Have you ever wondered about the toilet seats in women's restrooms? I don't mean the usual wonders like "who sat on this seat last and what did they have? or "How many germs are floating around here?"
I will describe the toilet seat in a public restroom and see if you can call it to your memory; if not, take a good hard look the next time you are in one.
What is the shape of the seat? Oval, but with about a four inch break in the very front.
What is the purpose of this?
I can only think of one and it doesn't involve women.
Obviously, the seats are man designed with a "spill proof" area in the front. Considerate, right?
Like I want to sit any part of my back side on the rim of a public toilet. It collects things.
But here's my big question? If men aren't using it, how are the collections getting there?
I know it begs the comment, "I just don't use public toilets," but lets be real - when nature calls what else are you going to do? Besides, have you ever seen an epitaph that read, "Here lies....died because she sat on a public toilet".
Now that you know one of my pet peeves, I want to tag Laura, Ben, Jo, Robin, Courtney, Lynda and Tami. Not to get a negative string going here, but we all have them and I am anxious to hear what they are! I would love to hear your comments on mine.
The Practical Polish of a Tidy Square Knot
7 hours ago
11 comments:
I agree completely...
Hey Terah! How are things?
I'll be thinking about it...
My heck, Julie, I totally love where you were going with this! I have thought about toilets alot since coming here...gauging my drinking in direct proportion to where I'm going and what kind of toilet do they have. There are so many different kinds and lack of kinds. I want to do a post about it but can't make myself take photos in some of these places because they are so public, I don't want to get yelled at (then again if it's in chinese I won't understand it so what do I care?) or embarass anyone. The toilet in the San Fran airport had a heated seat. Like...how long do they think you're doing to sit there...and do we really need to have all these buttons...and what's up with the water squirting UP from inside there? Yikes! And the only directions that weren't in chinese said, Put all your waste in the bin. I don't even want to go there! (Aren't you sorry you got me going on toilets?!) :)
I inspect the toilet seat before i put the liner on. You need to give "how to use liners" advice...
1. Pull pants down first so that liner doesn't fall in toilet while pulling pants down.
2. use 2 liners if toilet seat is questionable.
3. try not to think about who has used the toilet beforeyou.
I'll see if I can coem up with an intertaining pet peeve.
I learned at a very young age to squat. Let's just say, men don't know how easy they have it.
Like, Laura, I learned very early on the squatting method... I think of it more as hovering and a good way to keep my quads in good working order. And, while I try to avoid public bathrooms for the very things you mentioned, it cannot be helped in pregnancy. Haha, this post had me laughing! A pet peeve of mine? (There are too many to enumerate...) One is wet sinks/water around the sink. It grosses me out more than toilet seats do... I waste a lot of paper towels, (because rags gross me out too) wiping up water spots after every single handwashing/dish rinsing episode at our house. A little OCD? Perhaps.
Ah ha! I believe from these comments we can answer the question, "If men aren't using it, how are the collections getting there?" It's the squatters! Just think about it, women can't really aim. I also think little girls and babies add to the collection. (If you can't reach the floor, you have an increased fear of falling in. So what do you do? Sit on the very front edge.)
I have a public bathroom phobia. In fact there are only about 3 bathrooms that I will use on BYU campus. Just today I literally sprinted to a completely different building so that I wouldn't have to use the stinky old restroom in the Smith Field House.
I agree with Robin, line the toilets twice. And I agree with Courtney, rags make me gag.
The best public restroom I have ever encountered was in the middle of New York City believe it or not. The ESPN building had a full door and wall for each stall, and flat screen televisions in each one. Not even joking. So clean and the private stalls solved a lot of the stench. I could keep going, public restrooms are a regular in my daily thought cycle.
I hate using public bathrooms SOOOO much that I actually take into concideration how much fluids i'm intaking. Like at the fair - I refuse to go into those bathroom, so I go to the fair in the evenings when it isn't so hot - therefore I drink less and won't have to use them.
But there are times when it is unavoidable - and that is when I use what I call - the foot method. I open the door with my feet and close it with my feet - I do as Robin said and line the seat - always double layers!!! I somewhat hover - let's just say there isn't a tight seal between me and the seat - i flush with my feet - open the door with my feet.
And even after I wash my hands and leave the restroom I always use hand sanitizer just to make sure.
Mostly I just hurry - I guess I think that if I hurry fast enough the germs can't latch on to me!? =D
Ha! I love the foot method, (I call it the Foote Method because I'm pretty sure everyone in my family does it.) I forgot to mention that I also try to use the wheelchair stall because 1) the door opens outward (which means when you open the door you do not have to back up into the toilet), 2) the extra space makes it easier to avoid touching the walls and edges of the toilet 3)the cleaning people probably clean that stall better because they can move around the john better.
Oh my gosh..seriously, this post is hilarious. Good job Julie!
Yep - I try to use the wheelchair stall too - for the same reasons!! Plus, it gets used less and there is always ample toilet paper and seat liners. =D
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