Apparently, there is a lot of anonymous sex going on in airport restrooms. So much so that there is a whole code worked out between participants. Now, I have spent a good deal of time in airports, and usually have to make a pit stop between flights. But, I have never witnessed any of this. However, from now on, I’ll make sure I don’t tap my feet along to the Muzak. Not that there’a anything wrong with that.
I know John McCain probably thought he knew what a “tap code” was–until now.
You guys are so funny. My husband, who travels a lot, has followed this story and keeps talking about the foot tapping problem. Apparently, there was also some thing about putting a bag in the front of the stall as a sign – hubby seemed agitated about this, telling me that is really the only place it fits and it was never intended as any kind of sign. As it stands, it seems that there are quite a few very self-conscious men using the bathroom at airports these days. I wouldn’t be surprised to see some sliding their feet across the floor just to avoid any misinterpretation of their intentions. I haven’t kept up with the original thread, but I seem to recall someone referring to the mens’ room as a “sacred” place (as in “Is no place sacred anymore?”).
It never ceases to amaze me what goes on in the mens’ room and sex is just the tip of the iceberg. This story was irrelevant when it first broke and is irrelevant now. If you’re not looking for sex in the mens’ room, it probably won’t be offered to you. Craig’s going to have to resign because he’s lost credibility. Maybe that’s right, but it seems many lawmakers have committed far worse sins and are still in office. Senator Pete Domenici calling US Atty David Iglesias at his home comes immediately to mind. Let me see – weird sex life v. improper attempt by a US Senator to affect the conduct of a US Attorney. Call me crazy, but the latter seems a far more dire issue and Domenici still has the big office and nobody’s calling for him to resign.
That all said, I don’t think it’s too much to expect that our lawmakers will abide by some sort of minimum standard of conduct. Don’t troll for sex in public places. Don’t hire prostitutes. Don’t try to improperly influence government officials. Don’t use kickbacks to build your country home. Just the basic stuff most of America seems perfectly able to handle.
Your husband is right. I travel a lot and, of necessity, use the men’s room. There is absolutley no other place to put your bag other than in front. Unless that is you don’t mind setting it down in the unknown material surrounding the “throne”.
However I never realized it was a sacred place…guess I will have to be more reverant from now on!
Apparently, there was also some thing about putting a bag in the front of the stall as a sign – hubby seemed agitated about this, telling me that is really the only place it fits and it was never intended as any kind of sign.
Funny you should say that. Mrs. Vitus just got home from NJ last night, and I was telling her about the Craig situation. As I was relating the cop’s description of events, and told her about the suitcase part of the code, I realized that there isn’t anywhere else to put a bag when you’re in the stall. For some reason it didn’t occur to me earlier, but that’s a strange detail in the story.
Anyway, as far as other worser lawbreakers getting to remain lawmakers, that’s true, but still. I think it’s crazy that a married United States senator is caught attempting to have anonymous sex- gay or not- in a public restroom, and the thing that people are outraged over is his voting record.
I agree with you: Our elected officials should be able to show enough discipline to avoid bathroom sex and prostitutes. Maybe our standards are unrealistic.
I agree with you: Our elected officials should be able to show enough discipline to avoid bathroom sex and prostitutes. Maybe our standards are unrealistic.
For such a relatively small population sample, our elected officials (from all sides) do seem to have difficulty conforming to the standards that we expect. It really is kind of startling when you think about it.
Personally, this type of behavior is so off the charts I can hardly even relate to it. But at the same time, these same people can still be good leaders.
I know a Catholic priest who was our Pastor at our last Parish. He was the most amazing man in so many ways. Everyone in the Parish loved him and he genuinely cared about us. We were even fairly active in the Church’s organizations. I think you can see where this is going, he was one of the priests that was caught up in the sex-scandal a few years ago. I am still stunned by this, and I keep thinking that there is no way and that they must have had the wrong guy. I am glad that he is no longer in a position to hurt people if that is what happened.
Bernie
It wasn’t just the location of his bag. It was that, along with the foot tap, along with a hand signal under the door.
I always hang my carry on on the coat hook on the back of the door. I don’t want it anywhere NEAR the floor.
I wonder if using the coathook is code for anything?
“ooh, he’s a clean one!” ?
I have noticed a lot of the coat hooks seem to be broken off…
I wouldn’t be surprised to see some sliding their feet across the floor just to avoid any misinterpretation of their intentions.
One of the few times in my life that I am grateful for my short legs. It makes it much harder, neigh almost impossible, to give an inadvertent signal. 
I would be way more than surprised if YOU were seeing some men sliding thier feet across the floor in the bathroom stalls.
In a lot of places that is a really bad idea. People can reach over the door and grab your bag and be off before you get your pants up.
Floor is safer.
What never ceases to amaze me is the weird crap people are into. Somewhere in the grey matter a person must be thinking "you know if I get caught doing this I’m probably ruined.’ Followed by… “nah lets do it anway.”
That probably occurs in the same area of the brain that rich people must use when they decide to take up dog fighting as a sport.
I wonder if there is a surgery to remove that portion of gray matter?
Is that kind of like carrying on an affair with the office intern?
Is it weird to have no desire to bang in the bathroom … even an airport bathroom?
Is that kind of like carrying on an affair with the office intern?
yes. in the building’s elevator.
Is it weird to have no desire to bang in the bathroom … even an airport bathroom?
I agree. I don’t even like peeing in those bathrooms; the smell is enough to make me want to throw up. I cannot see how anyone would want to have sex in one of those things.
What never ceases to amaze me is the weird crap people are into. Somewhere in the grey matter a person must be thinking "you know if I get caught doing this I’m probably ruined.’ Followed by… “nah lets do it anway.”
I think that these thoughts never occur to them. I wonder if they’re just hooked on the thrill? Bizarre, any way you cut it… Another thing that I wonder is how does a senator do this sort of thing frequently enough to learn the code signals and not get busted earlier? Someone he “met” must have known who he was.
Weird.
Is it weird to have no desire to bang in the bathroom … even an airport bathroom?
I agree. I don’t even like peeing in those bathrooms; the smell is enough to make me want to throw up. I cannot see how anyone would want to have sex in one of those things.
Even if it was Matt Damon standing next to me - I couldn’t imagine either. You will hardly find anybody sexually engaged inside the bathroom who has a gay live outside the bathroom.
Torsten