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In Germany, sometimes there's this weird tendency to patronize people just for the sake of it. So, instead of going for the obvious, reasonable solution that's

In Germany, sometimes there's this weird tendency to patronize people just for the sake of it. So, instead of going for the obvious, reasonable solution that's beneficial for everyone involved an inferior and more expensive 'solution' is implemented that doesn't really solve the issue but merely punishes undesirable behaviour. While the streets will still smell like piss at least people can gloat over the wrongdoers having got their comeuppance.

derefr 12y ago
Presumably, they don't want to spend the money on maintaining lots of public bathrooms, but instead want to see if putting enough constraints on people's solution-space will somehow incentivize someone else (e.g. businesses) to do so.
TazeTSchnitzel 12y ago
It's not just German. See: homeless spikes vs homeless shelters.
- jordanb 12y ago
  Homeless spikes are an individual versus communal issue. Homelessness is a societal problem, but once society has failed and there are homeless people about, individual landlords don't want them sleeping around their buildings so they install spikes. The bathroom situation in some parts of Europe does seem like something that could be addressed. When I'm wandering around a European city and find myself with a full bladder, I'm always relieved to find an outpost of American corporate imperialism such as a Starbucks or a McDonald's because---regardless of anything else they bring---at least they bring clean well-maintained public bathrooms.
  - stephenboyd 12y ago
    Installing anti-homeless spikes is still a choice for punishment over viable positive alternatives such as planting a nice bush where you don't want people to lay down.
  - nailer 12y ago
    > When I'm wandering around a European city and find myself with a full bladder, I'm always relieved to find a Starbucks or a McDonald's In the UK, walk into any pub and ask if you can please use the loo.
azernik 12y ago
Cf. Greece.

derefr 12y ago

Presumably, they don't want to spend the money on maintaining lots of public bathrooms, but instead want to see if putting enough constraints on people's solution-space will somehow incentivize someone else (e.g. businesses) to do so.

TazeTSchnitzel 12y ago

It's not just German. See: homeless spikes vs homeless shelters.

jordanb 12y ago
Homeless spikes are an individual versus communal issue. Homelessness is a societal problem, but once society has failed and there are homeless people about, individual landlords don't want them sleeping around their buildings so they install spikes. The bathroom situation in some parts of Europe does seem like something that could be addressed. When I'm wandering around a European city and find myself with a full bladder, I'm always relieved to find an outpost of American corporate imperialism such as a Starbucks or a McDonald's because---regardless of anything else they bring---at least they bring clean well-maintained public bathrooms.
- stephenboyd 12y ago
  Installing anti-homeless spikes is still a choice for punishment over viable positive alternatives such as planting a nice bush where you don't want people to lay down.
- nailer 12y ago
  > When I'm wandering around a European city and find myself with a full bladder, I'm always relieved to find a Starbucks or a McDonald's In the UK, walk into any pub and ask if you can please use the loo.

azernik 12y ago

Cf. Greece.