I never expected my coworker to see *that*...

[desh]

OK, help settle a ridiculously overanalyzed debate at work.

Assume you wish to enter a restroom you know to be a single-person restroom not restricted to any particular gender. The door is closed and you can't easily ascertain whether the light's on, and therefore whether someone's in it, or whether the door was just accidentally closed. Assuming the following additional information, do do you test the handle to see if it's locked (and open the door if it's not), or do you knock first (and then test the handle if you don't hear an answer)?

[Poll #1511654]

Comments

[atthe-algonquin.livejournal.com]

I believe my technique was to check for a light, test the knob, wait a second while holding the handle down (to allow for screaming), think horrible thoughts about whoever closed the door, then open.

Also, apparently I have issues with knocking. The More You Know...

[desh]

Some coworkers who shall remain nameless also have knocking issues (or, rather, would much rather not be societally encouraged to communicate with someone outside the door while they're on the can)...and they suspect it might be a gender thing. Women hate knocking. Dunno.

[smarriveurr.livejournal.com]

See, this is the thing - I'd far rather not communicate, in a perfect world, too. However, I don't see the difference between hearing someone try the doorknob and having someone knock. Either way, I feel like it's best/polite to inform the other party that the facility is in use, and at least, in the latter case, there's not the tension of "boy, hope the lock works" or "Damnit, you can't unlock this door once it's locked, why does no one remember and how do I blockade the door?"

I mean, I'm antisocial to a terrible degree, but this is one situation where I think volunteering conversation serves the greatest good.

[atthe-algonquin.livejournal.com]

eh...I'm okay being the knock-ee, so to speak, I just *really really* hate being the one who knocks.

I also spent a couple years of my teens being genuinely terrified of opening doors, so make of that what you will. Maybe it is a gender thing?

(Women are also pretty much trained, practically from birth, to check stalls by looking for shoes, as opposed to knocking or pushing at the door or whatever. Maybe that's part of it?)

[metalphoenix.livejournal.com]

Well, I guess I'm not a typical woman when things like this are usually counted, but I knock everywhere. It's almost habit; even if I know no one is in there, I knock first. *shrug*