to think there is something wrong with Americans?

[TheBloodManCometh]

In Colorado, here for 5 weeks.

Why the HELL is there a half inch gap on either side of the door in all public toilets?? You can see everything going on!!!
This has been the case everywhere I've been in America?
AIBU to be both baffled and embarrassed

lighthearted btw. I don't really think there's something wrong with the Americans

Yes, school toilets have doors.

Drape a piece of toilet paper over the sensor in a self-flush, Pointless and it won't flush randomly.

I dunno about the gap, it's just always been there!

London I have a gun. :o

CheerfulYank - thanks for the tip!

Its enough to make you never want to leave the UK again! I'm sure I had a dream where the only option was a toilet with gaps around the edge of the doors. In my local leisure centre none of the cubicles near the showers have doors with locks. What is that all about?? I have to stand up against the door while children get changed. No idea what the plan is if you go alone.

American loos are not great for ibs. I got stuck in a museum loo as it was closing once. Talk about stress.

I think I would panic with the Japanese loo and press the buttons all.in the wrong order. The consequences don't bear thinking about.

I hate those auto loos too. Had to use one in Paris also with malfunctioning bowels. Sign said doors would open after x minutes. Really thought I would be sitting in full view of the street at any moment.

I really wish we didn't need the loo.

Goodness - I've been to US a few times and I really don't remember these gaps. Is it state-specific? East Coast, west coast? Now I feel like I've missed out!

Cheerful

I've lived in the US for 2.5 years and can safely say I've never caught a glimpse of anyone sitting on the loo through the gap. Why would I look?!

What? I didn't know about gaps in doors in USA public toilets. I've only ever stayed in hotels there and privacy seemed OK. Now, if we're talking about FRENCH bogs (circa 1950s) ... hole in the floor. Went on school trip, aged 14, we were lodged in some school building with 'holes'. I swear we all went home a week later with severe constipation.

This is so funny! I'm American and have never thought about the gaps. Fwiw. as Nancy said we don't walk along looking through them at everyone

German 'poo-shelves'

Resulting in my family classifying anything horrifyingly smelly as 'German toilet smelly'.
The smell as a result of the poo not being covered by water is just...German toilet smelly.

I'm Scottish and think nothing of the gaps. We all poop and pee don't we?

It's fine til it goes wrong Fork.

I once had to use the toilet in a gay bar in Miami. -and by had to I mean number 2s

The only toilet was in a stall in the gents, with only three very small walls. Basically I could look over the top of the walls. Had a lovely view of the urinals (which were used twice during my visit). And did I mention the three walls? As in, no door?

Scarred. For. Life.

I'm American, and I agree, there is something wrong with Americans.

I've never thought about the gap before. We just use them to do a quick check if the stall is empty or not. There's a very special etiquette for this, you glance sorta sideways while you quickly walk down, but you never actually look. Shadow = full, no shadow = push door and see. Though I have had small children stare at me, and I've told them to cut it out while their mother sharply yanks them away.

Which now, I have to wonder, how do you check if a stall is empty? Do you just knock on every single door? Or peak under? That sounds awkward.

The toilets at my local shopping centre have see-through doors. They are thick thick glass but you can still people sitting on the bog. Who thought this was a good idea?

Luckily the toilets upstairs have normal proper wooden doors. I use them.

You give the door a shove and hope the lock isn't faulty.

You look at the lock to see if it's locked or you push gently until one yields or you go in a door that's wide open.

lonny I have nightmares about that sort of scenario.

CheerfulYank Your post made me realise why so many US public loos have toilet roll randomly hanging into the back of the toilet bowl that hasn't been flushed down. It's bloody horrible!

I'm currently camping and have lived in the States for ages. I still find the gap between the door and the fact you can see everyone's feet weird and hence, I haven't pooped on this trip at all! God, I hate being British sometimes

Also, it always reminds me of that scene in one of the Halloween movies where she peers out the gap and you think he's going to murder her or her daughter. He just steals her bag instead.

Oh god I hate American toilets. Crapping in public, no thanks.

That's why doors have locks! If your door doesn't lock then go in the next one.
Check occupied by whether it's green or red or if the door swings open.

Actually, can someone tell me what British toilets are like? I have inferred that they must seal tightly at the sides but are there also no spaces at top/bottom?

So, each one is like a separate closet, a small, completely sealed room?

But people aren't looking Morris. At least, American people aren't. It's what Squeaky said. There's a well-understood etiquette.

Sometimes there is a small space at the bottom but it's more unusual nowadays. Height wise they are taller than tall people.