DannyBoyinExile

When two people are forced to live in a cell together, there is a certain amount of etiquette involved. Now if only my cell mate would learn that… (just kidding)
After a process of trial and error, inmates learn what is acceptable here, and just may learn the hard way what is UNacceptable. For me, it has always been a matter of common sense. I mean, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that when you need to use the restroom, for example: you don’t just “drop trou” in front of another person. That could get you beat up – or your cellmate may just drop trou right in front of you too, to show you the error of your ways. (And two naked men in a cell together is never a good look…) What we generally do is hang a sheet up from the wall to the corner of the top bunk, which serves to screen us while we defecate.
If any of you have ever walked into a restroom right behind someone else, and it smelled like a toxic waste dump – that’s definitely not acceptable when there are TWO of you locked in the same space, breathing the same air. The rule here is to “drop one, flush one”, so that it goes right down the drain, and doesn’t linger any longer than necessary.
Most inmates would also agree that it is cruel and unusual punishment to make someone else have to endure the aroma of your toxic flatulence… Some cellies have an understanding that it’s OK to let one rip, when you need to. But when they’re particularly pungent, it’s respectful to sit on the toilet and flush, so that (hopefully) most of its harmful effects will be whisked away. In fact, the joke here is to say, ” I need to fax the Warden,” before doing so!
“Cell Time” is another area where cooperation is expected between cell mates. No matter who your cellie is, how old he is, or where he works – it is customary to give him some alone time every day, and vice versa. Whether he needs privacy to use the bathroom, take a “bird bath”, have a private conversation on the phone, or just decompress for a while, you should give him the chance to do so, on your own – even without him having to ask you. One of the biggest complaints I’ve heard (or had) between people living in the same cell, is when one of them simply refuses to leave the cell or give his cellie any privacy.
There are many other unwritten rules between cellmates. For example, you NEVER masturbate with another person in the cell. This may seem basic, but I can’t remember how many fights I’ve seen because someone got up to use the bathroom in the middle of the night – and caught their cellie masturbating , because he thought he was safely asleep. Some inmates have understandings with each other about that – especially in situations where they are forced to be locked up together for large periods of time, but it’s never a good idea. Most people (especially heterosexual ones) would be very offended by that.
There are a million other do’s and dont’s of living with someone else, but with trial and error (along with a little common sense) you’ll get it figured out.
A little consideration, when it comes to other people’s feelings, as well as a little communication about your likes and dislikes, will go a long way to help you get along better with just about anyone. And if we learn to get along better with people in here, it just may make us easier to live around when we get out. So says DannyBoy.