this post was submitted on 10 Feb 2025
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I will always choose the handicap stall because I like the space between myself and the next stall. It seems like the US bathroom system encourages games of battle shits and I’m not willing to play. I’ve only had one instance where I walked out and a person who actually needed it was waiting. I felt terrible, but it was only once out of hundreds. Does anyone else do this?

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[–] floppy_kitty@lemmy.world 35 points 19 hours ago

This may be unpopular, but the stalls are handicap accessible, not reserved.

I do try to be considerate. I keep time short and at work, where I am aware of where people who would have a greater need than I are located, then I go to the restroom they're least likely to use.

[–] motor_spirit@lemmy.world 40 points 20 hours ago

Duh. They're handicapped ACCESSIBLE, not reserved

[–] jordanlund@lemmy.world 12 points 18 hours ago

Well, yeah, but I'm in a wheelchair sooo...

[–] adarza@lemmy.ca 16 points 20 hours ago

if the other ones are nasty dirty. sure. or if it's the only one available.

but given a choice of equally-suitable poop receptacles, i'd choose the 'regular' one--especially if it sits lower than ada height

[–] spankmonkey@lemmy.world 12 points 21 hours ago (1 children)

Yes, for my own physical needs.

The default stall is frequently so small that I tend to get my back twisted or smacking a knee on the bowel trying to navigate the inward opening door that almost hits the toilet in a stall barely wider than my shoulders. I'm not even a big person, extremely average. But normal stalls in the US are built like airplane seats.

Work stalls are a little bigger than businesses so I use the regular ones there.

So yes, if the normal stall is tiny I use the big one and that is generally the case. In all my decades I only held up someone who needed it once, but was in there because the other stalls were taken.

[–] AmidFuror@fedia.io 12 points 20 hours ago (1 children)

I'm trying to picture the contortions you have to go through to smack your knee on your bowel.

[–] spankmonkey@lemmy.world 3 points 19 hours ago (1 children)

When the space is limited enough, I frequently have to be as close to the side as possible (yellow) for the door (purple) to swing shut (blue). Trying not to lean on the gross wall covered in pee splash means doing a little shuffle trying to turn so I can close the stupid door and bending a knee means it has to go somewhere. Since my back is towards the wall, that means knee goes forward.

Being clumsy means sometimes I move a little too far and hello hard porcelain, here I come. It isn't an issue if the stall isn't so tiny that the door is almost hitting the toilet. But so many of them are that tiny.

[–] AmidFuror@fedia.io 2 points 16 hours ago (1 children)
[–] spankmonkey@lemmy.world 2 points 16 hours ago

It has been a long day!

[–] False@lemmy.world 10 points 20 hours ago

I usually go for the non-accessible one first, but if that one is occupied or dirty or something I readily use the handicap accessible one.

[–] WoolyNelson@lemmy.world 9 points 20 hours ago* (last edited 14 hours ago)

I do, but I'm handicapped.

ETA: I don't really care if a non-handicapped person uses it.

[–] Majorllama@lemmy.world 7 points 19 hours ago

I only use the handicap stall if all the others are already occupied and I am literally about to shit myself. Otherwise I'll just wait for a normal stall. I don't wanna be the reason someone with a wheelchair couldn't get a stall in time and shat themselves.

[–] Idontevenknowanymore@mander.xyz 2 points 15 hours ago (1 children)

It's a morality choice for me. People who need a handicapped spot should not be inconvenienced by me ever. I don't care how far out I have to walk or how quick I plan to stop, I will never take up those spaces. At work I drive a truck with EX plates and I don't even park that in the handicapped stalls. There is no justification.

[–] dnick@sh.itjust.works 5 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

He's talking about basically bathroom stalls, not parking spots. No one should use the parking spots if they didn't need them and there are even fines for doing so. Bathroom stalls are a little more ambiguous.

[–] Idontevenknowanymore@mander.xyz 2 points 13 hours ago

Ooooooooh I'm an idiot. Also the stall closest to the entrance is usually cleanest because fewer people use it.

[–] toomanypancakes@lemmy.world 7 points 21 hours ago

My peeing experience is not tangibly improved by more leg room, there's plenty in regular stalls.

[–] Varyk@sh.itjust.works 5 points 19 hours ago

every time first

[–] spittingimage@lemmy.world 2 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

At work, yes. They made room for the handicap stall by narrowing the other stall to the point where my shoulders brush the walls. Too f'ing awkward.

[–] waz@lemmy.world 1 points 7 hours ago

Oh God you just reminded me of a funny story. I had a boss that was probably 600lbs+. He was huge. The bathroom was a single occupant situation, and the toilet was positioned what I would consider a normal distance from the wall next to it. Typical distance to allow reach to the to dispenser.

This monster of a human had literally crushed a crater into the drywall from sitting on the toilet and being pushed up against wall. Every time I used the bathroom and saw it I laughed a little. I think I was just amazed this person could actually function.

[–] RebekahWSD@lemmy.world 1 points 14 hours ago

I use whatever stall is open and clean.

[–] Limonene@lemmy.world 4 points 20 hours ago (1 children)

I use it often, and have never walked out to someone waiting for it. If I did, I wouldn't feel bad, because I take like 1 minute to poop.

[–] sin_free_for_00_days@sopuli.xyz 4 points 16 hours ago

I take like 1 minute to poop

What sort of wizardry is this?

Nah, I just shit on the floor 😎

(why are there weirdos with uniforms surrounding me?)

[–] kambusha@sh.itjust.works 3 points 21 hours ago
[–] i_dont_want_to@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 16 hours ago

I usually only use it when I need it. Be it when I am having a hard time with mobility or it's the only one left. Doesn't really bother me if someone else that may or may not need it is using it (you can't always tell just by looking).

[–] saltesc@lemmy.world 2 points 20 hours ago* (last edited 20 hours ago)

Of course. Plenty of bathrooms are only disability accessible by default these days and I won't go shit in the garden because I couldn't find one that wasn't.

[–] TachyonTele@lemm.ee 2 points 20 hours ago

No. I don't need it, other people do.

[–] bleistift2@sopuli.xyz 1 points 21 hours ago (3 children)

People taking away resources meant for people who actually need them just because they feel like it are assholes.

[–] spankmonkey@lemmy.world 20 points 20 hours ago

Ensuring there is a stall large enough for someone with disabilities is not the same thing as car spaces for the disabled. The larger bathroom stalls are not reserved.

Not to mention that in a lot of bathrooms there is a single stall and the law ensures that one stall is large enough for anyone to use.

[–] motor_spirit@lemmy.world 12 points 20 hours ago (1 children)

How do you feel about seeing foot traffic on the wheelchair ramps :(

[–] UnpopularCrow@lemmy.world 3 points 21 hours ago

Fair point. In my workplace, I’ve never seen it being used by someone who needed it. It is either taken by people who prefer it or when the other two stalls are filled up. Understand your point though.