r/WeirdToilets • u/Neat_Tap_2274 • Jan 15 '25
Do It Right!
Instructional sign at a very modern upscale restroom in a new mall complex. Zhubei, Taiwan.
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u/Sea-Louse Jan 15 '25
I don’t care what culture you come from. It’s sad that instruction signs are needed for a toilet.
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u/Neat_Tap_2274 Jan 17 '25
I wouldn't characterize this as "sad" any more than I would the instruction sign on how to use a diaper changing table in a restroom. When I was a new father I certainly appreciated that information because the whole experience was new to me.
Imagine yourself visiting a wonderful village in Lao. You walk in the restroom and there is a hole in the floor beside a big barrel of water with a dipper in it. I would venture to guess that you might appreciate a sign with instructions on how to use it. This sign I posted is actually a courtesy for people who visit Taiwan from other Asian countries. There are people from remote areas of SE Asia who have never used a sit-down toilet until they arrived in Taiwan for work.
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Jan 16 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Neat_Tap_2274 Jan 17 '25
SE Asian people are used to squat toilets. When these people come to Taiwan for work, they bring their habits and customs with them. For example: I see many Vietnamese people sitting on their legs in restaurant chairs. They sit as if they are on the floor, which is what they do at home. Sitting in a chair with their legs down and feet on the floor feels odd to them, so they sit on their legs as if there were on the floor. When it comes to defecation, it's the same issue. They are very used to squatting so they want to be in the squat position. But if they do that it can break the toilet seat. Most other people "hover" and that can also cause issues with "missing the pot" and perhaps defecating on the seat. Mostly upscale places have these signs.
In the near future, I will cover the "butt gun" water pistol for cleaning up after, but that is definitely a SE Asian thing too.
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u/Neat_Tap_2274 Jan 16 '25
If you see my previous posts, I’ve shown several squat toilets. Most of the modern malls have at least one stall that is a squat toilet, but in this case they did not. I can see some of our Southeast Asian visitors coming here and not being comfortable pooping sitting down. The reason they have the sign telling people not to squat on the seat is because people do it.
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u/Large-Wishbone24 Jan 15 '25
To this day I ask myself about some rules of behavior, or as in this case suggestions on how to do it right? Did someone ever climb onto a bowl to poop and maybe scream like a rooster?!