Bathroom Dilemma

Anonymous

This year I have a suite mate that likes to stay in the bathroom for an hour. She will get in the bathroom at seven o'clock in the morning and stay until eight. This was bad since I needed to take a shower at seven forty at the latest, to make it to my at nine on time. I would knock on the door trying to let her know that there was someone else who needed to use the bathroom.

She usually would ignore the first knock. but would answer on the second. However, no matter how politely I tried to be by knocking instead of just barging in, she would always give me a disgusted sigh and roll her eyes. Excuse me for wanting to use the bathroom! Well I thought my problems were over when I dropped my morning class at nine. Now I could take a shower in peace without "pissing anyone off."

Well anyway, this lasted for all of a week. Half of the semester goes by and now she finally decides to change her morning routine so that she takes up the whole hour of eight. I wouldn't mind her being in there for an hour so much if she just wouldn't give me disapproving sounds and gestures when I tried to get into the bathroom in the morning.

However, some days even her just being there annoys me because some days you just need some privacy in the bathroom.

Ladies you know what I speak of. I am at a loss for a solution. It seems no matter how I rearrange my schedule she will always do the same so that she hogs the bathroom during the time when I just need a little time to take a shower. Oh well, all I can say people is try to respect one another and share the bathrooms for Pete sakes!

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Name: the author
Comments:
Thanks for the advice Liz :)

Name: Liz Nelson
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I graduated RU in '92, but I still have vivid memories of roommates and suitemates who'd hog the bathroom! Your suitemate sounds a lot like the ones I had to deal with during the years I was at RU. Try this: knock on the door, but do it as you're walking in. Say hello, but then ignore her, avoid eye contact with her, and don't acknowledge any of her little noises. This way, you're not really barging in on her (you shouldn't really care if you are or not!), and you're also reasserting the fact that there are 3 other people entitled to use the bathroom, at any time. And since it sounds like you guys don't generally get along or hang out anyway, make friends with her roommate! :) Good luck!

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Is that Clinton in the outhouse?

Name: writer
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Actually everything has worked itself out. And yes talking to them does help.

Name: Brian :)
Major: Advertising
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I am curious as to how this is working out. Writer? How is this working? Did you try my advice?

Name: Former RA
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Well, Brian it has been my experience that some people just don't "talk" in a constructive way. My advice to anonymous as well as all other on campus students is to move off campus to the land of milk and honey. On campus folks tend to be very immature and the cramped spaces don't help matters much. As for annoymous, just tell her that she is being obnoxious. Get it out there. Let her know you are pissed. That puts you as the mode setter. Oh, and go down to rel life and ask for another roommate now. (it takes a while)

Name: Brian :)
Major: Advertising and Interpersonal Communications
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This is something that has always perplexed me. Anonymous, whoever you are, why don't you try talking with this person? It is obvious that you have a problem with her...how about taking a proactive step and getting some dialogue going? If you make yourself vocal and do something about it, you have sucessfully done your part. If, after that point, she has not complied to at least compromise with you, then you have a legitamte argument, one which can be dealt with by discussing the issue with your Residant Assistant (RA). Until then, however, I can't find the blame on anyone in this situation. How can she be expected, let alone demanded, to change if not told what she is doing "wrong?"
That's just my $.02