by Noble Oluwafemi G.
“…this could be the next big advertising frontier!”
What do people do in a toilet?
According to Wikipedia, it is a sanitation fixture used primarily for the disposal of human excrement and urine, often found in a small room referred to as a toilet, bathroom, lavatory or Restroom.
But there is much more to a toilet than meets the eye.
For me, when I perceive that it’s the big one coming, I usually go in with an old newspaper to keep my mind occupied. For some maybe it’s a bible, an ipad, a blackberry (this gadget of cause goes everywhere with us), or any other idiosyncrasies we each privately subscribe to, to make our stay in the restroom worthwhile.
I generally just assumed that in a restroom, if you are not doing number one, or two, you’d most likely be reading something or from something. But it has come to my notice that there’s a special gang that go into the loo, with a variety of writing materials (pens, pencils, markers – you name it), to scribble different things on the door, especially if it’s wooden or made from materials that can easily be marked. This gang seem to favour Public restrooms – which figures. And what they have to say through their graffiti is usually hilarious.
1. Some settle scores: these are a special group of cowards who can’t stand up to the enemy and would rather use cryptic quickly scribbled words in a loo, to send their messages.
2. Some entertain: this wannabe stand up comics, use short jokes and images to regale their invisible audiences.
3. Some preach the gospel of repentance.
4. Others invite you to join cult groups, seek cures with a juju man etc.
5. And my personal favourites; the ones who seek marriage partners… in a restroom nonetheless – the irony.
On a serious note though; since this writing habit on toilet doors has come to stay, I think it would not be a bad idea to make toilet door scribbling attractive to even more people.
We can make the doors like writing boards; hang a marker to encourage users, to pour out their minds. Who knows, someone might read and get a breakthrough – hopefully marital (insert big grin here).
Advertisers take note; this could be the next big advertising frontier! So the next time you use a public toilet, don’t rush, read, write before you flush.
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Noble Oluwafemi .G is an architect with an eye for the unusual.
30 Days, 30 Voices series is an opportunity for young Nigerians from across the world to share their stories and experiences – creating a meeting point where our common humanity is explored.
Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija.
Waooooo Ooº°˚ ˚°ºo dis is kul, noble kip D̶̲̥̅̊ work rolling, D̶̲̥̅̊ sky is Ūя̲̅ limit