# Why don't urinals go to the floor anymore? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 19, 2006, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-urinals-go-to-the-floor-anymore/377096 "2006-10-19T14:54:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2006, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-urinals-go-to-the-floor-anymore/377096/21 "2006-10-19T23:53:41Z")
[QUOTE=RealityChuck] Cost. When you’re equipping a building with 500 urinals, every dollar makes a difference. [/QUOTE] I’ve seen and used one over 50 ft. LONG. I think it was the Atlanta Braves Stadium. Lots of room to spread out. One height fits all but midgets and the tall man. ---
**Author:** ![nivlac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3bc359/32.png) [@nivlac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nivlac)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-urinals-go-to-the-floor-anymore/377096/22 "2006-10-20T00:02:06Z")
\*\*Why don’t urinals go to the floor anymore? \*\* Oh, they’re still around. Some old sports complexes still have them, as do places that have to service a lot of urinaters 😃 at once. I was just at the L.A. Convention Center and the urinals go to the floor. Must admit that the newer ballparks don’t have them anymore. They’re definitely more efficient. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-urinals-go-to-the-floor-anymore/377096/23 "2006-10-20T00:15:09Z")
It’s clear to me that pre-school boys do no have much clout in our society anymore. ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-urinals-go-to-the-floor-anymore/377096/24 "2006-10-20T00:17:17Z")
Sitzen zu pikeln 😃 ---
**Author:** ![marshmallow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-urinals-go-to-the-floor-anymore/377096/25 "2006-10-20T01:25:51Z")
[QUOTE=Belrix] If you’re a guy you know the sheer joy of peeing standing up. One of the great evolutionary advantages, in my opinion. Let’s me run from the predators and go about my business at the same time. [/QUOTE] I know this was said in jest, but a girl could run while peeing as well, and probably only get slightly more messy than the guy. The phrase “pissing into the wind” comes to mind. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-urinals-go-to-the-floor-anymore/377096/26 "2006-10-20T01:33:12Z")
[QUOTE=mstay] I know this was said in jest, but a girl could run while peeing as well, and probably only get slightly more messy than the guy. The phrase “pissing into the wind” comes to mind. [/QUOTE] The only way I can imagine that is possible if the girl in question is [standing on a subway grate](http://www.gallerym.com/work.cfm?ID=201). ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-urinals-go-to-the-floor-anymore/377096/27 "2006-10-20T02:58:34Z")
[QUOTE=nivlac] \*\*Why don’t urinals go to the floor anymore? \*\* Oh, they’re still around. Some old sports complexes still have them, as do places that have to service a lot of urinaters 😃 at once. I was just at the L.A. Convention Center and the urinals go to the floor. Must admit that the newer ballparks don’t have them anymore. They’re definitely more efficient. [/QUOTE] most of the ballparks I’ve been in have a trough. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-urinals-go-to-the-floor-anymore/377096/28 "2006-10-20T03:03:14Z")
[QUOTE=David Simmons] most of the ballparks I’ve been in have a trough. [/QUOTE] Nothing like watching that seventh inning tidal wave build from the ends toward the middle, then collide in a maelstrom of warm, foaming yellow before it gurgles down the drain. ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-urinals-go-to-the-floor-anymore/377096/29 "2006-10-20T03:21:34Z")
[QUOTE=Fear Itself] Nothing like watching that seventh inning tidal wave build from the ends toward the middle, then collide in a maelstrom of warm, foaming yellow before it gurgles down the drain. [/QUOTE] It’s tolerable if you have ever lived in a barracks. ---
**Author:** ![David\_Simmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9de053/32.png) [@David\_Simmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/David_Simmons)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-urinals-go-to-the-floor-anymore/377096/30 "2006-10-20T03:27:41Z")
[QUOTE=mstay] I know this was said in jest, but a girl could run while peeing as well, and probably only get slightly more messy than the guy. The phrase “pissing into the wind” comes to mind. [/QUOTE] Yeah but can she writer her initials in the snow? ---
**Author:** ![marshmallow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-urinals-go-to-the-floor-anymore/377096/31 "2006-10-20T04:23:35Z")
[QUOTE=Fear Itself] The only way I can imagine that is possible if the girl in question is [standing on a subway grate](http://www.gallerym.com/work.cfm?ID=201). [/QUOTE] I’m very confused. Or I’m getting whooshed. Are you trying to say girls can’t pee while running? If you say they can’t because they’d get it all over themselves this is true, but also applies to men, unless I suppose you have a super soaker range on that thing. ---
**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-urinals-go-to-the-floor-anymore/377096/32 "2006-10-20T04:50:14Z")
[QUOTE=acsenray] Yes, now that you mention it, I recall my wife explaining how women don’t actually want their backsides to _touch_ the seat, so they tend to pee all over the place. That would seem to defeat the purpose of the no-standing rule. But perhaps Norwegian schoolgirls don’t have that tendency. [/QUOTE] Women are terrible pee-ers. Bitches just need to sit their asses down, goddamnit! But this brings to mind a piece of graffiti I saw in a public ladies loo the other day… _“If you hover while you piss Here’s a tip for if you miss Grab some towel in hands or feet And wipe the motherfucking seat!”_ The meter’s a bit off, but I so dearly wanted to copy it and paste it on the loo doors here at work. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 6:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-urinals-go-to-the-floor-anymore/377096/33 "2006-10-20T06:15:56Z")
My local Costco has the down-to-the-floor type. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-urinals-go-to-the-floor-anymore/377096/34 "2006-10-20T10:24:56Z")
[QUOTE=spingears] I’ve seen and used one over 50 ft. LONG. [/QUOTE] Wow. You’d need to drink a LOT of beer to chase the blue cubes all the way down to the drain on that mother. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-urinals-go-to-the-floor-anymore/377096/35 "2006-10-20T10:33:12Z")
[QUOTE=mstay] I’m very confused. Or I’m getting whooshed. [/QUOTE] How can a girl piss into the wind without any pointable plumbing? ---
**Author:** ![PoorYorick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecccb3/32.png) [@PoorYorick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoorYorick)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-urinals-go-to-the-floor-anymore/377096/36 "2006-10-20T11:42:42Z")
[QUOTE=David Simmons] Yeah but can she writer her initials in the snow? [/QUOTE] Or put out a camp fire by peeing on it? ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-urinals-go-to-the-floor-anymore/377096/37 "2006-10-20T12:08:06Z")
[QUOTE=Fear Itself] How can a girl piss into the wind without any pointable plumbing? [/QUOTE] I give unto you, the [Whizinator](http://www.whizproducts.co.uk/en/). ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-urinals-go-to-the-floor-anymore/377096/38 "2006-10-20T12:16:12Z")
[Public outrage prompts removal of urinal shaped like a woman’s mouth.](http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061019/ap_on_fe_st/austria_sexist_urinals_1) Looks like a Rolling Stones album cover to me. ---
**Author:** ![PoorYorick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecccb3/32.png) [@PoorYorick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoorYorick)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-urinals-go-to-the-floor-anymore/377096/39 "2006-10-20T13:32:32Z")
[QUOTE=Fear Itself] Looks like a Rolling Stones album cover to me. [/QUOTE] I was thinking Macaulay Culkin. ---
**Author:** ![KCB615](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ea666f/32.png) [@KCB615](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KCB615)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2006, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-urinals-go-to-the-floor-anymore/377096/40 "2006-10-20T13:52:13Z")
Back in at least 1996, the public men’s room at Windsor Castle didn’t even have urinals, just a tiled wall with drains and a trough at the bottom and dripping faucets at the top to wash everything down. I’d imagine that it would still be the same today. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-urinals-go-to-the-floor-anymore/377096.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-urinals-go-to-the-floor-anymore/377096.md?page=3)