenius'': The hyperactive Jordan finds Mitch at a urinal and obliviously bombards him with questions. Doesn't help rather shy 15-year-old Mitch's composure in this situation that Jordan is female.
* Violated by U.S. President LyndonJohnson, who would discuss business with people while he was on the john (note, in person, not on the phone, with the door open). It is unknown whether he did this because he was genuinely uncaring about the whole thing or as part of a power trip showing off that he was the boss and you had to deal with him even while he was on the toilet.
* In MelBlanc's autobiography, he talks about his son Noel coming in, sitting on his lap, and making Mel read to him, even when he was on "the can".
* Film/{{Spaceballs}} - President Skroob gets a ''video'' phone call while in the restroom.
* [[DeconstructedTrope Deconstructed]] using the power of math [[http://blog.xkcd.com/2009/09/02/urinal-protocol-vulnerability/ here]] by Webcomic/{{xkcd}}.

* [[http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/games/urinal The Urinal Game]].
* One one-page gag of the comic ''[[SpinoffBabies Le Petit]] [[SpirouAndFantasio Spirou]]'' was dedicated to this.
* On ''Series/HowIMetYourMother'' Ted and Barney actually met at the urinal. Barney thinks nothing at all of chatting with another guy mid-stream and instantly forming a friendship with him, while Ted struggles to be polite while barely saying anything and avoiding eye contact.
* ''Series/{{NCIS}}'': Flagrantly disregarded by Ziva who (aside from being in there in the first place) has occasionally cornered Toni in the men's room for a heart-to-heart.
-->'''Tony:''' How long have you been standing there?
-->'''Ziva:''' Long enough to know you hydrated well for the desert.

* In ''FanFic/{{Empire}}'', a''Franchise/HarryPotter'' AU CrackFic, to Lucius's annoyance one of his spies meets with him in the men's room.

* Averted hard in ''Series/BabylonFive'', where Garibaldi would from time to time have actually discussions with both Sinclair and Sheridan while using the facilities.

* ''DaveBarry's Complete Guide to Guys'' illustrates the urinal selection problem, and shows that five urinals can accommodate three guys using them by keeping a buffer urinal in between Guy C and Guys A and B. Problems arise, however, if Guy D should happen to walk in at the same time.

* Averted hard in ''{{Babylon 5}}'', where Garibaldi would from time to time have actually discussions with both Sinclair and Sheridan while... using the facilities.

* Flagrantly disregarded by [[{{NCIS}} Ziva]] who (aside from being in there in the first place) has occasionally cornered Toni in the men's room for a heart-to-heart.

* Film/{{Spaceballs}} - President Skroob gets a phone call while in the restroom.

* [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzO1mCAVyMw This]] {{YouTube}} video explains these rules in greater detail and links them to the very fabric of our civilization.

* Mentioned repeatedly in Creator/IsaacAsimov's ''Literature/{{The Caves of Steel}}'' and its sequels. In the society of the future Earth, the women's "Personals" are social centers, but the men adhere strictly to the no-interaction rule.

* On ''HowIMetYourMother'' Ted and Barney actually met at the urinal. Barney thinks nothing at all of chatting with another guy mid-stream and instantly forming a friendship with him, while Ted struggles to be polite while barely saying anything and avoiding eye contact.

* ''Film/RealGenius'': The hyperactive Jordan finds Mitch at a urinal and obliviously bombards Mitch with questions. Doesn't help rather shy 15-year-old Mitch's composure in this situation that Jordan is female.

* Mentioned repeatedly in Creator/IsaacAsimov's ''The Caves of Steel'' and its sequels. In the society of the future Earth, the women's "Personals" are social centers, but the men adhere strictly to the no-interaction rule.

While the WondrousLadiesRoom may be a place for chatting, primping, and various WomensMysteries, the men's restroom is a place dedicated to speed and efficiency. When using the restroom, men must observe certain unspoken guidelines that dictate their behavior therein and speed up the process of using the lavatory. Except in extenuating circumstances, such as overcrowding, any breach of these guidelines is discouraged and can lead to some awkward and embarrassing situations.

# Keep all interaction to a bare minimum. Do not make eye contact with other men, as this may be interpreted as an unwelcome invitation. Also, never let your gaze wander to any body part of another occupant, whether or not he is of any genuine interest to you.
# When selecting a urinal, stay as far away from other men as possible, so as to better comply with the previous rule. If the only available urinals are adjacent to ones currently in use, use a stall.
# Avoid making unnecessary noises. While grunting is never appropriate, the occasional cough is usually all right, though there is always the chance that this could be misinterpreted, as per rule number 1.
# And finally, the one rule that must never, ever, be broken: Never say a single word while within the restroom. Not only is it an unnecessary noise, but it grates against the philosophy of speed and efficiency that governs Male Restroom Etiquette. It slows down the transaction process and makes using the restroom awkward and unpleasant for other occupants.

!!Examples:

* ''{{PVP}}'': [[http://www.pvponline.com/2010/09/21/potty-mouth/ Skull]] breaks rule #4.
* In ''VideoGame/CustomRobo'', Harry has to go to the bathroom when nearing the BigBad. You can choose whether or not to follow. If you go in, two Mooks will confront you after using the urinals. Harry makes a comment about them not washing their hands.
* Series/{{House}} and Wilson are often seen being quite loose about this; they often chat in the bathroom. However, when House gets some kind of bladder constipation and goes into the bathroom with Wilson and pretends to use the urinal but doesn't pee, that's treated as wrong.
* Mentioned in ''{{Roseanne}}'' when Roseanne dresses as a guy and goes to a urinal. After unsuccessfully trying to start a conversation... "Oh! It's like an elevator!"
* Mentioned repeatedly in IsaacAsimov's ''The Caves of Steel'' and its sequels. In the society of the future Earth, the women's "Personals" are social centers, but the men adhere strictly to the no-interaction rule.
* There's one ''QuestionableContent'' [[http://questionablecontent.net./view.php?comic=222 strip]] where Marten describes Steve trying to talk to and look at him while they're peeing as "the creepiest thing a dude can do to another guy at the urinals".
* Averted hard in ''{{Babylon 5}}'', where Garibaldi would from time to time have actually discussions with both Sinclair and Sheridan while... using the facilities.

* Violated by U.S. President LyndonJohnson, who would discuss business with people while he was on the john (note, in person, not on the phone, with the door open). It is unknown whether he did this because he was genuinely uncaring about the whole thing or as part of a power trip showing off that he was the boss and you had to deal with him even while he was on the toilet.
* In MelBlanc's autobiography, he talks about his son Noel coming in, sitting on his lap, and making Mel read to him, even when he was on "the can".

* [[DeconstructedTrope Deconstructed]] using the power of math [[http://blog.xkcd.com/2009/09/02/urinal-protocol-vulnerability/ here]] by Webcomic/{{xkcd}}.
* Often referred to in ''Sid the Sexist'' in ''{{Viz}}'', which also makes up some rules:
** Can't use the urinal until you've drunk 10 pints of beer.

* {{Spaceballs}} - President Skroob gets a phone call while in the restroom.

* [[DeconstructedTrope Deconstructed]] using the power of math [[http://blog.xkcd.com/2009/09/02/urinal-protocol-vulnerability/ here]] by {{XKCD}}.

* In ''CustomRobo'', Harry has to go to the bathroom when nearing the BigBad. You can choose whether or not to follow. If you go in, two Mooks will confront you after using the urinals. Harry makes a comment about them not washing their hands.

* ''RealGenius'': The hyperactive Jordan finds Mitch at a urinal and obliviously bombards Mitch with questions. Doesn't help rather shy 15-year-old Mitch's composure in this situation that Jordan is female.

* {{House}} and Wilson are often seen being quite loose about this; they often chat in the bathroom. However, when House gets some kind of bladder constipation and goes into the bathroom with Wilson and pretends to use the urinal but doesn't pee, that's treated as wrong.

* ''RealGenius'': The hyperactive Jordan finds Mitch at a urinal and obliviously bombards Mitch with questions. Doesn't help rather shy Mitch's composure in this situation that Jordan is female.

* Averted hard in ''{{Babylon 5}}'', where Garibaldi and Sheridan would from time to time have actually discussions while... using the facilities.

* On ''HowIMetYourMother'' Ted and Barney actually met at the urinal. Barney keeps talking in a morose voice about how he's out with his deaf brother for the first time since their mom died, while Ted struggles to be polite while barely saying anything. Barney then brightens up and says that if Ted bought that corny story he "thought up mid-stream" it'll definitely work on the woman Barney's trying to seduce. Setting the tone for their friendship to come, Barney then ropes Ted into playing the role of his deaf brother.

* [[http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/games/urinal The Urinal Game]].

Whenever Male Restroom Etiquette is brought up in media, it is usually PlayedForLaughs as we watch some poor soul try to use the restroom while another man shows complete disregard for the above rules. And while many men can attest that these rules are indeed TruthInTelevision, most know that a breach of these rules is not so awkward as some make it out to be.

* ''RealGenius'': The hyperactive Jordan finds Mitch at a urinal and obliviously bombards Mitch with questions.

Examples:

While the WondrousLadiesRoom may be a place for chatting, primping, and various WomensMysteries, the male restroom is a place dedicated to speed and efficiency. When using the restroom, there are certain unspoken guidelines that dictate men's behavior therein and speed up the process of using the lavatory. Except in extenuating circumstances, such as overcrowding, any breach of these guidelines is looked down upon and can lead to some awkward and embarrassing situations.

# Keep all interaction to a bare minimum. Do not make eye contact with other men, as this may be interpreted as an unwelcome invitation. Also, never let your gaze wander to any body part of another occupant, whether or not they are of any genuine interest to you.

# Avoid making unnecessary noises. While grunting is never appropriate, the occasional cough is usually alright, though there is always the chance that this could be misinterpreted, as per rule number one.
# And finally, the one rule that must never, ever, be broken: never say a single word while within the restroom. Not only is it an unnecessary noise, it grates against the philosophy of speed and efficiency that governs MaleRestroomEtiquette. It slows down the transaction process and makes using the restroom awkward and unpleasant for other occupants.

Whenever MaleRestroomEtiquette is brought up in media, it is usually PlayedForLaughs as we watch some poor soul try to use the restroom while another person shows complete disregard for the above rules. And while many men can attest that these rules are indeed TruthInTelevision, most know that a breach of these rules is not as awkward as some make it out to be.

* [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzO1mCAVyMw This]] YouTube video explains these rules in greater detail and links them to the very fabric of our civilization
* {{PVP}}: [[http://www.pvponline.com/2010/09/21/potty-mouth/ Skull]] breaks rule #4.
* In CustomRobo Harry has to go to the bathroom when nearing the BigBad. You can choose whether or not to follow. If you go in, to Mooks will confront you after using the urinals. Harry makes a comment about them not washing their hands.

* Mentioned in {{Rosanne}} when Rosanne dresses as a guy and goes to a urinal. After unsuccessfully trying to start a conversation... "Oh! It's like an elevator!"

* There's one QuestionableContent [[http://questionablecontent.net./view.php?comic=222 strip]] where Marten describes Steve trying to talk to and look at him while they're peeing as "the creepiest thing a dude can do to another guy at the urinals".
* Averted hard in Babylon 5, where Garibaldi and Sheridan would from time to time have actually discussions while... using the facilities.
* RealGenius: The hyperactive Jordan finds Mitch at a urinal and proceeds to obliviously bombard him with questions.
* Violated by U.S. President LyndonJohnson who would discuss business with people while he was on the john (note, in person, not on the phone, with the door open). It is unknown whether he did this because he was genuinely uncaring about the whole thing or as part of a power trip showing off that he was the boss and you had to deal with him even while he was on the toilet.
* In MelBlanc's autobiography he talks about his son Noel coming in, sitting on his lap, and making Mel read to him, even when he was on "the can."

** Anything more than three shakes is a wank.