3 ms·

That's really a function of cost and building owners being cheap. I have seen very nice stalls in the US, but I'm sure it was more expensive and everyones just

That's really a function of cost and building owners being cheap. I have seen very nice stalls in the US, but I'm sure it was more expensive and everyones just kinda used to the status quo so nobody pushes back against it.

dboreham 7y ago
Yeah the toilets in a Nordstrom are pretty much stock UK grade no gaps for pervs to look around the door.. Another difference not mentioned above is double-doors. Toilets in public/institutional buildings in the UK (and probably elsewhere) have an air-lock type arrangement with two doors (inner and outer) with the result that nobody can see into the inner sanctum when people enter and leave. US toilets have just one door. https://www.quora.com/Why-do-some-public-restrooms-have-one-door-after-another-at-the-entrance https://www.quora.com/Why-do-some-public-restrooms-have-one-...
Symbiote 7y ago
No. I have been in poorer bits of Europe, sub-Saharan Africa, South America, Pacific islands. The USA is (so far) the only place¹ where there were gaps between the door and the "wall" of the toilet cubicle partitions. This is surely more expensive -- it requires special hinges to provide the gap. In other countries, "cheap" might mean a 2mm gap. In the USA, it's an intentional 2cm gap. There is some other reason. I'm not American. I genuinely don't know if I should admire it (lack of shame of bodily functions), or criticize it (afford less privacy to those who use public toilets). ¹ [There are places where there are no stalls at all.] https://travel.stackexchange.com/questions/26620/why-do-public-toilets-in-the-us-have-large-gaps-no-privacy https://travel.stackexchange.com/questions/26620/why-do-publ...
- cmurf 7y ago
  I think it's to shame people into not using public toilets, as a disincentive, and at best to get people to leave as soon as possible. There are health consequences to pushing.
- evilduck 7y ago
  Maybe its a pinch hazard for kids and they want to avoid a lawsuit.

dboreham 7y ago

Yeah the toilets in a Nordstrom are pretty much stock UK grade no gaps for pervs to look around the door.. Another difference not mentioned above is double-doors. Toilets in public/institutional buildings in the UK (and probably elsewhere) have an air-lock type arrangement with two doors (inner and outer) with the result that nobody can see into the inner sanctum when people enter and leave. US toilets have just one door. https://www.quora.com/Why-do-some-public-restrooms-have-one-door-after-another-at-the-entrance https://www.quora.com/Why-do-some-public-restrooms-have-one-...

Symbiote 7y ago

No. I have been in poorer bits of Europe, sub-Saharan Africa, South America, Pacific islands. The USA is (so far) the only place¹ where there were gaps between the door and the "wall" of the toilet cubicle partitions. This is surely more expensive -- it requires special hinges to provide the gap. In other countries, "cheap" might mean a 2mm gap. In the USA, it's an intentional 2cm gap. There is some other reason. I'm not American. I genuinely don't know if I should admire it (lack of shame of bodily functions), or criticize it (afford less privacy to those who use public toilets). ¹ [There are places where there are no stalls at all.] https://travel.stackexchange.com/questions/26620/why-do-public-toilets-in-the-us-have-large-gaps-no-privacy https://travel.stackexchange.com/questions/26620/why-do-publ...

cmurf 7y ago
I think it's to shame people into not using public toilets, as a disincentive, and at best to get people to leave as soon as possible. There are health consequences to pushing.
evilduck 7y ago
Maybe its a pinch hazard for kids and they want to avoid a lawsuit.