# Public "toilets" - you have got to be kidding! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 26, 2010, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-toilets-you-have-got-to-be-kidding/530585 "2010-02-26T23:40:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2010, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-toilets-you-have-got-to-be-kidding/530585/61 "2010-02-28T17:06:34Z")
> [@Hail\_Ants](#): > > …Back in the late 80s I traveled cross country here in the USA and the only weird bathroom I came across was a rest stop in Texas. The toilets were arranged same as the urinals, IOW they were just all in a row with no individual booths around them! Don’t think I could wipe my ass in front of strangers (or friends for that matter!) It was done to save money and cut down on “inappropriate behavior” by eliminating any privacy. Prisons do it for the same reasons (& they don’t have to care about complaints). I’ve never actually been in a restroom with no dividers at all between the toilets, but I’ve been in ones with no doors on the stalls. Mostly public places like rest stops, parks, or beaches. Oh and the toilets in my HS lockerroom were set up like that. I’m not really sure what they were affraid we’d be doing since every other boys’ restroom had stall doors. Those toilets were very seldom used (except when the urinals were all in use). ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2010, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-toilets-you-have-got-to-be-kidding/530585/62 "2010-02-28T18:04:23Z")
> [@](#): > > I submit that the solution is cheaper and easier: stop allowing adult men to behave like dogs. I have to say I am shocked at this attitude. It’s nature. ---
**Author:** ![Teacake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Teacake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teacake)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2010, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-toilets-you-have-got-to-be-kidding/530585/63 "2010-02-28T19:10:00Z")
Living in cities isn’t natural. So we adjust our behaviour to our environment. What, you take a shit in the middle of the mall? But it’s nature! ---
**Author:** ![HotSmoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/d9b06d/32.png) [@HotSmoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HotSmoke)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2010, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-toilets-you-have-got-to-be-kidding/530585/64 "2010-02-28T19:47:56Z")
I showed this to my hubs and he said it wouldn’t bother him in the least to use one of those…but I think men are more comfortable peeing in public (as in out of doors) than women are. I couldn’t use it(but then again,I am of the female persuasion)…shoot,porta potties are even a nit much for me. Must be all that sensible midwestern upbringing. ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2010, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-toilets-you-have-got-to-be-kidding/530585/65 "2010-02-28T20:43:53Z")
[QUOTE=Superfluous Parentheses] Buttgates [/QUOTE] Band name! ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2010, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-toilets-you-have-got-to-be-kidding/530585/66 "2010-02-28T21:00:44Z")
> [@Teacake](#): > > These are the trappings of civilisation the way we’ve built it. Peeing in a decent receptacle in a reasonable place (i.e. neither in an alleyway nor at a urinal set up in the main street) should be part of this. I agree with the general principle that peeing in a decent receptacle in a reasonable place, rather than just whizzing anywhere you like whenever you want, is one of the necessary restrictions that society places on individual behavior. However, I think that a properly constructed and maintained street urinal **IS** a decent receptacle in a reasonable place for peeing. You disagree. Okay. > [@Teacake](#): > > If women can hold it (because they have to), why shouldn’t men have to? I don’t think that the principle “since we can’t provide this convenience for everybody equally, let’s not provide it for anybody” is the most sensible basis for urban planning. You might as well argue that since wheelchair users have to wait around for elevators in subway stations instead of using the faster and more convenient escalators and stairs, then we should just rip out the escalators and stairs and make **everybody** use elevators. The fact is that due to the combined influences of anatomy and cultural convention, it is easier to provide facilities for rapid, discreet and sanitary urination in public places for men than for women. I’m quite well aware that this isn’t strictly fair to us women, but I don’t think equalizing the situation by refusing to provide street urinals for men is a sensible solution. And, as I noted above, it’s not as though women are in any way **prohibited** from using the same street urinals as men if they can do it discreetly. Maybe the best solution is for more of us to start traveling with one of those Shenis or Herwang tube thingies and using street urinals when we need to pee, thus mitigating the unfairness of it all. I actually don’t think I’d mind that too much, but I’d sure have to get **very** skilled at using the device properly before I’d be willing to try it in public. The appeal of just being able to stop on the sidewalk in a strange city for a quick legal pee instead of frantically searching with bursting bladder for a ladies’ room would certainly go far to overcome my natural shyness. ---
**Author:** ![Diver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@Diver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diver)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2010, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-toilets-you-have-got-to-be-kidding/530585/67 "2010-02-28T21:31:52Z")
In 1963 in Saigon there were public latrines called pisswoirs. We pronounced it pisswa and it must have come from the french. They were a chest high U shaped wall right on the sidewalk of some major streets. You faced out with a building at your back. While you were taking a leak you could see all the folks walking by. Outside the unit along the arms of the U there were small walls maybe 12 inches high. Between the wall and arm of the U there were concrete footpads about 2 inches high with a “bombsight” - a hole into the sewer - between them. That’s what the women used. The Vietnamese didn’t get excited about urination. It was common to see men peeing into the gutter of Tudo street - the main street of Saigon - facing the passing traffic. After a few months I did the same and thought nothing of it. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2010, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-toilets-you-have-got-to-be-kidding/530585/68 "2010-02-28T22:47:51Z")
> [@Teacake](#): > > To clarify, my comments about gross and unsanitary, and indeed to “the crime they’re committing”, referred to the practice of pissing in the street, not to pissing in a urinal. And I don’t agree that “when you have to piss, you have to piss” is a good excuse. If women can hold it (because they have to), why shouldn’t men have to? This makes no sense. Urban planning should be based on providing what works, not on what’s fair. Just because women have a natural disadvantage doesn’t mean that men should be artificially forced to suffer the same disadvantage. The current system allows both men and women to be served with net lower construction costs and smaller lines. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2010, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-toilets-you-have-got-to-be-kidding/530585/69 "2010-02-28T23:05:43Z")
Holy crap, Batman, I’d go find a nice tree or bush to pee behind before ever using a nightmare like that. But then again, I prefer to use a stall even in a men’s room. ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2010, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-toilets-you-have-got-to-be-kidding/530585/70 "2010-02-28T23:14:44Z")
Color me in the _meh, what’s the big deal_ seats. ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-toilets-you-have-got-to-be-kidding/530585/71 "2010-03-01T05:15:33Z")
> [@Teacake](#): > > Grow up. I’m hardly hysterical. I just think that now that we’ve moved on from living in caves, and we have a lot of people in a confined amount of space (i.e. towns), men should also move on from thinking that it’s OK to pee whenever and wherever. The urinals they put up at weekends in the West End don’t provide privacy (in fact they are put on in main streets, well-lit areas, and by that measure actually make it more visible), and do encourage the idea that men are some sort of delicate creatures who can’t hold their juice and must be pandered to. If we’re out, we’re not children. We can all manage to find a toilet or hold it till we get home. I fully agree with you that these are designed to prevent public sanitation problems, but I submit that the solution is cheaper and easier: stop allowing adult men to behave like dogs. Grow up, seeing a penis is hardly a death sentence. What do you think? A woman sees a penis and catches that deadly nymphomania? ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-toilets-you-have-got-to-be-kidding/530585/72 "2010-03-01T05:25:51Z")
I’d piss in it. I don’t care. I’ll piss anywhere. I’ve pissed off balconies. **Teacake** is being ridiculous, by the way. These things are perfectly sanitary. It’s not that easy for me to hold it anymore either. Guys start getting leaky as they age. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-toilets-you-have-got-to-be-kidding/530585/73 "2010-03-01T08:30:20Z")
> [@Teacake](#): > > And I don’t agree that “when you have to piss, you have to piss” is a good excuse. If women can hold it (because they have to), why shouldn’t men have to? Women don’t have to hold it, there’s just a slightly higher risk to reward ratio for them usually (although sometimes it’s easier for them if they are wearing a skirt since nothing actually gets exposed). I’ve certainly seen my fair share of women in cities popping a squat in the streets. The real culprit is of course the lack of public facilities. If a city is inadequately equipped, people can hardly be expected to run home every two hours to pee. Of course, it’s better to have access to facilities for both genders. I’d think having those men only things around would only be fair if they were a supplement to woman friendly structures. So I agree with your point, if these are permanent things on city street corners with no stalls anywhere, but I disagree if they are a supplement to portapotties or permanent stalls. ---
**Author:** ![Staggerlee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/staggerlee/32/3134_2.png) [@Staggerlee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Staggerlee)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-toilets-you-have-got-to-be-kidding/530585/74 "2010-03-01T12:03:31Z")
They have these (sans buttgate) in Bristol city centre too, though I’ve only used them at festivals. It can take a bit more focus when there are women in earshot I must say. But I’d like to also object to **Teacake** ’s horrified reaction; it could be considered resignation to binge-drinking culture, but is a pragmatic effort to minimise the ‘dog-like’ behaviour of urinating any old where. ---
**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:** [March 1, 2010, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-toilets-you-have-got-to-be-kidding/530585/75 "2010-03-01T14:34:57Z")
I don’t think I’d have a problem using one. Hell, half the time I take my dog out I have a piss right along with him. 🙂 ---
**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:** [March 1, 2010, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-toilets-you-have-got-to-be-kidding/530585/76 "2010-03-01T14:35:57Z")
> [@bengangmo](#): > > Grow up, seeing a penis is hardly a death sentence. What do you think? A woman sees a penis and catches that deadly nymphomania? we can only hope… we can only hope ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-toilets-you-have-got-to-be-kidding/530585/77 "2010-03-01T15:25:55Z")
This thread is the most entertaining thing I’ve read all week. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2010, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-toilets-you-have-got-to-be-kidding/530585/78 "2010-03-01T18:50:37Z")
> [@Teacake](#): > > To clarify, my comments about gross and unsanitary, and indeed to “the crime they’re committing”, referred to the practice of pissing in the street, not to pissing in a urinal. [Moderating] This being GQ, I don’t think a debate about the propriety of urinating is really appropriate here. If you want to discuss whether it should be a crime, or other moral issues, please start a thread in GD. Let’s restrict this to the subject of the OP, that is, different styles of urinals. This goes for everyone. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Dead\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9fc29f/32.png) [@Dead\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dead_Cat)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2010, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-toilets-you-have-got-to-be-kidding/530585/79 "2010-03-02T18:09:43Z")
> [@Staggerlee](#): > > They have these (sans buttgate) in Bristol city centre too… …which I have used myself on occasion. They bring them out on Friday night at around 8pm, and come back to collect them at about 6am on Saturday morning. Repeat the processs Saturday evening/Sunday morning. This means that those who feel able can relieve themselves, and they are not in the way of shoppers in the daytime. In response to **Teacake** , while I agree that these facilities are not the ideal of decorum, and somewhat unfair to women, the fact is that when you have just been to a bar and drunk 3-4 pints without relieving yourself because you think that you are going to the club next door, only to emerge and find that half the party wants to go somewhere else and the other half has gone to buy pizza, and you’re drunk, and you REALLY need to pee, you’re just going to go. This applies whatever the orientation of your genitals - I have seen women pissing in the street as well as men. These devices happen to be a handy invention that allow men to keep some of their dignity and not foul the streets, which is better than the alternative. ---
**Author:** ![Teacake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Teacake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teacake)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2010, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-toilets-you-have-got-to-be-kidding/530585/80 "2010-03-02T18:34:42Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > I’d piss in it. I don’t care. I’ll piss anywhere. I’ve pissed off balconies. > > **Teacake** is being ridiculous, by the way. These things are perfectly sanitary. It’s not that easy for me to hold it anymore either. Guys start getting leaky as they age. I never said they weren’t sanitary - it was someone else who pointed out that there’s no facility for handwashing. As for everything else… I think you’re all reading me in some kind of hysterical, foaming at the mouth tone of voice. I’m not shrieking about these things; I just think they’re a bit nasty and encourage, as someone said also, binge drinking and irresponsible behaviour. I also linked to an article about the actual money-costing damage caused by urine on buildings, which these are designed to solve, so clearly I’m against that and by extension to a certain level for these urinals. But whatever. I don’t really care about it that much, so I’ll just bow out and let you all piss all over the cities. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-toilets-you-have-got-to-be-kidding/530585.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/public-toilets-you-have-got-to-be-kidding/530585.md?page=5)