Why do some people need to read in the bathroom?

[MichelleHW101]

My father literally can’t use the bathroom without grabbing a book to read.  He can sit for over an hour just reading on the toilet.  (Which is the reason I had one of those air fresheners installed over the door.) As a writer I find that one disrespectful to the author of the book because it’s like saying you only make time to read their hard work when you do ‘your business’ and two disrespectful to the book itself because by the time you leave the toilet the book reeks of ‘your odor’.  My father got mad at me one time because he wanted me to read a book and hands it to me after he spent a half an hour in the bathroom with it and I told him that I can’t read it because it smells like [your] crap.  As a family member I find that behavior disrespectful because your hogging the bathroom rather than doing what you need to and get out so someone else can use it.  All he does when he’s not working is either watching tv or playing a computer game.  It’s not like he’s doing something constructive so all the time he had to read is on the toilet.  Why can’t people just sit on a recliner or something and read a book?  Why do they need the toilet to, I guess, help them concentrate?

[dwiley11]

its the only room he can be free from his wife

[b1pearl]

My father literally can’t use the bathroom without grabbing a book to read.  He can sit for over an hour just reading on the toilet.  (Which is the reason I had one of those air fresheners installed over the door.) As a writer I find that one disrespectful to the author of the book because it’s like saying you only make time to read their hard work when you do ‘your business’ and two disrespectful to the book itself because by the time you leave the toilet the book reeks of ‘your odor’.  My father got mad at me one time because he wanted me to read a book and hands it to me after he spent a half an hour in the bathroom with it and I told him that I can’t read it because it smells like [your] crap.  As a family member I find that behavior disrespectful because your hogging the bathroom rather than doing what you need to and get out so someone else can use it.  All he does when he’s not working is either watching tv or playing a computer game.  It’s not like he’s doing something constructive so all the time he had to read is on the toilet.  Why can’t people just sit on a recliner or something and read a book?  Why do they need the toilet to, I guess, help them concentrate?

[dreamongirl]

i think out of boredem and it's the only way people will read anything thing. it's how people catch up i guess. and some don't have tv in there bathrooms to watch and they need something lol

[jzmom]

My daughter takes her laptop in the bathroom with her.  It helps her relax so she can go.... I think it is kind of funny.  She
stays in way longer than necessary.  Really I think it is to get away from her husband as our house is very small. 

[Blugamer44]

i take my ipod or netbook sometimes. You need something to do.

[hawkeye3210]

What else are you going to do?  Stare at the wall?  Stare in the mirror?  It's kinda boring if you do not have something to keep you occupied.

[HuffmanFamilyof4]

My father literally can’t use the bathroom without grabbing a book to read.  He can sit for over an hour just reading on the toilet.  (Which is the reason I had one of those air fresheners installed over the door.) As a writer I find that one disrespectful to the author of the book because it’s like saying you only make time to read their hard work when you do ‘your business’ and two disrespectful to the book itself because by the time you leave the toilet the book reeks of ‘your odor’.  My father got mad at me one time because he wanted me to read a book and hands it to me after he spent a half an hour in the bathroom with it and I told him that I can’t read it because it smells like [your] crap.  As a family member I find that behavior disrespectful because your hogging the bathroom rather than doing what you need to and get out so someone else can use it.  All he does when he’s not working is either watching tv or playing a computer game.  It’s not like he’s doing something constructive so all the time he had to read is on the toilet.  Why can’t people just sit on a recliner or something and read a book?  Why do they need the toilet to, I guess, help them concentrate?

do you realize just how disrespectful that comment make you look towards your parents(your father in general). if that's the only thing that your father does that aggravates you, then you need to let it go and  be thankful you have a great father

[Tresbn00]

I think that people read in the bathroom because it represents somewhat of a sanctuary from outside intrusions.  You are behind a locked door and highly unlikely is it that you will answer a phone while in the bathroom.  It is ten minutes of the day that you can totally dedicate to yourself without interruption.  People just don't seem to respect your privacy unless you have a door in between you and them.  Coupled with the perceived business at hand going on behind that door people can wait(in lieu of dealing with the possibility of a foul odor.

[hitch0403]

Depends what they are reading.

Or maybe some cant afford to buy toilet tissue.

[davidh121]

I don't see the issue myself. Lots of people has something to occupy themselves with when they're doing their business in the restroom - whether this be reading, using their smartphone or just daydreaming (or falling asleep). I tend to do the latter myself and periodically read magazines. If I do choose to use my smartphone I make sure to clean this also.

[lgemini]

Reading something in the bathroom will relax you so you can do your business. 

[torch71]

Funny, I had a childhood friend that whenever he ate potato chips he would go sit on the toilet.  Disgusting, he would stay in there at least 30 minutes.....lol.

[schoolvan]

I don't know I just know that I don't I do my business and get out.

[dauna]

My mother used to do this when I was a kid, and the logical reason that comes to my mind is that it was her way fo getting some privacy and "me" time--away from everybody and everything.  She could even ignore the phone while she was in there (way before the day of cell phones.)