Shadow, did the protesters at 'Target' take their "business" elsewhere?

I want to protest about blokes who use the cubical in the "Men's" and do number ones standing at the bowel, causing a yellow river in cubical thus when I come along to do number two's got to be extra careful of the yellow river! What's wrong with ya, don't use the trough for fear others might view your undersized twinky!

I also protest the high number of blokes (don't know the women score), 50% in my estimate who don't wash their hands!

I also protest the blokes at the RSL where I drink, and the urinals are not auto flush, its an old club, the troughs get a solid workout by about 10pm, you know why. Why don't you blokes 'flush' the things after use, the stink in summer well, and its not the cleaners fault.

There are many other toilet items i could raise but i'll leave them for another day, lack of paper for one!

"Government should be designing public toilets so that entry and exit does not require touching the door hardware and most important, the main womens toilets should have an attendant on hand to supervise and keep it all clean.

Bidets in public toilets, why not?"

otb,

Once upon a time most big department stores provided that service and so did other venues. I quite liked it. For a small fee, you had that extra feeling that it wasn't just a random ablution place, but something that was actually managed and kept clean.

"I believe that while toilets for men are simply a facility, for women they are also something of a refuge. If a leather clad biker can now enter a ladies on the pretext of "identifying" as a woman that will be lost.

That the safety and peace of mind of the 99% should be sacrificed for the 1% is what today's PC culture is all about."

I've never looked upon female toilets as a refuge. I'm always glad when I see one and I've got to go.

Spose you're right though, SM...I wouldn't particularly relish the sight of a burly leather clad bikie doing his thing at the urinal when I emerge from the gentile environs of the cubicle.

But what is it about toilets that sets us on edge re safety...is it because it involves action from our naughty bits - or is it merely that we're required to enter a secluded area with strangers away from the safety of the throng?.

The latter one would suppose.

Poirot,

I propose bidets in public toilets for the simple reason and hope that bidets would prevent the scooping of water that is presently occurring from vanity sinks and toilet tanks where accessible. It results in black water and soggy toilet paper strewn over the floor.

I would like to see local government and businesses sharing the cost of attendants in women's toilets particularly because the presence of a woman attendant might encourage young mothers to model soap and water hand cleaning to their accompanying children. Think health savings from spreading the soap&water regime and not bacteria.

However bidets, attendants and clean public facilities would encourage travellers to schedule another, perhaps longer visit. -As would clean, covered, public seating areas with hot and cold water, and bins that are emptied and don't stink up the city mall.

Australia spends millions trying to get tourists, but the real money from repeat, family tourism comes from tourists' personal experience and from word of mouth. Australia has become grotty, vandalised and mean. -So mean to tourists (and locals alike) that the usual small comforts and concessions to travellers are curtailed, lest the traveller might not spend money on a seat in a greasy cafe nearby.

Paul,

All I heard was that there were protests.

From your description and my experience, the gents is not somewhere most women would like to go, and I do only for necessity.

P,

I think a quick visit to a gents would probably firm up your opinion.

Hi there POIROT...

Your thoughts on days past, when most decent Department Stores had clean public toilets with attendants therein, reminded me of my visit to Harrods in London.

For a sum of around a couple of British Pounds or so(I think), you were ushered into this quiet sanctuary called the Gentlemen's Rest Rooms, which was a rather pleasant change having being immersed in the bustling shopping floors.

Just inside the door was a gentleman's shoe shine, manned by this elderly, wizened little fellow who's function it was to shine one's shoes, at a cost that could easily purchase a new pair, plus a hefty tip of course? Anyway on to why I was there. Safely installed in my own cubical, I was amazed at it's size, each being easily double the size of a normal stall? You know the type, about the dimensions usually consigned for the exclusive use of the peasant class, and of course, policeman? Oh I nearly forget, each dark-wood paneled wall of my stall, had a nice Georgian Print affixed thereto?

After one has taken care of business, you proceeded to this row of opulent wash basins, the size of which could easily approximate the dimensions of a working class bath. After washing your hands, you were greeted by yet another elderly, well dressed fellow who eagerly pressed upon you to accept this large soft 'hand towel' in order for you to dry your hands, alternatively take it to the beach - the choice is obviously yours?

On exiting the area one couldn't help noticing a very large 'tipping' receptacle was conveniently located just inside the (closed) exit door. Which was conveniently held open for you after completing everything you needed to do including placing a couple of pounds, even a fiver into this receptacle. My brief visit to Harrods Gentlemen Rest Rooms had now concluded merely to 'take a leak' or 'drain the tank' or any other rendition one feels most comfortable in accepting. Anyone visiting Harrods should consider taking a bucket, it would prove far more economical?

Paul1405,

Urinals are the economic solution for men.

The 410mm height and 180mm opening width (approximations) of a toilet bowl is not optimal for standing use as a urinal.

By way of example, one closet, three urinals (one for common use is more economical and is the usual choice) and a wash basin (male option) occupies about 10% less space and has faster turnaround than three closets and two wash basins (female option).

Maybe some here can figure how the females have fewer facilities and longer waits (clues, one facility less and slower turnaround). Lose the private cubicles and both facilities can cater for more people.

Of course as previously mentioned, the alphabetically sensitive and multicultural (absolutely!) ABC would still have a rainbow spectrum of toilets (and the units non-white) to cater for its staff and visitors. The ABC has a large drain inserted in the taxpayers artery though and is bleeding the taxpayer white (hey, watch that language).

No toilet jokes or discussion of feminists' idiotic aim of diminishing masculinity by forcing men to sit for all purposes either.