USA and Canadian toilets

[MsBehave]

Having been to both New York and Toronto i have noticed that the toilet doors always have a gap all the way round so you can actually see into (and out of) the toilet! Why is this? Its quite bizzare...

[Will__]

Yes I've noticed this too both in the US and Canada - I'm presuming you're talking about any public toilets, be they bar, airport, cinema, rest stop?

They pretty prudish as a people (Americans more than Canadians, of course), I mean look at the childish and hypocritical way all the absurd US christian right groups jumped all over Janet Jackson's nipple. So it surprised me that the doors weren't flusher fitting for decency's sake. (For those who haven't been there, it seems to be all over the US not just in New York and Toronto - I've been to about 40 states so far and it's common practice AFAICT (is that acronym allowed, (As Far As I Can Tell?)).

Ok, that didn't answer your question. I had supposed that perhaps it's to discourage people from having sex or knocking one out in the cubicle. I mean, the gaps are bigger than we're used to in Europe, but I don't think you can see people, rather you get more of an impression that they're there. You'd have to put your eye to the gap to see into the cubicle. I'm guessing here, I haven't spent time looking into occupied cubicles.....

I know in some rest stops I've been to on Interstates, the walls of the cubicle are only 5 feet high, and some of them had no doors (by design - ie not broken off, intended). This lends weight to the sex free zone theory.

These rest stops certainly made for one of the most interesting experiences I've had while taking the kids to the pool - all the while expecting some truck driver to pass the open doorway and smile at me......

Any other theories? I suppose one could argue that since they don't need to be flush fitting the manufacturing process need be less precise therefore cheaper but the words 'straws' and 'grasping' spring do to mind with that answer.

Any other ideas?

[campbellking]

Would agree with Will that it's very common practice, having so far visited around 44 states , worked in the U.S. and travelled around Canada, and also have no idea why!

[Grunty]

In at least one London main-line railway station, the cubicle doors have peepholes in them to detect drug taking. Maybe the same kind of thing?

[jno]

yes, anti-drugs more likely. Some places' loos have sort of purple lighting so you can't find veins.

Like the phrase 'flush fitting', Will.

[spudqueen]

When I was in New York a couple of weeks ago I was sat on the loo when a little boy of about 3 put his eye right up to the gap and stared at me. I just smiled, waved and said hello, well, what else could I have done?! lol