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Original poster

To ask if squatting on the toilet to do your business is really a thing?

183 replies

AmazonPrim · 23/12/2022 01:03

I visited a suppliers office for work (a major British company with a swank Central London head office). I used one of the loos in the lobby (there was 3 unisex loos, each with their own separate door and sink inside completely separate from the next).

On the back of the door was a sign showing a person squatting with their feet on the seat and a line drawn through it to indicate no squatting. Like this was a common problem they were dealing with? Do people actually squat with both feet on the seat to do their business on a western style toilet?! I know squatting toilets are common in parts of Asia, but they are on the ground. If I tried to squat on a western toilet I would no doubt fall in and break my ankle Confused

This brought my thoughts back to about 15 years ago when I dated an Asian guy. We went to his mums house to visit her and his sister. His dad was away on business so it was just the mum and sister at home. I went to use the toilet and the seat was up which I thought was a bit weird since there were no men in the house. Anyway, I put it down, did my business and came back and we visited and ate lunch. I went back to the loo again before we left and the seat was up again. My boyfriend at the time hadn't been to the toilet the entire time we were there. So why was the seat up again??

I didn't have the confidence to ask him, but the first scenario about the signs in the office loos got me thinking about this situation as well.

OP posts:
spiderlight · 23/12/2022 09:42

My Dh is a university lecturer and they have these signs on the doors of all the toilets in his building, so it's obviously a relatively widespread issue.

NameIsBryceQuinlan · 23/12/2022 09:42

We had lots of toilets broke at work in London because colleagues squatted on them. This was the men's toilet.

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 23/12/2022 09:42

i grew up with bidets, they are fab for foot baths!

I do wonder how many first-timers mistake them for toilets and then panic when they can't find how to flush it away!

quantumbutterfly · 23/12/2022 09:43

On the subject of bum hygiene, I read somewhere that the ancient Romans used to have a communal sponge. When in Rome?

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 23/12/2022 09:45

Then again, who are we to question when so many people in the West insist on hovering instead of actually sitting on the toilet - and also spraying everywhere (thus creating the need for the action in the first place)?

They can't all be touring Russian Cossack dancers.

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 23/12/2022 09:47

On the subject of bum hygiene, I read somewhere that the ancient Romans used to have a communal sponge.

De mortuis nil nisi bum-sponge.

Stravaig · 23/12/2022 10:16

Those signs bother me, because if it's got to the point of putting them up, there are clearly lots of people using the toilets who prefer to squat. So why not just install the appropriate facilities? Then we all have a choice. See also ensuring a tap/sink within cubicles for those who wash rather than wipe. It's really not complicated to be inclusive.

Morestrangethings · 23/12/2022 10:20

Nimbostratus100 · 23/12/2022 07:00

I haven't read the whole thread, but certainly in many places toilet seats are always left in the up position so no poisonous spiders take up residence under the seat. In some places I have been in the USA, it was against the law to leave a public toilet with the seat down

That’s why I use the lid. Before flushing, close the lid and crap doesn’t get aerosoled. Closed lids also keep spiders etc out. So, no lids in some parts of USA? I believe it, but healthier to have lids.

thesonicoscillator · 23/12/2022 10:23

Yep here in Italy. Footprints always on the toilet seats at work where we have normal toilets & not holes in the floor, which are (apparently) much healthier to use poo wise!

PriamFarrl · 23/12/2022 10:47

I used a squat toilet this summer in Greece.

I clearly remember getting off the plane in Japan and going to the loo. In the ladies there were three different types of toilet. Western style, squat toilet and crazy Japanese toilet with all the buttons.
Squat toilet are common enough in Japan, there were a couple of bars/restaurants I went into with them.

blameless · 23/12/2022 12:14

CharityShopChic · 23/12/2022 07:41

Saw these signs for the first time in the loos at Edinburgh Castle.

To be fair, it is a poorly designed castle - why on earth did they decide to build it so close to the railway station?

keepaweatheredeye · 23/12/2022 12:30

@PAFMO yes, they do exist. I have had to remove the glasses and wash them knowing someone's bare cock had been inside them.

I've had people who work for me admit that they have used it to wash their knob.

As you were.

AbreathofFrenchair · 23/12/2022 12:31

AmazonPrim · 23/12/2022 01:03

I visited a suppliers office for work (a major British company with a swank Central London head office). I used one of the loos in the lobby (there was 3 unisex loos, each with their own separate door and sink inside completely separate from the next).

On the back of the door was a sign showing a person squatting with their feet on the seat and a line drawn through it to indicate no squatting. Like this was a common problem they were dealing with? Do people actually squat with both feet on the seat to do their business on a western style toilet?! I know squatting toilets are common in parts of Asia, but they are on the ground. If I tried to squat on a western toilet I would no doubt fall in and break my ankle Confused

This brought my thoughts back to about 15 years ago when I dated an Asian guy. We went to his mums house to visit her and his sister. His dad was away on business so it was just the mum and sister at home. I went to use the toilet and the seat was up which I thought was a bit weird since there were no men in the house. Anyway, I put it down, did my business and came back and we visited and ate lunch. I went back to the loo again before we left and the seat was up again. My boyfriend at the time hadn't been to the toilet the entire time we were there. So why was the seat up again??

I didn't have the confidence to ask him, but the first scenario about the signs in the office loos got me thinking about this situation as well.

Just use a footstool or a pack of toilet roll under your feet. It gives the same effect and allows you pass stools efficiently and properly.

Sitting as we do on a toilet with feet on the floor means the bowel isn't fully open where as the raise in the legs means it's open fully.

It's a game changer and much healthier

PAFMO · 23/12/2022 12:52

keepaweatheredeye · 23/12/2022 12:30

@PAFMO yes, they do exist. I have had to remove the glasses and wash them knowing someone's bare cock had been inside them.

I've had people who work for me admit that they have used it to wash their knob.

As you were.

Did you aye.

GonnaGetGoingReturns · 23/12/2022 12:56

When we holidayed in France in 70s and 80s there were squat toilets in cafes, bars, restaurants, literally two foot places and a hole. Sounds barbaric! But we did use them.

AriettyHomily · 23/12/2022 13:00

keepaweatheredeye · 23/12/2022 08:03

We have these at our head office in London. The lower floors are generally for IT and most of the IT teams are from the east, where squatting toilets are more common.

The signs don't go above these floors.

Similarly, we often find half filled cups of water in these toilets. Especially in the men's. They are using them to wash their penises, I'm told.

Ours is not to reason why.

We had the glass issue in my last office. I will never drink out of an office glass again.

keepaweatheredeye · 23/12/2022 13:05

@PAFMO why is it so difficult for you to believe?

I worked in supermarkets for 20 years, managed thousands of people, some of whom culturally used water to clean their penises - and had no problem explaining that was why the toilets constantly had half full cups of water left in them.

But, you carry on calling me a liar, if it makes your Christmas a little nicer!!

keepaweatheredeye · 23/12/2022 13:05

@PAFMO time to have a pop at @AriettyHomily, now!

@AriettyHomily it's not the nicest thing to find out.......,

KimberleyClark · 23/12/2022 13:06

Squat toilet are common enough in Japan, there were a couple of bars/restaurants I went into with them.

I saw one in a department store, that was over 20 years ago though.

MarshaMelrose · 23/12/2022 13:09

Exactly, the human bowel is arranged so that squatting is a much more natural and effective way to poo.

The bowel is arranged for that, the toilet isn't.

fiftiesmum · 23/12/2022 13:10

While on the subject - what do you do with toilet paper in Greece as you are told not to flush down the toilet

MarshaMelrose · 23/12/2022 13:13

KimberleyClark · 23/12/2022 13:06

Squat toilet are common enough in Japan, there were a couple of bars/restaurants I went into with them.

I saw one in a department store, that was over 20 years ago though.

I was there a couple if years ago and toilet blocks had both. The modern, white noise playing, cleaning sit on one, and holes in the ground. I was told it tends to be the older generation that uses the holes, and the younger generation that use the toilets.
I like that Japan bothers to cater for all needs.

amigababy · 23/12/2022 13:14

I was on a safari in Tanzania, we went off track and visited the Olduvai gorge. I needed a wee, there was just a hole in the ground with some rush fencing around. I felt like I was 1000 miles from anyone, went for a wee, stepped out of the gap in the fence to meet a Masai herdsman staring at me. What are the chances?

MarshaMelrose · 23/12/2022 13:14

fiftiesmum · 23/12/2022 13:10

While on the subject - what do you do with toilet paper in Greece as you are told not to flush down the toilet

In a bin.
I've seen this in lots of countries. And in Barcelona just this summer actually.

amigababy · 23/12/2022 13:15

Also, on a Virgin train, I was totally freaked out by the robot lady voice talking to me in the toilet. No need!