# Dude, if you're not sitting, don't use the stall **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 20, 2012, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dude-if-youre-not-sitting-dont-use-the-stall/638367 "2012-10-20T22:48:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dude-if-youre-not-sitting-dont-use-the-stall/638367/81 "2012-10-24T12:57:18Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > Dude, just because you’re handicap doesn’t mean you can’t hold it like the rest of us shmoes. Actually… it might. I don’t know Ambivalid’s situation, but certainly, my spouse is physically unable to hold it like the rest of you shmoes. He gets little warning of the need for a toilet, it’s a common problem with spinal injuries. He carries spare underwear and jeans in his car because having an accident is a real possibility with him, and has happened. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dude-if-youre-not-sitting-dont-use-the-stall/638367/82 "2012-10-24T13:25:43Z")
> [@pseudotriton\_ruber\_ruber](#): > > Besides, sometimes you’re wearing shoes that you can’t afford to dribble piss all over. Perhaps you need to start wearing galoshes to the bathroom. _Throws flag for intentional grounding._ ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dude-if-youre-not-sitting-dont-use-the-stall/638367/83 "2012-10-24T22:32:16Z")
I’ll stop using the handicapped stalls when they start making the other stalls big enough that I can actually turn around and close the door without straddling the bowl. If you don’t like it, tough shit. Often they have diaper changing tables in the handicapped stall, are you also gonna throw a bitch fit if someone’s changing their kid in there when you need to go? I’ll stop using stalls to pee while standing when, well, I’m never going to stop doing that. If you don’t like it I invite you to write me at 12345 I Don’t Give A Fuck What You Think Drive, Mind Your Own Business City, USA. I do close the door, lift the seat (unless it’s already so gross as to require janitorial cleaning), and flush when done. It’s literally no different then when I use the toilet at home. I don’t care if you’re okay using a urinal, I prefer to use a toilet, doesn’t matter why. So long as I’m not making a mess for the next guy I don’t see why you should give a crap what I’m using the stall for. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2012, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dude-if-youre-not-sitting-dont-use-the-stall/638367/84 "2012-10-24T23:49:29Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > I’ll stop using the handicapped stalls when they start making the other stalls big enough that I can actually turn around and close the door without straddling the bowl. If you don’t like it, tough shit. Often they have diaper changing tables in the handicapped stall, are you also gonna throw a bitch fit if someone’s changing their kid in there when you need to go? > > I’ll stop using stalls to pee while standing when, well, I’m never going to stop doing that. If you don’t like it I invite you to write me at 12345 I Don’t Give A Fuck What You Think Drive, Mind Your Own Business City, USA. > > I do close the door, lift the seat (unless it’s already so gross as to require janitorial cleaning), and flush when done. It’s literally no different then when I use the toilet at home. I don’t care if you’re okay using a urinal, I prefer to use a toilet, doesn’t matter why. So long as I’m not making a mess for the next guy I don’t see why you should give a crap what I’m using the stall for. Yeah there will always be folks like you. I’m appealing to the sense of decency and fairness of _most_. Keep on keepin’ on big fella. ---
**Author:** ![Lasciel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@Lasciel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lasciel)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2012, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dude-if-youre-not-sitting-dont-use-the-stall/638367/85 "2012-10-25T00:18:05Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > The issue is twofold: > (snipped) > > (1) when men stand to pee, they often leave urine all over the place and for some reason they think it’s okay to leave it like that\*\* (which I’m sure they wouldn’t do at home)\*\*. (bolding added by me) I have lived with quite a few men through my lifetime (brothers, boyfriends, and spouse), and I would beg to differ with the bolded portion. Pee everywhere. It boggles the mind how ANY of it ends up in the pot. Although I have yet to see anyone smear shit all over the bathroom quite as badly as I’ve seen in public restrooms. I-yi-yi. Unbe-fucking-leivable. We even had to replace the ceiling tiles once! ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2012, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dude-if-youre-not-sitting-dont-use-the-stall/638367/86 "2012-10-25T00:31:43Z")
Side note: since paper is porous, does it really actually BLOCK any micro-organisms, or is it more of a feel-good measure to paper the seat? I don’t bother, since I do pick stalls with clean seats and have a working immune system. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2012, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dude-if-youre-not-sitting-dont-use-the-stall/638367/87 "2012-10-25T02:16:24Z")
The average public toilet seat - baring actual smears of excrement - is actually cleaner and more sanitary than most of the public believes it to be. Most germs don’t do well on the non-porous and (presumably) dry material of toilet seats, they die quickly. Unlike your skin, which is warm and moist. In other words, your ass (even if you showered this morning) likely has more bacteria on it than the toilet seat you’re about to sit on. They really scary thing is the places where they’ve tested both the toilet seats and the tables in the cafeteria and found the toilet seats more sanitary. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2012, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dude-if-youre-not-sitting-dont-use-the-stall/638367/88 "2012-10-25T02:38:30Z")
I did a little experiment with a clean unused urinal today. I filled it with blue food coloring. Then fired off a squirt gun while standing close, and white towels on my legs, with rubber bands. No splash. Then I tried a clean urinal with the blue in the squirt gun. Blue splashes on the white if i was standing close and used force. Just a few drops, but still. So dudes. No need at all to flush a urinal that has another dude’s urine in it. \*\*Their pee will not splash on you. \*\*_Your_ pee will splash yourself unless you stand back a little, and be a little careful with the aim. **Lasciel** the dirtiest public toilets are the girls.:eek: Many girls “hover” and pee all over the seat. :mad:Others try to flush their period stuff down, clogging the toilet cause poop back up. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dude-if-youre-not-sitting-dont-use-the-stall/638367/89 "2012-10-26T20:36:14Z")
> [@Acid\_Lamp](#): > > Stalls are normally reserved… Is there some number you call to make those reservations or a website like [openstall.com](http://openstall.com)? ---
**Author:** ![Lasciel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e79b87/32.png) [@Lasciel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lasciel)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2012, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dude-if-youre-not-sitting-dont-use-the-stall/638367/90 "2012-10-26T21:01:56Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > **Lasciel** the dirtiest public toilets are the girls.:eek: Many girls “hover” and pee all over the seat. :mad:Others try to flush their period stuff down, clogging the toilet cause poop back up. Oh believe me, I’ve seen that too. Not saying guys are worse, just that IME, people in bathrooms are pretty universally disgusting, judging by the evidence. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dude-if-youre-not-sitting-dont-use-the-stall/638367/91 "2012-10-27T01:54:39Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > **Lasciel** the dirtiest public toilets are the girls.:eek: Many girls “hover” and pee all over the seat. :mad:Others try to flush their period stuff down, clogging the toilet cause poop back up. Oh, DON’T get me ranting about the hoverers. Listen, Princess, the woman who follows you into that stall does NOT want to have to clean up YOUR urine before she can use the toilet herself. You are NOT going to catch some horrible disease from sitting down, and sitting down drastically reduces the splatter all over the place. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dude-if-youre-not-sitting-dont-use-the-stall/638367/92 "2012-10-27T02:39:35Z")
One odd thing: generally- a public womans restroom will be dirtier than the mens. BUT, again, generally, a woman’s at home bathroom will be cleaner than a guys. Weird, eh? ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dude-if-youre-not-sitting-dont-use-the-stall/638367/93 "2012-10-27T13:37:57Z")
Big reason women’s toilets are dirtier: they are also the ones used for young children/babies. ---
**Author:** ![Jan\_John\_Cobham\_Salad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/898d66/32.png) [@Jan\_John\_Cobham\_Salad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jan_John_Cobham_Salad)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2012, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dude-if-youre-not-sitting-dont-use-the-stall/638367/94 "2012-10-27T23:48:54Z")
There’s two sides to this illogical shit patty, so let’s throw a spatula under it real quick. Learn how to control your bowels better and you won’t need to be sitting/shitting at disgusting public toilet seats all the time. _I_ can count on one hand the number of times I’ve “_needed_” to defecate in any public facility in my life, no problems with that, so what seems to be your issue fella? Oh, I’m sure you consider it very real and serious, but to me it’s just something you’ve made up. Like, umm, what the thrice?? oh yes! kidney shyness, for example. Whereas some people may have a hard time forcing a trickle in the open, you have a hard time not shitting your pants. _Fair play_. Glad we could work our way back towards common ground, see you by the stalls! ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dude-if-youre-not-sitting-dont-use-the-stall/638367/95 "2012-10-28T00:03:17Z")
> [@Acid\_Lamp](#): > > If there are multiple urinals and no dividing screens, it is polite to leave a buffer urinal between yourself and another user. If possible, it is MOST polite to use the urinal on the far end of the line. No dividing screens = mandatory stall usage as far as I’m concerned. A little privacy is indispensable. > [@](#): > > Stalls are normally reserved for those who have children with them, have to poop, or have some other issue that makes using the urinals impractical. It is fine to use the stall if the urinals are occupied. I missed this part of the memo. AFAIC there’s nothing wrong with taking a piss in a stall, as long as (a) you lock the door and (b) it’s not so crowded that stalls are in short supply. I think my preference for stalls stems largely from the point you made about not wanting to talk to anyone while I take care of business. At home we all do this alone, after all. ---
**Author:** ![Coustralee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Coustralee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coustralee)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dude-if-youre-not-sitting-dont-use-the-stall/638367/96 "2012-10-28T13:49:35Z")
the massive irony of this thread is that you have to be anallly retentive to come up with it ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2012, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dude-if-youre-not-sitting-dont-use-the-stall/638367/97 "2012-10-28T18:02:40Z")
It’s a handicap stall, not a fucking private cell phone booth. Some bitch came extremely close to having her teeth knocked out by my full arm cast once. ---
**Author:** ![Azeotrope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/0ea827/32.png) [@Azeotrope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Azeotrope)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dude-if-youre-not-sitting-dont-use-the-stall/638367/98 "2012-10-29T13:41:52Z")
> [@Seanette](#): > > Oh, DON’T get me ranting about the hoverers. Listen, Princess, the woman who follows you into that stall does NOT want to have to clean up YOUR urine before she can use the toilet herself. You are NOT going to catch some horrible disease from sitting down, and sitting down drastically reduces the splatter all over the place. When I was in college, there was a note taped to the wall in every stall in every ladies’ room in one of the buildings, stating “IF YOU DO NOT INTEND TO SIT PLEASE WIPE THE SEAT SO THE REST OF US DO NOT HAVE TO SIT IN YOUR URINE!!!” I guess one of the female professors or staff landed in a puddle one time too many. ---
**Author:** ![Debaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3da27b/32.png) [@Debaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debaser)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dude-if-youre-not-sitting-dont-use-the-stall/638367/99 "2012-10-29T14:01:34Z")
People are actually defending leaving their piss in the toilet for the next person to smell? Really? I mean, it’s one thing to be so lazy and inconsiderate, but to actually admit it? Is this whole thread a whoosh? ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dude-if-youre-not-sitting-dont-use-the-stall/638367/100 "2012-10-29T14:01:43Z")
> [@StarvingButStrong](#): > > Big reason women’s toilets are dirtier: they are also the ones used for young children/babies. Then I look forward to the data showing that most of the mess in women’s restrooms is demonstrably the product of young children/babies, because what I’m mostly hearing in threads of this kind strongly suggests it’s anything but. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dude-if-youre-not-sitting-dont-use-the-stall/638367.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dude-if-youre-not-sitting-dont-use-the-stall/638367.md?page=6)