When nature calls, you answer but what happens when someone else’s emergency feels even more urgent? One construction worker found himself in a messy situation when he rushed into the only porta-potty on-site with an upset stomach, only to hear frantic knocking a minute later.
Outside was another worker with Crohn’s disease, sliding a “bathroom priority” card under the door and begging him to hurry or get out.
The man inside shouted back that he couldn’t just stop mid-use and did his best to finish quickly, just a few minutes. But when he came out, the Crohn’s sufferer had already had an accident.
Furious, the man blamed him for not leaving, sparking a heated argument that left everyone uncomfortable. Now the worker is questioning if he was wrong for staying in or if it was simply a case of first-come, first-served.
A Porta-Potty Predicament: Here’s The Original Post:
Expert Opinion: When Two Emergencies Collide
This story shows how quickly compassion and boundaries can clash when bodies betray us. The worker’s decision to stay put wasn’t heartless, it was physically impossible for him to stop what he was doing.
Supporters said he had no choice but to finish and leave as fast as he could. “You can’t just walk out mid-accident,” one commenter noted, adding that even three or four minutes can feel like forever in an emergency.
The man with Crohn’s, however, also had a heartbreaking side. People living with chronic digestive diseases often have little warning before an episode hits.
In a 2023 study published in Disability Studies Quarterly, researchers found that people with Crohn’s or ulcerative colitis experience high levels of anxiety over bathroom access, especially in workplaces that lack proper facilities.
Still, as others pointed out, medical accommodation cards like the one he slid under the door are meant to help in lines, not to demand someone vacate a locked stall.
“It’s not about forcing someone out, it’s about awareness and patience,” said one user. The situation spiraled because both men were in distress, and emotions ran high.
Disability advocate Dr. Amy McCart echoed this in a 2024 Health Equity article:
“Accommodations are meant to promote understanding, not entitlement. Planning and communication help prevent these painful moments.”
A Matter of Fairness
One portable toilet for a full crew simply isn’t enough. Under workplace safety and ADA guidelines, employers should provide accessible and adequate restroom options, especially if someone has a known medical condition.
“If the company knew about his Crohn’s, they should’ve added another porta-potty,” one person argued.
Another said the Crohn’s sufferer might have avoided the accident if backup supplies, like a change of clothes or wipes, were available, which are often recommended for chronic bowel conditions.
The worker inside the stall did try to help, though in his own way. He explained he was sick himself and finished as fast as he could.
He didn’t mock or ignore the man outside; he simply couldn’t move faster. And after he came out, he apologized, though it didn’t make things any less awkward.
These are the responses from Reddit users:
Reactions poured in faster than a flood of hand sanitizer. Some sided with the worker, saying “it’s first-come, first-serve – period.”
Others sympathized with the Crohn’s sufferer, arguing that chronic illness deserves more understanding.
Most agreed, however, that the real fix is prevention – better facilities, better planning, and empathy on both sides.
Lessons from the Loo
This awkward bathroom standoff raises a bigger question: where do we draw the line between empathy and practicality? Both men had real needs. Both felt powerless. But only one could use the toilet.
If there’s one takeaway, it’s that emergencies don’t wait for perfect timing and compassion doesn’t mean sacrificing your own comfort or dignity. It means understanding that everyone’s struggling in their own way.
So, was the worker selfish for staying put, or just human for needing a few minutes of privacy? Was the Crohn’s sufferer wrong for demanding entry, or just desperate and scared?
There may never be a clean answer, only a reminder that sometimes, life’s toughest moral dilemmas happen in the most uncomfortable places.
A Selfish Stall or Fair Flush?
This porta-potty showdown shows that even simple human needs can lead to complicated emotions.
Maybe there’s no villain here, just two people caught in bad timing and worse luck. Would you have done anything differently?
