# A device I'm certain we can all manage without.

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-device-im-certain-we-can-all-manage-without/28372>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [August 7, 2000, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-device-im-certain-we-can-all-manage-without/28372 "2000-08-07T03:27:02Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![SSgtBaloo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac91a4/32.png) [@SSgtBaloo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSgtBaloo)\
**Post date:** [August 7, 2000, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-device-im-certain-we-can-all-manage-without/28372/1 "2000-08-07T03:27:02Z")

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The “women peeing standing up” site had a link to the [IPP](http://www.potties.com/) (Inflatable Porta-Potty). One look and I was thinking “I would only ever risk inflating that thing with lungpower once – right after it came out of the box.” After all, how convenient can it be?  
[ul]\*Scene: A hiker is backpacking through the wilderness. He is admiring the canyon below when suddenly a look of concern appears on his face. He quickly doffs his backpack and starts yanking stuff out and throwing it carelessly over his shoulder in a frantic search for some item of importance. He pulls out… (trumpet fanfare) **The Inflatable Porta-Potty!**

He quickly rips the box open and starts inflating it.\*

**_Huff!_  
 _Puff!_  
 _Huff!_  
 _Puff!_  
 _Wheeze!_  
 _Pant, pant!_  
 _Huff!_  
 _Puff!_  
 _Huff!_  
 _Puff!_**

\*Finally, he starts doing the “potty-walk” (cheeks tightly clenched, knees hardly bending) in ever-widening circles, looking for a secluded spot to do his business. He selects a spot, plunks the seat down, lowers his trousers, begins to sit when _Whoosh!_ a sudden gust of wind catches his inflatable potty and sails it into the canyon.

The man squats for a few moments, when he suddenly realizes\* “Damn! I forgot the toilet paper!”[/ul]

Now _ **that** _ is a wilderness adventure!

~~Baloo

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**Author:** ![Rysdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/7cd45c/32.png) [@Rysdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysdad)\
**Post date:** [August 7, 2000, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-device-im-certain-we-can-all-manage-without/28372/2 "2000-08-07T03:50:26Z")

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Does it explain what’s supposed to be done with it once it has been used? Surely, they don’t think it’s reusable.

Blow it up. Use it. _Pack it out?_

I don’t think so.

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**Author:** ![SSgtBaloo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ac91a4/32.png) [@SSgtBaloo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SSgtBaloo)\
**Post date:** [August 7, 2000, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-device-im-certain-we-can-all-manage-without/28372/3 "2000-08-07T03:58:04Z")

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I think it says you can use a garbage bag for a liner. Frankly, if I had to use such a device, I’d always use a pump to inflate it, and I’d make sure I was using Hefty Steelsacks instead of the micron-thin bargain basement GB.

If you had to pack the stuff out, I certainly wouldn’t want to risk a leak. It’d be less trouble to bring a shovel.

~~Baloo

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**Author:** ![Baglady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cab0a1/32.png) [@Baglady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baglady)\
**Post date:** [August 7, 2000, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-device-im-certain-we-can-all-manage-without/28372/4 "2000-08-07T04:03:31Z")

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I would HATE to have the thing accidentally start deflating while the user was still s\*itting on it!!!

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**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\
**Post date:** [August 7, 2000, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-device-im-certain-we-can-all-manage-without/28372/5 "2000-08-07T04:56:42Z")

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I clicked the link. Does that kid have the mumps?

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**Author:** ![Myrr21](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Myrr21](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myrr21)\
**Post date:** [August 7, 2000, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-device-im-certain-we-can-all-manage-without/28372/6 "2000-08-07T05:12:45Z")

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Nahh, mumps gets you further back on the jaw than that–I managed to get it despite the vaccine. Go fig.

That kid’s just a freak