Communal toast making areas are an etiquette nightmare. One fine morning in Beijing really took the biscuit. Breakfast buffet had 2 toasters. I put my bread in and waited alongside. Woman comes up, observes the situation, POPS my toast, takes it out and puts her own four slices in both toasters. Mine is barely singed. I can't blame China for this flagrant disrespect of rules though, she was also a tourist.
Day ruined.