An older man said this to me as we peed, side-by-side in the Home Depot bathroom. He then walked over to the sink, slicked back his white hair and mustache without washing his hands, hitched up his pants, and sauntered out.

This type of interaction is worth consideration: the statement is unnecessary but not meaningless. It is not an apology for biological imperative, but a cool guy’s crass excuse as a means to put forward (and seek affirmation for) a way to move through the world.

More problematic is posturing for a man who is peeing.