# Men...why do you pass up urinals to pee in the toilet? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 7, 2016, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-why-do-you-pass-up-urinals-to-pee-in-the-toilet/742383 "2016-01-07T01:28:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2016, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-why-do-you-pass-up-urinals-to-pee-in-the-toilet/742383/41 "2016-01-07T15:43:46Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > It’s called [Paruresis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paruresis) or shy bladder. Some people honestly can’t go when other people are watching. A common complaint among my patients. I counsel them to exhale all the air out of their lungs, then hold their breath, and 95% of them will begin to urinate before they have to inhale again. ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2016, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-why-do-you-pass-up-urinals-to-pee-in-the-toilet/742383/42 "2016-01-07T15:47:47Z")
I haven’t used urinals too much since I was a teenager. I can’t always get a steady stream. When I was younger, It would stream out easily maybe four out of five times. Then my fifth would just be a directionless spray that would go everywhere. Not a pleasant experience. I figured there was no sense taking a chance on ruining my clothes with a freakish spray of urine, so I would go into a stall and sit. A bit of manipulation would then result in a sanitary urination without any nasty spray hitting me or my clothing. So I became a habitual stall-sitter pretty early on. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2016, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-why-do-you-pass-up-urinals-to-pee-in-the-toilet/742383/43 "2016-01-07T18:55:22Z")
Am I the only one who approaches the first available pissing spot he sees, regardless of what it is? A long time ago I read that most men go to the furthest toilet in a restroom to do their business. I thought that was a strange human behavior ever since then I just started going to the first spot that would satisfy my needs. Of course I still follow the rule of not taking a urinal right next to someone if there is one available further away. If you want to see how other people choose: [http://www.urinalman.com/](http://www.urinalman.com/) ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2016, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-why-do-you-pass-up-urinals-to-pee-in-the-toilet/742383/44 "2016-01-07T19:15:07Z")
A couple of reasons. 1) I read facebook on my phone at work when I take bathroom breaks, so every bathroom break – #1 or #2 – becomes a sit-down occasion. 2) I have bad sinuses, and often need to blow my nose as a part of my bathroom routine. There’s no TP by the urinals. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2016, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-why-do-you-pass-up-urinals-to-pee-in-the-toilet/742383/45 "2016-01-07T19:41:13Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > One of the movie theaters I visit now has no-water, non-flushing urinals. I guess they prevent backsplash, but I have to wonder how clean they are. I tested a urinal. You’re not getting backsplash, you’re peeing on yourself. Here’s what I did: put tissue paper on legs. Fill urinal with blue water, use squirt gun full of clear water. Result- no blue drops on paper. Fill urinal with clear water, use squirt gun full of blue water. Result- blue drops on paper/legs. As Blaster Master put it- dont pee on the plastic thing, pee into the back. Using a toilet to pee is a huge waste of water and energy. ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2016, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-why-do-you-pass-up-urinals-to-pee-in-the-toilet/742383/46 "2016-01-07T20:28:29Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Using a toilet to pee is a huge waste of water and energy. Only if you flush. 😉 On the other hand, I pee outside probably 25% of the time, so I’m doing my part to make up for the wasteful toilet users. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2016, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-why-do-you-pass-up-urinals-to-pee-in-the-toilet/742383/47 "2016-01-07T21:55:04Z")
> [@DrCube](#): > > Only if you flush. 😉 On the other hand, I pee outside probably 25% of the time, so I’m doing my part to make up for the wasteful toilet users. Good point. There’s little need to flush after urination. But if you dont flush the toilet, the next guy will just flush first , so no water is saved. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2016, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-why-do-you-pass-up-urinals-to-pee-in-the-toilet/742383/48 "2016-01-07T22:09:09Z")
Do any of you guys remember those urination troughs? What was the protocol for those? ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2016, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-why-do-you-pass-up-urinals-to-pee-in-the-toilet/742383/49 "2016-01-07T22:18:22Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > Do any of you guys remember those urination troughs? What was the protocol for those? Avoid them at all costs. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2016, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-why-do-you-pass-up-urinals-to-pee-in-the-toilet/742383/50 "2016-01-07T22:25:45Z")
I like to watch the bubbles. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2016, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-why-do-you-pass-up-urinals-to-pee-in-the-toilet/742383/51 "2016-01-07T22:48:57Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > Do any of you guys remember those urination troughs? What was the protocol for those? They’re for washing your hands, duh. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InR7tip2Izk) ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2016, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-why-do-you-pass-up-urinals-to-pee-in-the-toilet/742383/52 "2016-01-08T12:25:46Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > Do any of you guys remember those urination troughs? What was the protocol for those? I was at a busy drive-in in the 70s where the men’s room had an old bathtub in the center of the room, and a toilet (no stall) in one corner. There was a sink, cold water only, that trickled continuously, with no way to affect flow. During intermission there’d be guys standing around the bathtub pissing. Now _that_ was weird. ---
**Author:** ![yo\_han\_go](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yo_han_go/32/130_2.png) [@yo\_han\_go](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yo_han_go)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2016, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-why-do-you-pass-up-urinals-to-pee-in-the-toilet/742383/53 "2016-01-08T12:45:48Z")
(another potentially legendary thread :dubious:) I too got this Paruresis thing. It got a bit better since teenage days, but I still just can’t do it in overbooked toilets when men are standing behind you to finish your Job (but in this scenario all the stalls are usually also taken, or clogged, so you can understand my frustration). In my case is probably social anxiety since after couple of beers or a xanax I can pee like a horse even in fully crowded oktoberfest style all for one pissoar. Heck, i think I could even pee into pool from the jump board in front of 5000 kids visiting miss of universe candidates. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2016, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-why-do-you-pass-up-urinals-to-pee-in-the-toilet/742383/54 "2016-01-08T17:42:46Z")
Sometimes I have to wipe my butt because it gets swampy down there. Usually this happens when I’m out of clean underwear and I’m using Saran Wrap instead. ---
**Author:** ![swampspruce](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampspruce/32/261_2.png) [@swampspruce](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampspruce)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2016, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-why-do-you-pass-up-urinals-to-pee-in-the-toilet/742383/55 "2016-01-08T18:41:22Z")
An [educational webpage](http://www.brocode.org/a-quick-guide-to-urinal-etiquette/) about this fascinating topic… ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2016, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-why-do-you-pass-up-urinals-to-pee-in-the-toilet/742383/56 "2016-01-08T18:44:48Z")
> [@swampspruce](#): > > An [educational webpage](http://www.brocode.org/a-quick-guide-to-urinal-etiquette/) about this fascinating topic… Man, that is stupid beyond belief. Sure, if there are six urinals, only one being used, you dont take the one next to the solo guy. But to think you can’t even use a urinal if it mean you have to stand next to another dude is crazy. ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2016, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-why-do-you-pass-up-urinals-to-pee-in-the-toilet/742383/57 "2016-01-08T21:49:33Z")
> [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](#): > > Sometimes I have to wipe my butt because it gets swampy down there. Usually this happens when I’m out of clean underwear and I’m using Saran Wrap instead. Heh . Nice! I think I get wayyyyy more splashing pissing in a toilet than any kind of urinal. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2017, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-why-do-you-pass-up-urinals-to-pee-in-the-toilet/742383/59 "2017-05-13T03:24:47Z")
Reported. IOW, piss off. :dubious: Sorry, but given the thread topic… ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2017, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-why-do-you-pass-up-urinals-to-pee-in-the-toilet/742383/60 "2017-05-13T03:38:47Z")
Who knew being a guy was so complicated? ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2017, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-why-do-you-pass-up-urinals-to-pee-in-the-toilet/742383/61 "2017-05-13T03:56:47Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > Reported. > > IOW, piss off. :dubious: > Sorry, but given the thread topic… And here I was thinking down the drain. 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/men-why-do-you-pass-up-urinals-to-pee-in-the-toilet/742383.md?page=2)