I think this “funny” business may become a regular feature.
I completely understand the impulse of not letting your kid wander into the men’s bathroom all by himself. The men’s bathroom is an eerie place to me too – like Easter Island with plumbing. I’m one of those sexist women who sometimes wonders if guys have penis-measuring contests in there. No child should be exposed to that until he can chug a whole can of beer.
However, I see enough urine on the toilet seat at home. In the outside world, the ladies room is a sanctuary (well, sometimes it’s not, but whatever). You might say, “Oh but Natalia, what about the transgendered?” I say, “I’ve never met a trans person who pees on the seat. Sure, they may be out there, but they’re in the minority. So there.”
So if your kid sprinkles on the toilet seat, clean it up, don’t just giggle and walk out (I’m talking to you, movie theater lady). Especially if the majority of the other stalls are occupied. Especially if you don’t want terrible karma stalking you like a black cloud or a pervert for the rest of the week.
Natalia A. 
Given the unwritten rule that prevails in men’s rooms to the effect that you look straight ahead while at the urinal (unless you’re talking to a friend who is next you), I highly doubt this.
At the same time, you do see the phenomenon of glory hole sex in some men’s rooms. One of the men’s rooms in the building where I work has long been a meeting place for that; you can tell by the “ads” written on the walls of the stalls and the pieces of sheet metal bolted onto the walls of the stalls to cover the glory holes.
Any janitor will tell you that women’s bathroom is always more filthy than the men’s. I don’t know why it is, but I know some janitors.
Diamond, I knoooow! I’ve heard this many times before. You’d think it would be the opposite, considering the fact that men are stereotyped as slobs… Go figure.
I don’t know about women’s bathrooms being dirtier, but I know I don’t want to even step (with shoes on) on the floor around the toilet, much less sit on the seat without ten layers of toilet seat covers when I have to use a unisex bathroom.
I prefer women’s bathrooms to unisex ones, and it has nothing to do with not being a feminist or ignoring transgendered people — like you said, I see enough pee on the toilet rim at home.
Some people just need to AIM. 😉
I used to work as the closing usher at a movie theatre. One of my jobs was to make sure absolutely everyone was out of the theatre before locking up. That included checking the bathrooms. Let me assure you that the women’s room was always, without exception, much more disgusting than the men’s room.
The problem with unisex bathrooms is the lack of urinals. Urinals solve the poor aim problem.
I think it’s because women don’t want to sit on the seat regardless. I can see that making a mess.
Yep.
Oh, and,
***Given the unwritten rule that prevails in men’s rooms to the effect that you look straight ahead while at the urinal (unless you’re talking to a friend who is next you), I highly doubt this.***
MY DREAM IS BROKEN
Dear natalia. This is the second story in recent times I have heard about this… My friend was at the Gym (prem palace, lush) and a mother sent her young son into the shower to pee… yick! Obviously didn’t occur to her there was a toilet nearby.
“women’s bathroom is always more filthy than the men’s…”
heh, interesting. i guess that kills much curiosity on our part.
btw, most bathrooms in the dorms at my college had to be shared by both men and women. in my junior year, that meant just two shower stalls and two toilets between 8 of us boys and 5 girls next doors. yes, there were rather long lines every morning! and there were certainly a few intriguing incidents over the year, mainly sanitation-related and usually embarassing for the girls. however, i don’t remember them ever having to complain about pee on the toilet seats, perhaps because we were all quite gentlemanly…
Personally I don’t agree with boys of any age being allowed in the Ladies Room, but… am I being too naive to suggest that mothers should always raise the seat before their mites start spraying (I always did when I was in charge of my brothers at home or in a public bathroom). At least then the spray goes on the bowl edge or on the floor!