- Jul 26, 2010
- 2,969
- 4
- 171
While I realize the stall isn't BY LAW reserved for handicapped people(having the police enforce such a law would be nothing short of fascinating), it is considered polite, to not go into the stall if you see someone heading for the restroom who is handicapped. If people are considerate and think of others, and use common sense, it is not a problem.
If you just want to use that stall because someone else is in there using it and you consider it your MT, you'll probably have to wait.
For handicapped folks, I think it is reasonable for you to let someone know who's just lounging in there, that you are disabled and need to use that toilet, but it is also reasonable to make that request politely. 'Excuse me kids, could you finish up your phone call/video game/meeting? I need to use that stall and am disabled - thank you!' Then when they leave, a polite nod and a quiet, 'thanks' is in order. Not because they just did such a great thing, but to encourage them to think about it and to consider others the next time. Getting kids mad and defensive changes their attitude about as well as it changes an adult's attitude - it doesn't. It just puts them on the defensive.
If you just LIKE using that stall, it's unreasonable to expect anyone to vacate it so you can, even if they are having a business meeting in there and not precisely in the midst of relieving themselves.
However, it is not reasonable to expect or tell someone to leave if they have some slight problem that makes that toilet easier for them to use, or if as often happens, they have a handicap that just isn't obvious.
I think if a person feels they need to use the toilet because they are stiff or overweight or have a bad knee, that is alright too. Many non disabled public toilets are tiny and very awkward to use, more so for the overweight or someone who has an problem using one leg or arm or twisting about.
Many people gravitate to the big stall because the other stalls have broken doors, are out of paper, or are flooded or dirty, so if that's why the big stall is not available frequently, that needs to be taken up with the management, not the poor people trying to find a clean and dry island.
On the issue of mothers and children using the handicap size stall, I think that is very, very reasonable when a woman is alone trying to manage more than one small child. It is extremely difficult, when you have several small children, to keep ahold of them and keep them from slipping away, being taken away by someone else, or getting hurt in a public restroom.
And of course, with some small children, if mom were to do a 'Sully'(the big purple monster in Monsters, Inc) and close the door and put the kid in there, she might be standing there for 4 1/2 hrs, waiting for the kid. Everyone (believe me, EVERYONE) is better off if she goes into the big stall with that kid.
If a woman has one child, some public toilets are so tiny and cramped, she can't put her child on the toilet and stand in the stall and keep a hold of him, she won't even be able to shut the stall door with her and a child in there. If the child is young enough that she still has to assist him or keep an eye on him, the mother and child should use the larger stall and others should accomodate her.
If you just want to use that stall because someone else is in there using it and you consider it your MT, you'll probably have to wait.
For handicapped folks, I think it is reasonable for you to let someone know who's just lounging in there, that you are disabled and need to use that toilet, but it is also reasonable to make that request politely. 'Excuse me kids, could you finish up your phone call/video game/meeting? I need to use that stall and am disabled - thank you!' Then when they leave, a polite nod and a quiet, 'thanks' is in order. Not because they just did such a great thing, but to encourage them to think about it and to consider others the next time. Getting kids mad and defensive changes their attitude about as well as it changes an adult's attitude - it doesn't. It just puts them on the defensive.
If you just LIKE using that stall, it's unreasonable to expect anyone to vacate it so you can, even if they are having a business meeting in there and not precisely in the midst of relieving themselves.
However, it is not reasonable to expect or tell someone to leave if they have some slight problem that makes that toilet easier for them to use, or if as often happens, they have a handicap that just isn't obvious.
I think if a person feels they need to use the toilet because they are stiff or overweight or have a bad knee, that is alright too. Many non disabled public toilets are tiny and very awkward to use, more so for the overweight or someone who has an problem using one leg or arm or twisting about.
Many people gravitate to the big stall because the other stalls have broken doors, are out of paper, or are flooded or dirty, so if that's why the big stall is not available frequently, that needs to be taken up with the management, not the poor people trying to find a clean and dry island.
On the issue of mothers and children using the handicap size stall, I think that is very, very reasonable when a woman is alone trying to manage more than one small child. It is extremely difficult, when you have several small children, to keep ahold of them and keep them from slipping away, being taken away by someone else, or getting hurt in a public restroom.
And of course, with some small children, if mom were to do a 'Sully'(the big purple monster in Monsters, Inc) and close the door and put the kid in there, she might be standing there for 4 1/2 hrs, waiting for the kid. Everyone (believe me, EVERYONE) is better off if she goes into the big stall with that kid.
If a woman has one child, some public toilets are so tiny and cramped, she can't put her child on the toilet and stand in the stall and keep a hold of him, she won't even be able to shut the stall door with her and a child in there. If the child is young enough that she still has to assist him or keep an eye on him, the mother and child should use the larger stall and others should accomodate her.
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