Disgusted!

During all the running around to visit family this month, I made several trips to airport restrooms. I had an amusing experience using a restroom in one of the airports in The South. The restroom was small, with only a few stalls. Because it was in a high-traffic area, there was a line about 5 or 6 deep. I got in line, and immediately began overhearing snippets of conversation around me.

Woman 1: Ugh. You'd think they'd have a bigger restroom in an airport like this.

Woman 2: Yeah, I know. It's ridiculous.

I waited in line and listened to other women complain, halfway hoping there would be no toilet paper just to see how they'd respond. Then I finally made it to the front and had my turn in one of the stalls. I came out, washed my hands, and decided to also wash my face and put in my contact lenses. Another woman went into the stall I had just vacated. She came out grumbling a few minutes later.

Woman 3: (heavy Southern accent, to Woman 4) It's a little wet in there, if you know what I mean.

Woman 4: (laughs nervously, a little put off) Oh, um, thanks.

Me: It's probably those stupid automatic flushers. They spray water everywhere.

Woman 3: (irritated) No, it was colored, if you know what I mean.

Me: (processing in silence)

Woman 3: (practically shaking with disgust) I don't know why they put those paper thingies in there if you're not going to use them! (stomps out of the restroom)

Me: (still processing, realization slowly dawns)

It took me awhile to catch on to the fact that I was probably being accused of peeing on the toilet seat. But what struck me the most about my public restroom experience in the airport was how indignant and disgusted many of the women seemed to be. The complaints seemed totally unnecessary. We have indoor plumbing. It's a modern miracle. Sure it's imperfect, and sometimes you have to stand in a line, but who cares! We get to pee inside! Isn't it wonderful?

There was an interesting article in the New York Times this morning that may shed some light on why that woman felt so strongly about restroom cleanliness. I'll wait here while you go read it.

I remember hearing a bit recently on NPR about how people may, to some degree, be pre-programmed to be either politically "liberal" or "conservative." (I hate these words, just so you know.) I wonder if this might help explain why the American South, particularly the rural parts where families often live for generations, remains largely conservative. And does this mean, given that my family is largely pretty liberal, that I was predisposed to become a tree-hugging, bleeding-heart type?

The disgust factor was the most interesting piece of this article to me. The article made me realize that I have made assumptions about people's political views based on how they behave, without ever having had a conversation about politics. Is this because I noticed their low threshold for ickiness? I've thought before that the most conservative people I know seem to be rather easily grossed out, whether the cause is social (gay rights, religion, poverty) or physical (swine flu, dirty public restrooms, unfamiliar foods) than I do.

And then there are other questions. Who goes backcountry camping more often, conservatives or liberals? Which group eats the most raw fish? Would a conservative or liberal be more likely to eat a piece of food that has been dropped on the floor? Which group is more grossed out by the monkey brains scene in Temple of Doom? Who is more likely to own a can of Lysol, conservatives or liberals? If forced to choose, would a conservative rather lick a subway pole or a pigeon? (I'd go with the pigeon.) I think more tests need to be conducted.

Want to find out how your tastes rank on the disgust scale? Go here. My score was slightly lower than average, meaning I'm only slightly less likely to be grossed out than most. Yep, I'm in the middle. Maybe I'm not as liberal as I think I am...