# Damn you, automatic flusher! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 23, 2013, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-you-automatic-flusher/653735 "2013-03-23T13:11:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CoastalMaineiac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@CoastalMaineiac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoastalMaineiac)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-you-automatic-flusher/653735/1 "2013-03-23T13:11:14Z")
Seriously, you would think that thing would at least have the courtesy to wait until I have finished making my deposits before it flushes, not once, not twice, but thrice. It’s taking the idea of a courtesy flush to a whole new level, I guess.:rolleyes: What’s more, the damn thing didn’t even bother to flush when I got up. Are we really so lazy that we can’t pull a lever to flush the john? Germs? Hell, you are going to wash your hands afterward, anyway, right?😕 ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-you-automatic-flusher/653735/2 "2013-03-23T13:42:53Z")
I don’t mind the automatic flush nearly as much as I do the automatic faucet. Hey, maybe I need more than three seconds of water to wash my hands. ---
**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-you-automatic-flusher/653735/3 "2013-03-23T14:08:12Z")
> [@CoastalMaineiac](#): > > Are we really so lazy that we can’t pull a lever to flush the john? Germs? Hell, you are going to wash your hands afterward, anyway, right?😕 If you’ve ever had to clean a public bathroom, you know that yes, yes we fucking are. Goddamn pigs, the lot of them. I shudder to think what their bathrooms at home look like, where there’s no one to clean up after them. I have found that the auto flush is most likely to give me an unwanted spray to the nether regions when I’m wearing a white shirt. It confuses the light sensors or something. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-you-automatic-flusher/653735/4 "2013-03-23T14:09:33Z")
I hate automatic flushers!! Not only do they occasionally spray my ass while I’m sitting there, but they often go off 2 or 3 times while there’s absolutely nothing in the toilet to flush! One time I saw a notice inside a bathroom stall, which said that the bathroom was environmentally friendly (because they used recycled toilet paper or something.) But there were automatic flushes in the toilets, wasting a lot of water and wasting the environment. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-you-automatic-flusher/653735/5 "2013-03-23T15:56:19Z")
**CoastalMaineiac** : You do know there’s a little button on the auto-flusher for you to manually flush the commode or urinal (as the case may be), do you not? **EmilyG** : One of the most disgusting things I had the misfortune while being the senior military member in an Army barracks to discover was that there are _three_, not two, numbers related to the male human body ridding itself of waste matter in a public facility. Of course, _Number One_ is for voiding the bladder and _Number Two_ is for a bowel movement. So, “What’s the _third_ number,” you ask? Well, that would be _Number Eleven_. Yep, _Eleven_ as in _11_. That would be when there is no toilet paper or anything substitutable available. I’ll let you imagine how (and what color, not to mention what matter) the “11” on the wall is rendered. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-you-automatic-flusher/653735/6 "2013-03-23T15:59:08Z")
I am desperately trying to figure out what Nigel Tufnel has to do with a thread about toilet flushing. ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-you-automatic-flusher/653735/7 "2013-03-23T16:21:06Z")
At the office we call it “surprise bidet”. ---
**Author:** ![R3d\_Anonymous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/aeb1de/32.png) [@R3d\_Anonymous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R3d_Anonymous)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-you-automatic-flusher/653735/8 "2013-03-23T16:27:17Z")
I wash my hands a lot and quite thoroughly so I guess it doesn’t matter to me to pull the lever to flush it manually. The problem is that I am also germaphobic, so psychologically, even if I am washing my hands right after, I don’t want to touch it. But I still do, sometimes if necessary. ---
**Author:** ![Honey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honey/32/5074_2.png) [@Honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honey)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-you-automatic-flusher/653735/9 "2013-03-23T19:03:01Z")
> [@Anonymous User](#): > > I wash my hands a lot and quite thoroughly so I guess it doesn’t matter to me to pull the lever to flush it manually. The problem is that I am also germaphobic, so psychologically, even if I am washing my hands right after, I don’t want to touch it. But I still do, sometimes if necessary. Do like I do and use your foot. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![R3d\_Anonymous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/aeb1de/32.png) [@R3d\_Anonymous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R3d_Anonymous)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-you-automatic-flusher/653735/10 "2013-03-23T19:32:25Z")
> [@Honey](#): > > Do like I do and use your foot. 😉 Yeah, I do resort to that sometimes as well. 😃 One of my pet peeves is idiots who don’t wash their hands after using the bathroom. It’s nasty as hell and also quite selfish. What, you can’t take less than a minute to wash your hands? Alright, maybe you don’t care about getting sick, but maybe others do, and you are going to be touching things that other people are probably going to touch as well, with your penis hands. Jerks. ---
**Author:** ![CoastalMaineiac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@CoastalMaineiac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoastalMaineiac)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-you-automatic-flusher/653735/11 "2013-03-23T19:35:36Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > **CoastalMaineiac** : You do know there’s a little button on the auto-flusher for you to manually flush the commode or urinal (as the case may be), do you not? Yes, and I did use it; although I’ve seen at least two or three automatic flushers lately where there didn’t seem to be any little button. ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-you-automatic-flusher/653735/12 "2013-03-23T20:11:36Z")
Living up in Maine, I would have thought you’d have a Ferguson. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-you-automatic-flusher/653735/13 "2013-03-23T22:34:31Z")
Our building, which is 6-7 years old, has automatic flushers. But I’ve never heard of its flushing on anyone while they were seated. (And Lord knows I’ve heard plenty of other complaints about the bathrooms in the building, but not that one.) If I remember on Monday, I’ll look and see what brand they are. ---
**Author:** ![Carl\_Corey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Carl\_Corey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carl_Corey)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2013, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-you-automatic-flusher/653735/14 "2013-03-23T23:24:49Z")
> [@FloatyGimpy](#): > > At the office we call it “surprise bidet”. This made me giggle. ---
**Author:** ![JBDivmstr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b4bc9f/32.png) [@JBDivmstr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JBDivmstr)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2013, 8:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-you-automatic-flusher/653735/15 "2013-03-24T08:59:40Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > \*\* … So, “What’s the _third_ number,” you ask? Well, that would be _Number Eleven_. Yep, _Eleven_ as in _11_. That would be when there is no toilet paper or anything substitutable available. I’ll let you imagine how (and what color, not to mention what matter) the “11” on the wall is rendered. Ewwww! :eek: What that tells me, is that the person that did that, didn’t have enough ‘common sense’ to look and make sure that there were the necessary materials present, to effectively perform what they entered the stall, to do! :smack: Either that… Or they’re just plain _ **NASTY** _! :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2013, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-you-automatic-flusher/653735/16 "2013-03-24T18:52:20Z")
> [@Anonymous User](#): > > … you are going to be touching things that other people are probably going to touch as well, with your penis hands. Jerks. If the Jerk jerked it in the shower that morning, using soap, his dick was probably less germy than his hands were, that touched the doorknob as he came in, before he pissed. Let _that_ thought echo around your brain. [sub]_sits back and waits to see if **AU** ’s head asplodes…_[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2013, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-you-automatic-flusher/653735/17 "2013-03-25T03:16:40Z")
[Demetri Martin](http://www.comedycentral.com/video-clips/byb3cl/stand-up-demetri-martin--bathroom-technology) has a hilarious bit about the automatic stuff in public bathrooms. ---
**Author:** ![curlcoat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@curlcoat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curlcoat)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2013, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-you-automatic-flusher/653735/18 "2013-03-25T03:31:42Z")
> [@Honey](#): > > Do like I do and use your foot. 😉 Which is one of the major reasons why auto flushers are put in - people who kick the handle instead of using their hands break that kind of toilet much faster than if everyone used their hands. Maybe we should just have separate germophobe restrooms? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![DummyGladHands](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/49beb7/32.png) [@DummyGladHands](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DummyGladHands)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2013, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-you-automatic-flusher/653735/19 "2013-03-25T03:45:45Z")
[QUOTEAt the office we call it “surprise bidet”. ] [/QUOTE] Love this, will be using it. And re: the hand washing. I have an allergy to many soaps, and I cannot take the chance of using the dispensed soap in a public restroom. I do wash in hot water, but I don’t use soap. I get the “looks”, but tough cookies. I will use hand sanitizer once I leave the bathroom. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2013, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-you-automatic-flusher/653735/20 "2013-03-25T04:02:43Z")
I place a strip of toilet paper over the sensor whenever I have to use one of these stupid things. When I’m done, I have to be careful not to stand up too fast, or the gust of wind may blow the toilet paper off the sensor before I’m ready for it to flush. If the sensor is embedded in the wall, then I’m screwed no matter what I do. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/damn-you-automatic-flusher/653735.md?page=2)