A helpful sign in a hotel toilet
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382216)
Rockingham, Australia
January 9, 2020 7:09am CST
The photo has nothing to do with the post but is of one of the horses that were taken to the beach recently. You can see he is regarding the water with quite a bit of suspicion.
Today, I used the toilets at the Regional Entertainment Centre in Bunbury, Western Australia, and was reminded of something I meant to share a week or so ago.
One of my friends told me they used the toilets in a hotel recently. Behind the door was quite a large sign. Other friends there had also heard of similar signs. I don’t know the exact words as I didn’t see it but it started with a warning about being safe in these days of internet dating and meeting up with someone you didn’t know well.
It went on to say that, if you (the reader) were feeling anxious, threatened or a bit intimidated, once you leave the toilets, you should go straight to the bar and ask for a particular person. It gave a person’s name. They would do what they could to help – ring a friend or a taxi and provide company and support till the friend/taxi arrived.
What a marvellous idea. Have you heard of anything similar in your area?
28 people like this
28 responses
@JohnRoberts (109841)
• Los Angeles, California
9 Jan 20
This is the first I have heard if such a sign. Makes sense.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (382216)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Jan 20
@rebelann My nephew met his wife at a speed dating night but that was a bit different I guess. A roomful of people and you had just a few minutes to chat with each one in the hope of making a connection, feeling a spark or whatever.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
10 Jan 20
no ma'am, but then 'gain i rarely go anywhere to see such. 'tis a brilliant idea though. so much can go sideways'n folks feel trapped. sometimes to their detriment.
love the pic! very curious 'n not freaked out 's mine would'a been, lol.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
11 Jan 20
@JudyEv poor dear :( jest takes patient 'xposure'n positive 'xperiences :)
1 person likes this
@Alexandoy (65302)
• Cainta, Philippines
9 Jan 20
I am confused why that sign was posted in the toilet. And what is that feeling intimidated all about. Sorry, it is not clear to me.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382216)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Jan 20
I guess they don't want to scare people so the signs are only in the toilets.
If you'd met someone online then agreed to meet them for a drink but then felt threatened, you might like to know you could go to the bar, ask for a particular person (or some places have a certain drink which is code for 'please help me') and that person would quietly order you a taxi or phone a friend or whatever. There wouldn't be a big fuss made but you'd be able to get away from your date safely.
@Alexandoy (65302)
• Cainta, Philippines
10 Jan 20
@JudyEv now I get the picture that the place may be the popular venue for online lovers. Too bad that people are into online dating.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128837)
• Gainesville, Florida
11 Jan 20
I have never seen nor heard of such a sign. Is the dating scene in your area of the world so treacherous as to need a sign like that? haha
It actually is a good idea. I have heard of bars and nightclubs here in the US that have created code words that women could use if they feel unsafe in a situation at the bar or nightclub. They simple say the word to the bartender, and the bartender then takes action to get the person out of whatever bad situation they feel they are in.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (128837)
• Gainesville, Florida
12 Jan 20
@JudyEv I put some more thought into this, and when I said I have never seen the signs here in the US like you wrote about, I realized it's probably because I'm a guy and we don't have them in our bathrooms. But I wonder if those signs are posted in women's bathrooms, and I'm just not aware of it? If so, it's ingenious!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382216)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Jan 20
@moffittjc I was wondering about the signs too and I can't really imagine them in the men's toilets - unless perhaps it's a gay bar - but somehow I can't see it happening even there.
1 person likes this
@amitkokiladitya (171988)
• Agra, India
10 Jan 20
But why did they suppose something bad could happen in the toilets?
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382216)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Jan 20
It wouldn't happen in the toilets but if a guy was getting too attentive or starting to scare you, you might go to the toilets to get away from him for a short while while you worked out what you could do. You might see the notice and know that someone at the bar would help and protect you from your date.
1 person likes this
@amitkokiladitya (171988)
• Agra, India
10 Jan 20
@JudyEv ohk...now I understand. I'm glad they stay secure and safe
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (37621)
•
10 Jan 20
That's different. I might be suspicious about going to a bar for help based on something I read in the toilet though
In the U.S. you sometimes find messages with phone #'s (not the good kind) but I guess if it's an official sign from the hotel it's ok.
In the U.S. you sometimes find messages with phone #'s (not the good kind) but I guess if it's an official sign from the hotel it's ok.1 person likes this
@oahuwriter (26773)
• United States
10 Jan 20
I haven't used any hotel's restrooms. I find restrooms at Walmart, Target or the bus transit stations aside of Safeway and Times supermarkets. When on the other side of the island, I go to Pearlridge Shopping Center, or if there is a McDonald's near by I'll go to it, safer that way when there are lots of people around near or in restrooms. Ala Moana Shopping Centers has great restrooms so clean too.
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54399)
• United States
9 Jan 20
i have never heard of a sign like that, but a great idea!!!!
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54399)
• United States
10 Jan 20
@JudyEv i think that is an amazing idea! more places should adopt that
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169479)
• United States
9 Jan 20
It is a good idea, but I have not heard of this locally. I have heard of different code names for drinks that serve a similar purpose.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382216)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Jan 20
That was mentioned too but I forgot to say so in the discussion.
@rsa101 (40987)
• Philippines
10 Jan 20
That seems to be a good customer service for that establishment to protect their clients at all cost. I think every establishment should have that kind of extra service and protection especially to women who are mostly victimized by engaging on internet dates with strangers.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382216)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Jan 20
I can only imagine a woman's relief if she was frightened of her escort and then read this.
@Marilynda1225 (91116)
• United States
9 Jan 20
I've never heard of that but it certainly is a great idea. Something that should become universal.
That horse is magnificent
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382216)
• Rockingham, Australia
10 Jan 20
Some horses are quite tall. This one is 17 hands (4" to a hand) so is 5'8" at the withers, which is the highest point of the spine where the neck meets the back.
@ScotMac (1335)
• Edinburgh, Scotland
9 Jan 20
Yes, that idea is also to be found in Scotland. Another good idea is, if you are taking a taxi, especially late at night, take a photo of the driver and/or his ID and send it to a friend. Genuine taxi drivers will understand and won't mind and the dodgy ones will behave themselves if they know they've been positively ID'd
1 person likes this
