When I was like 15 I watched an episode of 20/20 in which John Stossel said the second stall in a public bathroom is statistically likely to be the dirtiest and the first stall is much cleaner and I have unquestioningly allowed this surely fake idea to rule my life for more than 20 years - ThreadSky

amandamull.bsky.social • 139 days ago

When I was like 15 I watched an episode of 20/20 in which John Stossel said the second stall in a public bathroom is statistically likely to be the dirtiest and the first stall is much cleaner and I have unquestioningly allowed this surely fake idea to rule my life for more than 20 years

Comments

astudyinsarah.bsky.social•139 days ago

100% watched the same thing and think of it every time I use a public bathroom.

alextypical.bsky.social•139 days ago

More respectable than me. I'm still picking the stall closest to the door because of the Pop Up Video of Who Will Save Your Soul.

somedayagoat.bsky.social•139 days ago

think about this almost every time I use a public bathroom

tbapple.bsky.social•139 days ago

This makes sense in a men’s room because, ceteris paribus, we avoid the first stall next to the urinals because who wants to poop with stray pee on the floor and next to the high traffic of a urinal.
Also hard to concentrate on Candy Crush when new feet keep appearing next to you.

m4rkp.bsky.social•139 days ago

are we counting from the left or the right though

amandamull.bsky.social•139 days ago

We’re counting from the stall nearest to the bathroom entrance

instantkelsey.bsky.social•139 days ago

This is me but it was the Mythbusters episode that the first stall is the cleanest.

kenwhite.bsky.social•139 days ago

Would that be the John Stossel who sued Facebook for fact-checking him?

encomium.bsky.social•139 days ago

People will take the stall furthest away from the urinals/sink. Based on observation, the further from the urinals/sink you are, the dirtier the stall.

jamesonalford.bsky.social•139 days ago

Same.

iansidevoice.bsky.social•139 days ago

It makes sense. People want to be as far away as possible.

But now I’m going to be panicked if there are 3 or more.

duckykrup.bsky.social•139 days ago

It’s fake data?!?
I thought the logic was ‘well everyone uses the first stall so the second one MUST be cleaner’ leading to everyone using the second stall

gabelacques.bsky.social•139 days ago

The “Multiple-choice test where you just bubble in C every time” of waste management.

terilowder.bsky.social•139 days ago

Same.

normcharlatan.bsky.social•139 days ago

Is the second stall also the handicap stall?

amandamull.bsky.social•139 days ago

No the handicapped stall is usually whatever the last stall is, so it would sometimes but not usually be the second stall

thecleric.bsky.social•139 days ago

Was this before or after the WWE inflicted brain damage?

grizzlysadams.bsky.social•139 days ago

I swear there was a mythbusters episode about this

sharibaby.bsky.social•139 days ago

Yes! I didn’t see it on 20/20 but somewhere else years ago. Been using Door #1 ever since.

sharibaby.bsky.social•139 days ago

Even MORE in my head: Heard/read some expert say that if you’re leaving a room but coming back within 10 minutes, it’s cheaper to leave the light on while you’re gone. The question “Am I coming back within 10 minutes?” with my hand poised over the light switch happens multiple times per day. 💡

mattberry05.bsky.social•139 days ago

Oh god I think mythbusters tested this too lol

amandamull.bsky.social•139 days ago

Do you remember what they found, I trust them

ethanlavery.bsky.social•139 days ago

Confirmed!

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.facebook.com/MythBusters/videos/mythbusters-public-bathroom-minimyth/10155467967768224/&ved=2ahUKEwjJvZvk8qSJAxUOE1kFHac-LM0QwqsBegQIEhAF&usg=AOvVaw3AUlqAQHxDI5tW30m9GGqS

mattberry05.bsky.social•139 days ago

They did!

amandamull.bsky.social•139 days ago

Wow my lifelong habits have been redeemed

aristofontes.bsky.social•139 days ago

The Stall 4 people seem to be batting above their weight, bacteria-wise. What's going on there?

amandamull.bsky.social•139 days ago

Maybe the people who are trying to get the furthest away from others know they’re gonna cause problems

petestaiano.com•139 days ago

I always take the furthest stall if I can help it (non handicap edition)

illimij.bsky.social•139 days ago

Usually there are three stalls. So it's like tic-tac-toe. If you take the first stall, the next person can take stall #3 without causing tension. Why would anyone choose stall #2 forcing the next person who takes 1 or 3 to sit next to someone?

amandamull.bsky.social•139 days ago

“Usually there are three stalls”

I don’t think that’s true lol

illimij.bsky.social•139 days ago

I made a bold statement based on the restroom at work that I tend to use.

amandamull.bsky.social•139 days ago

Okay that’s fair