Sucky sales staff, sucky customers, and no less than three different penises

[Draper Mel]

One of my old supervisors ... I think English was his second language. So sometimes I didn't always understand what he was saying (plus he mumbled). Even worse was when he tried to mumble something at me while facing away from me.

His usual response was to snap at me to clean out my ears. I think he'd have written me up if I'd said what I was thinking back at him though... ("Learn to talk and I won't have to!") Usually I just pointed out that if he wants me to understand him he can face me at least.

Consonants are your friends.

Also Marlowe, have you seen actual Muslim bathing suits? They're pretty cool looking.

http://www.muslim-swimwear.com/

[Anakah]

So what happened to the kid? Did he belong to that asshole? I can't believe someone let their kid run around naked! What is wrong with people!?

Ugh, that's too many dicks for one day...

[Marlowe]

So what happened to the kid? Did he belong to that asshole?

I don't know, I hung out with security for a few minutes in case the guy bullied them into giving him the kid (no offence to those guys, but they were basically lanky teenagers on minimum wage who happened to be wearing a different shirt than the cashiers that day. Highly-trained security staff they were not... and I think we all know coworkers who will back down at the first hint of confrontation/are so gullible I think I have a bridge or two to sell them.) I only left once the police arrived (no, I did not just wait for that so I could leer at the policemen's arses in those well-tailored uniform pants! WHAT a QUESTION! ) so I don't know what happened... at the very least I'll guess he got cited for making threats and disturbing the peace, whether he got the kid back or not

I might get an update in days to come though because I took off my t-shirt (I had a tank top on underneath, no public nudity for me... you know, that time) to put on the kid to cover him, and the police said they'd mail it back to me, and took my details in case I had to give a formal statement or something. So, watch this space...

[wolfie]

I'm just hoping I don't do that in Israel/Palestine... I mean, some of the places I'll be I have to wear a hijab and they segregate buses, heaven knows what'll happen if I invade the men's bathroom

And don't forget that if you're in Scotland, be sure to count the "D"s on the sign before entering.

[Chromatix]

The international signs for "Ladies" and "Gents" exist for just this reason. Confusion begins when they are *not* used. The usual convention in that case is to use the initial letters of the words in the local language, which do not necessarily have anything to do with the words in English.

For example, in German you would get "D" and "H" (Damen und Herren). In Finnish you would get "M" and "N" (Miehet ja Naiset). In Japan you might get 男 and 女, and often do in traditional-style hotels and baths. Most confusing is probably Hungarian - F for Férfiak and N for Nők, and the one beginning with F is the *Gents*. Or Irish Gaelic, for that matter.

[tSubh Dearg]

...Or Irish Gaelic, for that matter.

I was just about to say that here in Ireland, especially in Irish speaking regions, you sometimes see signs for Fir and Mná, just to confuse everyone Mná is women and Fir is men

[Jay 2K Winger]

The international signs for "Ladies" and "Gents" exist for just this reason. Confusion begins when they are *not* used. The usual convention in that case is to use the initial letters of the words in the local language, which do not necessarily have anything to do with the words in English.

For example, in German you would get "D" and "H" (Damen und Herren). In Finnish you would get "M" and "N" (Miehet ja Naiset). In Japan you might get 男 and 女, and often do in traditional-style hotels and baths. Most confusing is probably Hungarian - F for Férfiak and N for Nők, and the one beginning with F is the *Gents*. Or Irish Gaelic, for that matter.

You just reminded me of a funny story from the first time my family went to an Outback Steakhouse when my sister and I were still kids. Sis had to go to the bathroom and went off, then came back, practically in tears because "I don't know whether I'm a bloke or a sheila!"

To be fair, she wasn't familiar with those terms at the time, but it's still funny.

[Marlowe]

I was just about to say that here in Ireland, especially in Irish speaking regions, you sometimes see signs for Fir and Mná, just to confuse everyone Mná is women and Fir is men

Yup indeed - luckily my whole family is from the Donegal Gaeltacht, so that one never gave me trouble

[Caractacus_Potts]

Actually, except the horrific one me and my friend found at a carpark near Snoqualmie, WA. It was basically what looked like an overturned white trash can painted white, over a drop pit, in a tin shack. It had flies circling over the bowl, and it looked APPALLING.

I love the fact that it's handicap equipped (or is that just a grab bar for when you want to spray diarrhea all over the place?).

Also Marlowe, have you seen actual Muslim bathing suits? They're pretty cool looking.

I'm trying to wrap my mind around skin tight Muslim bathing suits. Isn't the whole point of the hijab...you know what? Forget it. I'll never understand massive formal religions.

[sstabeler]

I'm trying to wrap my mind around skin tight Muslim bathing suits. Isn't the whole point of the hijab...you know what? Forget it. I'll never understand massive formal religions.

well, when indecency is defined as hair being visible... (basically, it's loophole abuse, as far as I can tell. The muslim ladies that actually care about keeping things invisible probably don't go swimming in mixed company. ( strictly speaking, if there are only women around, or its only members of your family, it's not nessecary to wear the hijab)

[Marlowe]

well, when indecency is defined as hair being visible... (basically, it's loophole abuse, as far as I can tell. The muslim ladies that actually care about keeping things invisible probably don't go swimming in mixed company. ( strictly speaking, if there are only women around, or its only members of your family, it's not nessecary to wear the hijab)

At some of the beaches over there, they have days where only women can be there and days when only men can be there. As far as the modesty thing goes... I'm not Muslim, but I'm a practicing Catholic and when I was going to catechism classes I had this really awesome priest teaching me. Rather than just parroting back the usual stock phrases, he actually liked to discuss stuff with me, and one of the things I asked about was the whole "meat on friday" thing - I mean, back when meat was scarce, it made sense to have maybe one day a week without it to ensure that there was enough for everyone the rest of the week, but what about now when food was plentiful? He said that the way he saw it was as kind of a gesture - like, you don't have to send your mum a card on mother's day, but you do anyway, because it's a little thing you can do just to show you're thinking of her. Swearing off meat one day a week is a small thing, but to actually do it and stick to it is a nice gesture to make; maybe sticking with the modesty rules even when they seem a little redundant is along the same lines.

Actually, reading about these Orthodox beaches had me thinking... do you think the poor guards get many SCs screaming to be allowed on the beach even though it's (sex a) day and they're (sex b)?

[Seshat]

It's got to the point where I have to explain to strangers that I've gone almost completely deaf in my right ear (thanks to a misspent youth of rock shows and festivals and giant speakers within a foot of said ear) because no one seems to be willing to give anyone else the benefit of the doubt.

Does anyone else have this problem?

Yup.

And boy does it feel good when they go all apologetic when I tell them I'm partly deaf, would they mind speaking clearly and facing me so I can lip-read.


Penis The Second: In Poundland, I was picking out the usual plethora of travel items, when I felt a tug on the back of my skirt. There was this little kid standing there, maybe about three years old, big blue eyes, messy brown hair... and COMPLETELY NAKED.[/QUOTE]

Thank you for looking after him. It's good to know for a fact that there are decent people in the world.

Consonants are your friends.

Also Marlowe, have you seen actual Muslim bathing suits? They're pretty cool looking.

http://www.muslim-swimwear.com/

In my part of Aussieland, they're called Burkinis. I've been tempted to buy one myself just to properly .. cover my assets.

[dakhur]

Regarding the picture of the bush loo:

Trust me -- you haven't experienced "nature" in all its glory until you've had to use an Aussie log toilet in the middle of summer.

There's a reason Aussies make jokes about snakes and spiders in toilets -- they're there to keep the flies under control!

[Marlowe]

Regarding the picture of the bush loo:

Trust me -- you haven't experienced "nature" in all its glory until you've had to use an Aussie log toilet in the middle of summer.

There's a reason Aussies make jokes about snakes and spiders in toilets -- they're there to keep the flies under control!

I have... been told of these toilets by a friend of mine who lives in Victoria. They sound beyond horrific.

Any toilet where there is a fair risk of being bitten upon the good china by a poisonous beastie will be firmly ignored in favour of my old friend, The Bushes.

[dalesys]

... The Bushes.

In XXXX they're poisonous too. The Librarian researched thoroughly through L-Space for the answer to what is not dangerous in XXXX...

"Some of the sheep."