People who use disabled toilets... Scum?

[God-free]

...<snip> So what do you think of using disabled toilets?

When you gotta go, you gotta go! There seems to be agreement that if no disabled person is waiting to use that stall then there's no reason you shouldn't.

I edited this out of the original post, but the truth is I put on a deaf persons voice. Yes, yes, I know, I'm going to hell!

See ya there! We'll do lunch.

~Barbara

 

[LouTheWicked]

Same thing happened to me at a supermarket once, the female restroom was closed so I had to use the disabled.

It was quite alright, actually. Very spacious and clean.

 

[Belk]

So I was using a disabled toilet the other day. The other toilets were locked. As I was leaving to flush, I accidentally pulled the red emergency cord, so I thought I better make a quick a get away before the paramedics arrive. Outside though was an angry looking old man who said "you don't look very disabled". I was suitably embarrassed and quick as a flash I said "I'm deaf, what is your excuse?". He said "I'm old". I shook my head in disgust and walked off.

You have to think to yourself, is it all really worth it, I'm not so sure now. On the other hand though being disabled doesn't mean that you're not capable of queuing just like everyone else. So what do you think of using disabled toilets?

As a disabled person, I say go for it. If I am need to use it I can wait until your through. What gets me going is the people who are obviously not disabled but use the disabled parking spots.

 

[Eve_Sundancer]

Yeah, that's a little more inexcusable than just using a bathroom.

 

[keith99]

Sometimes, even if the other toilets are available, I will use the disabled one. They are roomier, usually cleaner also. If no one else is waiting to use it, I don't see a problem with it. As far as I'm concerned, they are made accessible for people with disabilities, but are not ONLY for people who are handicapped.

Which becomes obvious in many smaller establishements. One toilet for each gender and disabled! That would mean the only facilities are for disabled.

At my work there are two toilets in the mens room. One 'disabled'. That also makes no sense as disabled only, moreso as I can not remember any obviously disabled person ever being here.

 

[LittleNipper]

So I was using a disabled toilet the other day. The other toilets were locked. As I was leaving to flush, I accidentally pulled the red emergency cord, so I thought I better make a quick a get away before the paramedics arrive. Outside though was an angry looking old man who said "you don't look very disabled". I was suitably embarrassed and quick as a flash I said "I'm deaf, what is your excuse?". He said "I'm old". I shook my head in disgust and walked off.

You have to think to yourself, is it all really worth it, I'm not so sure now. On the other hand though being disabled doesn't mean that you're not capable of queuing just like everyone else. So what do you think of using disabled toilets?

Well, my honest feeling on this is that the gentleman in question should have kept his mouth shut. A disabled designated toilet is DESIGNED so a disabled person has a convienient/easier place to go. It should not be considered to be his personal property to use at his beck and call. That is not how it works for anyone else in public places. If all the other spots were taken/locked, and you were the next in line, well you used what was available. This is not true with a parking spot, where some people need closer access to a location or taking an electric shopping cart for some joy-ride around the store. Just ignore what was said and if you need to say anything simply say SORRY, YOU HAD TO GO.

 

[FaithLikeARock]

Yes, I'm perfectly aware of what judgemental means. So what was your justification for implying that I, I quote "drink so much that you lose ANY ability to recognize the world around you though" when all I said was that I was tipsy?

Well first of all I never said that of you, it was a general statement. Secondly, though I suppose it may vary, generally tipsy falls under that category since I did say ANY ability which means that if you yourself obviously recognize that you can't drive, then you've lost some ability. If you still think you can, you still probably shouldn't but you're either so drunk you don't notice or don't feel much more than buzzed. I did kind of word it wrong. It probably should've been impaired your ability.

Unless you were actually just buzzed.

 

[Tinker Grey]

Anybody that uses a toilet that won't flush is certainly scum. Make 'em clean it, I say.

 

[Big Empty Circle]

Personally I think that the whole idea of a particular bathroom stall being ONLY for disabled people is rather unnecessarily othering and divisive. Imagine a bathroom stall only for black people or only for white people. Ask yourself, why shouldn't ALL bathroom facilities be accessible to people of all levels of disability/able-bodiedness? Why should there be this kind of toilet for the disabled and this kind for the able-bodied, when all toilets could just as easily be made accessible to everyone?

Relatedly... I'm narcoleptic, which means I'm somewhat prone to unexpected falls and prefer them not to happen when I'm standing on a flight of stairs, so I generally take the elevator rather than the steps when it's convenient. But since I don't have any visible disability I do get nasty looks from time to time in areas where the elevators have one of those miserable "Please reserve elevators for people with disabilities requiring elevator use" signs. But I feel I'd take the elevator even if I didn't have an "excuse," partially because I'm lazy but also because refusing to take the elevator just because I CAN take the stairs borders on suggesting that there's something BAD about taking the elevator -- that it's just for those poor unfortunate souls over there who don't have a choice. Ditto bathroom stalls.

 

[IndomitableAmy]

The stall isn't only for disabled people, however, I do think it's inconsiderate to use that stall if others are open or worse, to use it when there are other stalls (even in use) and a person in a wheelchair is waiting behind you.

The worst bathroom-behavior that way I saw was when I came into a bathroom with my wheelchair and then two teenagers got into the only handicap stall and proceeded to use it as a dressing room, not only changing clothes, but also doing hair and make-up. That's the only thing with someone using a disabled stall that actually shocked me.

 

[cantata]

Personally I think that the whole idea of a particular bathroom stall being ONLY for disabled people is rather unnecessarily othering and divisive. Imagine a bathroom stall only for black people or only for white people. Ask yourself, why shouldn't ALL bathroom facilities be accessible to people of all levels of disability/able-bodiedness? Why should there be this kind of toilet for the disabled and this kind for the able-bodied, when all toilets could just as easily be made accessible to everyone?

I think it's usually because if all the toilets in a venue were accessible for wheelchair users, there'd only be room for half as many, and that would mean longer queues.

 

[Big Empty Circle]

I think it's usually because if all the toilets in a venue were accessible for wheelchair users, there'd only be room for half as many, and that would mean longer queues.

I suppose I'm blessed to frequent places with big under-used public restrooms.

 

[wanderingone]

I think it's usually because if all the toilets in a venue were accessible for wheelchair users, there'd only be room for half as many, and that would mean longer queues.

Definitely-
Plus when laws were passed requiring certain venues to be accessible it would have been prohibitive to convert every stall. Besides if every stall was accessible that would mean when 20 people are on line for 3 stalls and only 1 of the people waiting has limited mobility chances are nobody would choose to let that person have access next to the stall because "we're all the same" Waiting for a bathroom when you have to go badly and trying to get from the chair to the toilet without having an accident was terribly difficult for me the months I was in a chair.

 

[Crazy Liz]

If a disabled person is waiting, no. Otherwise, youbetcha!

My funny story about disabled toilets was when I was pregnant. The last month I was too big to be able to turn around and close the door in the regular stalls, so I always used the disabled one.

 

[Maxwell511]

This is a family story and I don't know if it is true. Probably not but I do think it is funny though.

My great uncle, who lost his legs and was left in a wheelchair, was sitting outside an occupied disabled toilet, after ten minutes this guy walks out. My great uncle gave him the most indignant look, while the guy just stood there shamefully not knowing what to do. After a few seconds my uncle said "You are such a <bleep>, you could of told the parish about this miracle toilet before the fund raiser to send me to Lourdes." and then laughed.