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Reminds me of the one time I stunned my philosophy prof into complete silence.
Prof: (on why bother studying philosophy at all "If you can discover the ultimate philosophical answer to one question, then you will be able to understand the meaning of life."
Me (smarty-pants 1st year) "Ok. My question will be 'Why is a toilet bowl shaped to amplify sound?'"
Prof: "... "
Re: see-through toilet stall
Heck, if I had to go and it was there, I can't see why I wouldn't use it. Seems the important questions are: Can people see inside? (No - right answer) Does the toilet work? (Presumably Yes - right answer) Do I need to use a toilet when it is nearby? (If Yes, the other two questions have already been answered correctly)
I imagine you where his pet (French pun intended) for the rest of the year. :)
>>bwaahaahaaa - glow-in-the-dark toilet seat
What is so funny lawman? It's my GF birthday next month and I though one of these items [google.com] would be the perfect gift!
Just imagine the end of all those neverending flippin' toilet seat cover arguments.
Besides, if she does not like it, she could use it as a picture frame...
mivox,
Any other thoughs about fully appreciating this toilet as a work of art?
[edited by: Macguru at 12:19 pm (utc) on July 16, 2004]
Ho no! here we go again!
Let's recap : Only mens (and janitors) need a flipping seat. So we think about adjusting the tool to proper use, before we use it. On the other hand, womens only need a flipping seat when they act as janitors. Can't blame them if they forget about adjusting the tool before using it, but it seems they always remember to tell mens they forgot to lower the seat to their own default settings.
This lead to discussions like :
- Why dont you look if the cover is up or down before, just like I do?
- Because I can't see at night.
- Why dont you turn the lights on?
- Because it wakes me up and I cant go back to sleep!
===
So, the glow-in-the-dark toilet seat seems heaven sent.
Was this right to start arguing about this to the boss fiancée?
Will Brett chime in?
Therefore I think it only makes sense to leave it in the most commonly needed configuration as the default position. When I go to a male friend's house, if he lives alone or has only male roommates, I leave the seat UP when I'm done for exactly the same reason.
fully appreciating this toilet as a work of art?
Not really. ;) But it would be funny to sit nearby and watch people's reactions while they thought about using it.
Of course, I could adopt some democratic behavior, since I am the minority in the place, but I have plenty of logical excuses not to do so.
... I guess we'll have a picture of my face framed in a glow-in-the-dark toilet seat in the living room, next month.
>>watch people's reactions while they thought about using it.
I would tape them very close from the booth with a camcorder as soon I see someone getting into the art piece.
As for the philosophical quetion... No idea.
The physics are pretty simple:
Basic parabolic shape with a membrane (water level) partway down will focus and redirect the soundwaves in an amplified manner in a specific direction.
The philosophy of it:
There are many other potential configurations that would serve just as well, without the amplifying effect (ever seen a japanese toilet?)
So why did western society, or more specifically, Sir John Crapper (yes, that was his real name, and he was enobled for his invention and made Royal Plumber to Queen Victoria) end up using this particular configuration?
Is it do to man's inherant fascination with bodily functions? Some cosmic coincidence? An evolutionary pre-dispositon of design? WE may never know...
But it IS a great topic for discussion over a few pints at the pub.
The (lack of) height of a toilet being condusive to male overspray and other disasters requiring an excessive janitorial schedule I possess a urinal. Seat therefore remains in the default down position except for cleaning.
One-way glass is much better than the frosted variety and allows my baths to have large see-through while private window walls.
I love modern conveniences!
Might I suggest a musical bidet [google.ca] for the GF?
Something you both can (should?) use but that women really appreciate.
Quick fix to render the entire argument moot: Make urinals standard fixtures in home bathrooms. I think it would save a lot of marriages. :) (But cleaning the urinal is *definitely* a man's job!)
My daughter and her family live in Germany, and spent a week in Austria not long ago - wait for it -
There was a see-through potty in whichever little ski-town turned summer resort it is that they go to!
She used it. Her 12 and 7 year-old daughters used it. Her husband refused to use it; pretending he was simply another "local", he stopped in a lay-by and just pointed at the bushes on the way back to the inn....
Now this week he has the girls in Italy on the Riviera, and they have one of the "transparencies" THERE too - apparently this is a new Euro phenom....
Didi (my daughter) couldn't BELIEVE that this appeared on a forum here.... *laughing*
Well, I think most urinals designs where underinspired, they were definitly not shaped to amplify sounds!
Hey! Real mens needs the whole morning glory. What's a parade without drums and trumpets?
Give me a firewire musical toilet bowl that glows in the dark, now!
I haven't shared a bathroom with anyone since 1975. I'm not EVER going to share again. AND I don't clean "his". That's HIS job. Even thought he does "house husband" really well, he's STILL going to have to do his own once I retire (8/26/04 - YAAAAYYYYY!) and take over the rest of the house.... unless of course he'd like to hire someone else to do it for him....
No! You're disturbed enough already. If it were musical, you'd probably start dancing, and then it would really be a mess.
I'm sure you could just mount a regular toilet bowl up on a pedestal without a seat installed: voila! Instant acoustic amplifying urinal. :)
share
I only have one bathroom in the house. But even if I had two, I'd designate an adult vs. children's bathroom rather than boys vs. girls. ;) Besides, sharing a shower is nice. It would just seem weird to have to say, "Hey honey, want to shower in my room tonight?"
hit a nerve
Hilarious, isn't it?
[children? Good goddess - SPARE me.... I don't DO kids. Mine's 37, has a 12 and a 7 year old - I reared mine, now SHE gets to deal with it.... what goes around comes around!]
[snopes.com...]
Quote from somewhere :
Over the last 10 years Monica Bonvicini has worked with building sites and architectural structures as her themes. She sees utilitarian architecture as an expression of male dominance, and her work has a striking feminist quality.
And some art critics go at it here [physics.hku.hk]