User:Jefe6982/The Barzee Conundrum

The Barzee Conundrum is a situational etiquette dilemma that manifests in the mens workplace bathroom.

The Setup
Two men, not known to each other, are conducting #2 business in the bathroom stalls at work. Man 1 sneezes, should man 2 offer the customary 'Bless you'?

The Conundrum
Mens bathroom etiquette states that no conversation is permitted unless those partaking are more than mere acquaintances (rule A). However, it is common courtesy in American culture to offer the statement 'Bless you' in response to another sneezing (rule B). The act of man 1 sneezing sets these etiquette rules at odds and places man 2 in a catch-22 decision. If he says nothing he violates rule B, if he adheres to rule B he violates rule A. Thus man B finds himself in the Barzee Conondrum.

Analysis
At the heart of this conundrum is the subjective determination of etiquette precedence. One rule must be broken, but which and why? There are two main theories to this conundrum. The first advocates silence (violating rule B) with the argument that one does not say excuse me for flatulence in the bathroom (as one should elsewhere, rule C) and therefore certain rules are suspended within the bathroom. The counter argument states that rule C places no obligation upon another person (as is in rule B) and the purpose is to announce to the current company an unpleasant disturbance so that they may politely ignore said disturbance. The argument continues that this behavior is expected in the bathroom and so rule C is void. The important distinction being made that one rule is void vs an entire set of rules.

The proponents of upholding rule B (violating rule A) use established behavior at the urinal to assert their position. Specifically if the situation were repeated at the urinal instead of in the stalls there is an expectation of man 2 saying 'Bless you', while not making eye contact and thus observing both etiquette requirements. The addition of the stall where there is no opportunity of eye contact should then in fact make observing rule B easier. The opposing view asserts anonymity is preferred in while during #2. Saying 'Bless you' in the stall potentially violates this anonymity, while anonymity at the urinal is impossible and therefore rule B has precedence over rule A.

Conclusion
The Barzee Conundrum represents a catch-22 situation, as such there is no correct solution. Each man must decide what rule to adhere/violate when the situation presents itself. And if a man finds himself the sneezer he should hold no grudge to man B and how he chooses to respond, because you put him in that position.