h2g2Fan

Many of you might have wondered at one point why toilets are always placed adjacent to a wall and never in the middle of a room. Or, perhaps you simply assumed that it was due to easier plumbing design. However, this isn't really a factor since the pipes could go underneath the floor just as easily as they go up a wall. With that in mind, you might now assume that it is just more aesthetically pleasing to put a toilet next to a wall, or hidden in a corner, out of sight and out of mind. Now, this might be a viable reason if it were not for the fact that some people consider the toilet as a work of art (something I found out 4-5 years ago at a modern art museum). Surely one of these toilet art connoisseurs would have theirs somewhere other than next to the wall unless the real reason was something besides simply aethstetic values or practical constraints.

In reality (or at least my version of it), this is more of a gender issue than one might think. Why? Well, if I understand correctly, when a woman uses a toilet, she simply sits on it, does whatever it is she has to do, and stands up. Men, on the other hand, will stand in front of the toilet while peeing (note: this is at least 95% of the basis for some women's "penis envy"). However, this will sometimes be done leaning over the toilet seat with one hand on the wall. This simple practice could not be done if the toilet were in the middle of the room. I hope you're thinking to yourself now how obvious this must have been.

An exception? The "double toilet" for married couples, which features two toilet seats back-to-back so the happy couple can go poo at the same time. I must say, it's a cute idea, but when you really think about it (and by you I mean me), the toilet is probably the one place where a couple shouldn't (and I mean never) spend any time together.

Three minutes of research shows the "double toilet" was invented, or at least marketed, by a Rachel Stevenson. This should not be suprising since, before this post, women had no idea how important the wall really is.

platypus

Morning wood is a problem. If I didn't have the wall to lean on in the morning, I'd squirt the medicine cabinet.

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Stiltzkin

Nice observation!

Peeing standing is overrated. Sure, it's quick and easy, but what if you have to do #1 and #2? Are you going to stand for the piss, then sit down to poo? Ok, I should just stop talking before I sound too idiotic

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PayUp

never actually thought about it til now

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Born to Lose.

sadistikdreams

totally agree.

that and the fact the my dork is holy.

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The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of non-essentials."
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hearts, by d.a.

TwistedFate

I agree, there are some things I just don't need to think about. We all do it, but that doesn't make it a team sport.

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obediah

You always know a women is behind a mirrored wall behind a toilet (at least in a private restroom). I guess they don't consider the guy standing there watching themselves pee every time. Of course I had a friend in high school that was amazed by the mirror on our bathroom door...I guess he could watch the shit come out of his ass in it. Fucking weird.

Macheath

I wouldn't want to worry about tripping over the bloody thing in the middle of the night. If you choose not to turn on the lights, you want the location to be VERY predictable.

platypus

Location NOT predictable, huh?

Now there's an idea. Put it on wheels. Then leave it in a different spot (behind the shower curtain, in the tub, back of the closet, on the front porch). Drive your SO batty.

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Out the 10Base-T, through the router, down the T1, over the leased line, off the bridge, past the firewall...nothing but Net.

Stiltzkin

This might present an interesting plumbing challenge...

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Macheath

For added sport you could move the laundry hamper around at random too. Imagine the sheer horror of locating the "target" and wondering why it doesn't "sound" right. Great for drunks.

mrquackers

Actualy, in Amsterdam, we saw public toilets that weren't against a wall, per se. In fact, they were more out in the middle of a public square. I've got a picture, but have never posted one to the forum before. Lemme head over to the testing board and give it a test run and I'll post it here...

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mrquackers

aaaaaaannnnndddddd, here we go! Forgive the fuzziness. Damned digital zoom.

Stiltzkin

Hmm... I'd kind of like to go back to the really old days when they had public poopers and you could sit around taking a shit while talking politics with your fellow poopers.

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The most important thing in this world is love.

hotchocolate

I like the toiletz up against the wall... because when we went to Japan and they were in the middle of the floor... (actually it wasnt even a toilet, more like the toilet bowl stuck in the ground) it made it really hard to "take care of business"

Munku

Yes! I use the wall all the damn time.. woot.