I used to work in a hotel where the music in the lobby was super loud, and so sometimes I’d knock on the bathroom door and the person would say something it was literally impossible to hear them. 99% of the time it was fine because I’d try the door and it would be locked, but occasionally they would leave it unlocked (and potentially not answer at all anyway) and so I’d open the door to a very awkward interaction.
Since then, if I knock on a single restroom door and don’t get an answer, I’ll wait a few seconds and then, if the door is unlocked, shake the handle as I open the door, just to give the person time to react if they didn’t when I knocked before/if I didn’t hear them.
I used to knock any door, expect the bathroom door actually. In my country people lock the bathroom door by default when they do not want others to enter, so when it is not locked it’s safe to enter. In Mexico however I found out they don’t necessarily turn the lock, even when they are butt naked. The person I walked into thought it was rather funny to experience a cultural difference of this kind, but I was so embarrassed that up until this day I knock any bathroom door an average of 68 times before I take the courage to enter.
Right? It’s the one time where silence isn’t golden — it’s suspicious. If someone doesn’t answer, your brain immediately goes, “Are they okay? Did they fall in? Did they pass out?” So you knock, wait two seconds, then go full spy mode opening the door like you’re about to save a life — only to find it’s empty… or worse, very much occupied
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Also one of the only places where Vegas rules apply outside of Vegas. What happens in the bathroom stays in the bathroom.
Or any time you’d knock on the door and would expect an answer while not getting one…?
I do that way more often with meeting rooms.
That’s also how the cleaning staff works in hotel rooms.
I would think that the other person would mind, since maybe they could not hear it?
Changing room works that way too.
I used to work in a hotel where the music in the lobby was super loud, and so sometimes I’d knock on the bathroom door and the person would say something it was literally impossible to hear them. 99% of the time it was fine because I’d try the door and it would be locked, but occasionally they would leave it unlocked (and potentially not answer at all anyway) and so I’d open the door to a very awkward interaction.
Since then, if I knock on a single restroom door and don’t get an answer, I’ll wait a few seconds and then, if the door is unlocked, shake the handle as I open the door, just to give the person time to react if they didn’t when I knocked before/if I didn’t hear them.
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I used to knock any door, expect the bathroom door actually. In my country people lock the bathroom door by default when they do not want others to enter, so when it is not locked it’s safe to enter. In Mexico however I found out they don’t necessarily turn the lock, even when they are butt naked. The person I walked into thought it was rather funny to experience a cultural difference of this kind, but I was so embarrassed that up until this day I knock any bathroom door an average of 68 times before I take the courage to enter.
What about a changing room at a department store?
Or when maintenance/landlords are entering an apartment, or when housekeeping is entering a hotel room, etc.
Right? It’s the one time where silence isn’t golden — it’s suspicious. If someone doesn’t answer, your brain immediately goes, “Are they okay? Did they fall in? Did they pass out?” So you knock, wait two seconds, then go full spy mode opening the door like you’re about to save a life — only to find it’s empty… or worse, very much occupied
Nope, not acceptable unless they are in need of help. If that’s the case, it’s doesn’t matter what room you are entering.