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When you’re in a public bathroom stall and not sure if you’re the only one in the entire bathroom, do you check for feet?

I may end up cross-posting this question because I’m really curious (at least from the girls’ perspective) as to whether or not it is a common practice. Checking for feet is simply lowering one’s head just below the level of the side of the stall but far enough over the sometimes skanky floor, just to see who else might be in there. I want to find out how many other people do this so I can determine whether or not I should stop before I awkwardly meet eyes with another feet-checker someday.

I am a periodic feet-checker, meaning I don’t check for feet every time I go to a public bathroom. I’d say maybe one in ten visits involve a feet-checking of some type.

Times when I would check for feet include, but are not limited to the following:
-I hear a noise, and am not sure if it came from within the bathroom or not
-I’m about to make a noise, and want to see if I have an audience
-Someone in the bathroom definitely made a noise, and I want to see if I know the performer

I’m not sure what feet-checking frequencies and justifications say about a person. I would venture to guess that a chronic feet-checker is very insecure, or, if they would behave the same way no matter what they found when they checked for feet, perhaps simply very curious. Someone who doesn’t check for feet at all may be at ease with their bodily functions, but could also be censoring themselves before they know whether they are alone or not.

Is checking for feet a good idea? It is for me, but you shouldn’t do it. I’d prefer to maintain my own feet-checking practices without worrying about the possibility of yours ruining them. OK? OK.

This entry was posted by platkat on April 12, 2006 at 4:58 pm under Uncategorized. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

4 Comments

  1. dorna! says:

    I absolutely check for feet. Only got caught once. Pretended I was out of toilet tissue. :D Smooth, neh?

    April 12, 2006, 9:21 pm

  2. Razz Master says:

    Is this pre or post entrance into the stall? At work I look at the mirror as I walk in to see which doors are closed. If more than one door is closed I go to the next bathroom. However, door shutage does not always indicate usage, so I often check for feet too. When looking at the feet I do like to see if I recognize the shoes. That way, if I hear strange grunting or other noises I can harrass that person later. Or just harrass them at that point in time if I’m feeling saucey. Did I just use the word saucey?

    April 13, 2006, 1:45 am

  3. Coy says:

    I don’t check for feet – I look through the cracks between the door/stall for a body. This, however, is not foolproof – and I have jiggled doors of occuppied stalls.

    PS. I do check for feet in dressing rooms though.

    I appreciate being the only one in the restroom. It almost irritates me when someone comes in.

    April 13, 2006, 11:01 am

  4. flicka23 says:

    i’m a pre-entry feet/foot? checker. i’ve tried looking through the cracks, but decided it was a bad idea when i made eye contact with the person in the stall. awkwaaaard.

    April 19, 2006, 9:37 am