How do we read washroom graffiti?

• We often don't expect to read anything when we go to the washroom, especially in the washroom stalls. As a result, when one encounter washroom graffiti, one will be intrigued by what it says. At times, one are forced to read what is written on the stalls as they go about their business.
  
  
• The amount of time one is willing to spend reading the graffiti written on the bathroom stall relates to how long one feels comfortable being in the stall. There are many variables that relate to the level of comfort. For example, if there is a long line up in the washroom for the stall, one may not want to spend a large amount of time reading the graffiti due to the fear of others being angry at them for taking so long. Additionally, if the washroom is busy, one may not want others to believe that they are in the washroom stall for a long time and is "doing the #2." Also, environmental factors, such as the sanitation of the washroom, may play a part as to how long one may want to spend in the washroom stall.
  
  
• Reading washroom graffiti is, at first, a general glance at the overall collaborative work. If Something interests the reader, than the reader will proceed to read each detail of the work, focusing on each comment, writing, and creation as an independent piece instead of the work as a whole.
  
  
• In order to make sense of certain works of graffiti, especially if they are the collaborative type, the reader will try and logically make sense of the work and the chronological order of the comments, writings and creations.
  

Video Example

This is an re-enactment of how one might come upon washroom graffiti and how they would go about in reading it as a narrative:

Women's washroom stall located on the 3rd floor in the Scarfe Building
at UBC Point Grey Campus (2125 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC)
- Video taken on July 17, 2010 by Anita Cheong