The Ambiguous Feelings About Peeing In Public Restrooms

If it makes you feel any better

lots of non-trans folk have all sorts of issues with using public facilities to pee (shyness is not limited to #2).  I know quite a few XX women who stand to pee though I have a feeling that Riftgirl has much better aim and would prefer to use facilities after she does than I do after a few too many of my co-workers who aren't as conscientious as they should be.

Thanks Riftgirl, now I know that I'm not the only one who wonders if other people are seeing anything through the cracks in the door or listening in.  Just hearing someone else say they've ever had those thoughts makes me feel kinda normal.

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by: ol cranky @ Wed Dec 17, 2008 at 16:09:01 PM CST

brings back not so fond memories

The biggest row I have ever gotten into as a result of my trans status was, of course, over some piss.  My pals and I went down to the Foundation Room at HOB (ritzy and classy, at least by Cleveland standards) to check out a DJ friend who was spinning that night.  We had fun, laughed, drank, danced and peed.  Towards the end of the night a severely drunk girl came up to me and started screeching about how I was really a man and would always be a man no matter what I did.  My pals, all non transwomen, took umbrage and threatened to beat the girl to a bloody pulp.  Chaos ensued and angry bitch's boyfriend shoved her down the stairs and out the door.  After the calamity had died down a woman who apparently knew angry bitch came up and apologized for her.  Someone had pissed all over the toilet seat in the women's restroom, apparently I was the likely suspect and she took out her anger from sitting on a wet toilet out on me.  Since beginning my transition I have always sat down in public to pee, so it wasn't me.  Of course on cold Cleveland mornings in my own home, when the porcelain is about 50 degrees, I do occasionally stand up.  I figure nature has given me the shit end of the stick on so many levels, I may as well take advantage of the very few times it is on my side.

Si Hoc Legere Scis Nimium Eruditionis Habes

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by: Kiera_Lynn @ Wed Dec 17, 2008 at 16:30:54 PM CST

i never sit to pee in a public bathroom.

i'm a natal female.  i squat over the toilet, because usually the seat is too disgusting to sit on.  so yes, "real" women pee standing up.  or almost standing up.

i never bother to put the seat up or down - i don't care what people entering the stall after me think.  i do, however, follow this rule very carefully:
If you sprinkle while you tinkle,
Be a sweetie and wipe the seaty.

i DETEST my shoes sticking to the floor because others peed on it, and this is the main thing that keeps me from using one-seater "men's" rooms.  unless i've really got to go, of course.

Lurleen on Twitter

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by: Lurleen @ Wed Dec 17, 2008 at 16:44:09 PM CST

I love you Lurleen

too many people do not take your credo to heart

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by: ol cranky @ Wed Dec 17, 2008 at 17:07:26 PM CST

[ Parent ]

I have a solution to your bathroom problem...

...the P-Mate (which I wrote about here).

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~~Autumn~~

As if there were safety in stupidity alone.
--Henry David Thoreau

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by: Autumn Sandeen @ Wed Dec 17, 2008 at 22:10:01 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Wow, she's great!

I've even done the sit and tuck occasionally when alcohol has been involved and balance was slightly impaired.

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by: sammyseattle @ Wed Dec 17, 2008 at 17:18:25 PM CST

hah

Pretty much all that brings back memories.

Except the standing thing. Ew.

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by: goldmineguttd @ Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 01:03:28 AM CST

You don't have to be trans

to have ambiguous feelings about public restrooms. I'm (born and still) male and for years was pee-shy and couldn't pee at urinals and would always use a stall and wonder what people were thinking.  Of course, other guys really couldn't care less (they're just thinking about managing to use the men's room and get out without making eye contact with anybody!)

Dave Barry's Complete Guide to Guys has a hilarious chapter about urinal etiquette.  And check out this video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

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by: phelps @ Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 02:23:37 AM CST

pee fear

I didn't use a gendered public bathroom untill at least a year & a half into my transition. In fact I may not've done so till I changed my ID. My mind was a map of places that had unisex johns. It just seemed like too much potential hassle.

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by: hardcorps80204 @ Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 07:59:02 AM CST

Down with gender(ed bathrooms)!

Frankly, I'd like to see unisex bathrooms, and the end of urinals entirely. It's not like people are running around naked in the bathroom, standing at the sick with their bits out. As another pee-shy cisgendered male, I'm all about the stalls, and I don't give a hoot who's in the stall next to me. Unlike some Republican politicians....

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by: kermode @ Thu Dec 18, 2008 at 08:43:05 AM CST