The toilet where we would be with out it

News Type: Opinion — Seeded on Tue Nov 24, 2009 1:13 PM EST

Article Source: TIME

But even for those of us with access to modern plumbing, how often do we really think about our toilets? From outhouses to water closets — even former Merrill Lynch CEO John Thain's $35,000 "commode on legs" (technically a table, not a toilet) — humans have been devising creative ways to go to the bathroom since, well, since the first person crossed his legs with an urgent need to go.

Published to:

eamonn101's Column, All of Newsvine
Groups: none
Regions: none

Public Discussion (11)

What's this?

Who's leading the conversation?

This visualization below allows you to see the impact that each user has on the current conversation. The top row contains the group of users who have had the most impact, the 2nd row the group of users who have had the 2nd most impact (et cetera). Users with similar impact are grouped together, and the average score of the group is shown to the left of the group. The author of the article is also shown on the left, in their corresponding group. Each user's score is based on the number of comments the user has made plus the number of votes their comments have received. The scores are calculated relative one another, so while their absolute value is not particularly important, their relative difference does indicate a larger difference in impact on the conversation.

4.7

2.5

{"commentId":10870454,"authorDomain":"eamonn101"}

eamonn101

yes we all take them for granted but where would be with out them no not the opposite sex toilets of course.

{"commentId":10870454,"threadId":"731920","contentId":"3539698","authorDomain":"eamonn101"}

1 vote

#1 - Tue Nov 24, 2009 1:16 PM EST

{"commentId":10880909,"authorDomain":"mstanley2265"}

mstanley2265

the guys wouldn't care, it's us ladies that'd be fussing a bucket :)

{"commentId":10880909,"threadId":"731920","contentId":"3539698","authorDomain":"mstanley2265"}

#2 - Tue Nov 24, 2009 9:30 PM EST

{"commentId":10880984,"authorDomain":"mtmeyer1"}

Dowser

I have worked out in the field for years and years, as a geologist. Believe me, I don't take a flushing toilet for granted. Try working in a place that doesn't have one-- and it is a 17 mile drive to the nearest public toilet.

NO FUN!

{"commentId":10880984,"threadId":"731920","contentId":"3539698","authorDomain":"mtmeyer1"}

2 votes

#3 - Tue Nov 24, 2009 9:35 PM EST

{"commentId":10881333,"authorDomain":"bad4"}

USAF Vet-923294

Hmmm...Interesting article. An Ode to the commode.

{"commentId":10881333,"threadId":"731920","contentId":"3539698","authorDomain":"bad4"}

2 votes

#4 - Tue Nov 24, 2009 9:56 PM EST

{"commentId":10881445,"authorDomain":"thirdfeast"}

thirdfeast

Up @!$%# creek without a paddle

{"commentId":10881445,"threadId":"731920","contentId":"3539698","authorDomain":"thirdfeast"}

2 votes

#5 - Tue Nov 24, 2009 10:03 PM EST

{"commentId":10881601,"authorDomain":"par4thecourse"}

Par4TheCourse

The wooden structure around an outhouse was used for privacy.. all it is .. is a hole in the ground.. I remember people leaving the inside of the warm of their home to scurry to the outside in freezing cold weather to use one... that's where the stories of the Sears roebuck catalogs were used..

{"commentId":10881601,"threadId":"731920","contentId":"3539698","authorDomain":"par4thecourse"}

2 votes

#6 - Tue Nov 24, 2009 10:12 PM EST

{"commentId":10882304,"authorDomain":"Randilly"}

Randilly

My Dad would sometimes refer to regular toilet paper as: "NonSkid" In reference to using pages out of the catalog, in the old outhouses.

Mention outhouse to me, and I''ll remember visits to Grandmas place for Christmas, in the Hill country of Missouri. And how cold a nighttime visit to the outhouse, could be.

I don't take modern toilets for granted. I install them, and repair them. I'm a Plumber.

{"commentId":10882304,"threadId":"731920","contentId":"3539698","authorDomain":"Randilly"}

1 vote

#6.1 - Tue Nov 24, 2009 10:55 PM EST

{"commentId":10883092,"authorDomain":"dustyd64"}

Dustin-265090

I do wonder though, why it took us so long to develop the modern toilet. I mean, Europeans dumped their crap in the streets (after publicly defacating in a platter held by a servant in front of dinner guests).

{"commentId":10883092,"threadId":"731920","contentId":"3539698","authorDomain":"dustyd64"}

3 votes

#6.2 - Tue Nov 24, 2009 11:57 PM EST

{"commentId":10886913,"authorDomain":"par4thecourse"}

Par4TheCourse

Actually the Romans and Venetians have some of the oldest plumbing systems in the world... factually the Venetians/Venice the waste went directly into their waterway where you see the people moving the gondolas. Of course, this was eons ago ..saw this on television..

{"commentId":10886913,"threadId":"731920","contentId":"3539698","authorDomain":"par4thecourse"}

3 votes

#6.3 - Wed Nov 25, 2009 9:26 AM EST

{"commentId":10891567,"authorDomain":"eamonn101"}

eamonn101

My experience for primitive toilets was when Iwas in the Philippines visiting my ex's in-laws.Their toilet was a hole in the ground with no covering at all.In the UK when I was young we stayed in a old cottage with chemical toilet and boy did it stink if not not cleaned.

{"commentId":10891567,"threadId":"731920","contentId":"3539698","authorDomain":"eamonn101"}

1 vote

#7 - Wed Nov 25, 2009 12:34 PM EST

{"commentId":10892905,"authorDomain":"icegal"}

icegal

I read a very interesting book called Humanure. Here is the link Jenkin's website where you can read the 1st and 2nd edition of the book online, as well as watch some of his experiments.

http://www.jenkinspublishing.com/humanure.html

{"commentId":10892905,"threadId":"731920","contentId":"3539698","authorDomain":"icegal"}

1 vote

#8 - Wed Nov 25, 2009 1:30 PM EST

{"canLink":false,"threadId":"731920","isPrivate":false}

EAMONN101

Backyard

The toilet where we would be with out it

Published to:

FUN STUFF:

COMPANY STUFF:

LEGAL STUFF: