3 ms·

Toilets are not mystical mechanisms; the flush is simply pouring water into the bowl. When the tank's empty, or (as is common now with "low flow" toilets) insuf

Toilets are not mystical mechanisms; the flush is simply pouring water into the bowl. When the tank's empty, or (as is common now with "low flow" toilets) insufficient to the job, pouring more water into the bowl from a bucket or jug will work. I submit that that aint "broke". You're "broke" when you have to decide whether to repair the car so you can get to work, or repair the heater so you can sleep and shower and stuff, or buy food. "Broke" is when you know all the places you can hit for free crackers on your way to somewhere else.

gruez 5y ago
>pouring more water into the bowl from a bucket or jug will work. Isn't that exactly what the article describes? >after each us did our business we filled a mop-bucket with bathwater and flung it down the toilet pan.
solarmist 5y ago
Agreed about the toilet, but don't be a gatekeeper. > Please don't post shallow dismissals, especially of other people's work. A good critical comment teaches us something. https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html Like everything else there's a spectrum. And there are plenty of problems that start well before worrying about your next meal.
axiolite 5y ago
> pouring more water into the bowl from a bucket or jug will work. Which is what they did, so I fail to see the point of your comment.
ravloony 5y ago
Ah, but that is not what he wrote. He never claimed the toilet was broken because he was broke, but due to bad organisational skills. He then used the story to illustrate the fact that such things can become fond memories, and related _that_ fact to poverty. At least, that is how I understand the text.
NoImmatureAdHom 5y ago
I was also struck by this behavior. Toilets are pretty simple mechanisms. You can just directly look at how all the parts work (as long as the toilet isn't built into the wall; normal residential toilets in North America are not built into the wall). I know the author reflects on this aspect, but it still struck me. What kind of person doesn't fix this situation, and then proceeds to do this laughable hack every time they want to use the bathroom. A hack that might "flood" the place?

gruez 5y ago

>pouring more water into the bowl from a bucket or jug will work. Isn't that exactly what the article describes? >after each us did our business we filled a mop-bucket with bathwater and flung it down the toilet pan.

solarmist 5y ago

Agreed about the toilet, but don't be a gatekeeper. > Please don't post shallow dismissals, especially of other people's work. A good critical comment teaches us something. https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html Like everything else there's a spectrum. And there are plenty of problems that start well before worrying about your next meal.

axiolite 5y ago

> pouring more water into the bowl from a bucket or jug will work. Which is what they did, so I fail to see the point of your comment.

ravloony 5y ago

Ah, but that is not what he wrote. He never claimed the toilet was broken because he was broke, but due to bad organisational skills. He then used the story to illustrate the fact that such things can become fond memories, and related _that_ fact to poverty. At least, that is how I understand the text.

NoImmatureAdHom 5y ago

I was also struck by this behavior. Toilets are pretty simple mechanisms. You can just directly look at how all the parts work (as long as the toilet isn't built into the wall; normal residential toilets in North America are not built into the wall). I know the author reflects on this aspect, but it still struck me. What kind of person doesn't fix this situation, and then proceeds to do this laughable hack every time they want to use the bathroom. A hack that might "flood" the place?