Only in Ireland - a toilet post

@JudyEv (342172)
Rockingham, Australia
March 15, 2017 11:48pm CST
On a post I read today there were comments about paying to use public toilets. Unfortunately I can't remember the members involved in the discussion. However the comments did remind me of a public toilet we used in Ireland. It was a brand-new, super-duper but small building. When you came out, it shut its own door then proceeded to scrub, rinse, pasteurise, deodorise, sympathise, empathise and anything else you could think of before opening its door and waiting, panting with exertion, for the next needy person. Such conveniences do not come cheaply and sure enough there was a price to pay to use such a toilet. The price was a measly 25c. However, the coin slots were designed for denominations of 50c, 20c and 10c. No change was given. Only in Ireland – or maybe Australia! The photo shows me pretending to help dig out the hole for the toilet we put in for the Music Shack.
47 people like this
46 responses
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
16 Mar 17
Keep digging. It's a long way to China.
8 people like this
@shaggin (72262)
• United States
16 Mar 17
@JohnRoberts Ha ha I remember trying to dig to China when I was young. This comment gave me a chuckle thinking back to that age.
4 people like this
@JudyEv (342172)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Mar 17
Yes, that's true. We sometimes wondered if we'd end up hitting a Chinaman on the head.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (342172)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Mar 17
@shaggin China's a big place. It must be opposite both you and I!
3 people like this
@LadyDuck (472078)
• Switzerland
16 Mar 17
We also have the kind of toilet you mention, in some places they are free in others you have to insert a coin to use them. There is always a change machine near the toilets.
6 people like this
@LadyDuck (472078)
• Switzerland
17 Mar 17
@Ceerios I hate those small toilets, I suffer of claustrophobia and I cannot even get inside. The toilets near the bar in the luxury hotels are the best alternative If you walk there as you were a guest, nobody will stop you.
2 people like this
@Ceerios (4698)
• Goodfellow, Texas
16 Mar 17
@LadyDuck - Ms Anna - AND - if you do not get to use them in a timely manner, then YOU may have to change. -Gus-
2 people like this
@JudyEv (342172)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Mar 17
This one was near a bus-stop and when Vince started laughing they wanted to know what he was laughing about. They all thought it was very funny too.
1 person likes this
@minx267 (15527)
• Hartford, Connecticut
16 Mar 17
I think i saw a video about a toilet like that.. very sneaky bit about that change. So it really cost 30 -50 cents.. :)
5 people like this
@JudyEv (342172)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Mar 17
Yes, there was no way you could pay the right money. :)
1 person likes this
@minx267 (15527)
• Hartford, Connecticut
16 Mar 17
@JudyEv That is hilarious!
1 person likes this
@prinzcy (32305)
• Malaysia
16 Mar 17
It's common to see paying public toilet in Malaysia. It's rare but there's a few still exist here and there. Some in shopping malls and some just build outside. It's usually 30c per person. I figure the money is for maintenance and employees so I just pay.
5 people like this
@prinzcy (32305)
• Malaysia
16 Mar 17
@JudyEv will you receive the change? What happened to the 5c?
2 people like this
@JudyEv (342172)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Mar 17
We didn't mind paying but there was no way to pay the proper amount of 25c. The least you could pay was 30c.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (342172)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Mar 17
@prinzcy There is no change given so that's what makes it funny. They say it costs 25c but you actually have to pay at least 30c.
1 person likes this
@epiffanie (11326)
• Australia
16 Mar 17
Yes I experienced using a toilet in the shopping mall over in the Philippines and paying 10 pesos each time which is about 35c .. But I had irritable bladder that I ended up going in there paying every half an hour or so .. lucky it's only 35c .. lol
4 people like this
@epiffanie (11326)
• Australia
18 Mar 17
@JudyEv yes a day pass would be a good idea
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342172)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Mar 17
That would be annoying to have to pay when you needed to go so often. You needed a day pass!
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (51392)
• Canada
16 Mar 17
That is a bit shady charging what they did and not offering change.
4 people like this
@Juliaacv (51392)
• Canada
16 Mar 17
@JudyEv Annually that would certainly add up.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342172)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Mar 17
We thought so too. A clever way to get a few extra cents with every visit! :)
1 person likes this
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
16 Mar 17
Those must not be an American thing. We don't really have public restrooms out and about. You have to find a place that won't mind you using their restroom. Normally that would be like a fast food place or gas station.. most restaurants, etc want you to buy something before they'll let you use their restroom.
3 people like this
• United States
16 Mar 17
@JudyEv Well the malls do have public toilets, yes.. but if you're just walking around the downtown area where there are shops and restaurants, etc there would be no place to "go" without patronizing one of the bars or restaurants.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342172)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Mar 17
Most malls have public restrooms. And our restaurants would be much the same.
@JudyEv (342172)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Mar 17
@katsmeow1213 I think we'd be much the same really.
@much2say (56087)
• Los Angeles, California
16 Mar 17
I don't think I've ever been to a toilet that treat me that nicely - or asked to be paid ! Hopefully they would not ask for tips! "Pretending to help dig" .
3 people like this
@JudyEv (342172)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Mar 17
The digging was really hard. It was all clay and gravel so we had to be satisfied with a few inches each day.
1 person likes this
@much2say (56087)
• Los Angeles, California
16 Mar 17
@JudyEv Wow, that must've taken a long time!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342172)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Mar 17
@much2say It did but if you keep at it eventually you get there. We'd put a couple of inches of water in it each evening to soften it for the next day.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (137819)
• India
16 Mar 17
We have public toilets where we pay a small fee. None of all those frills though. Vince must have put you there and then lifted you out (lol)
3 people like this
@JudyEv (342172)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Mar 17
We haven't come across too many as fancy as this one. Most are very conventional and free.
1 person likes this
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
16 Mar 17
Looks like you're in pretty deep there. How did you get out of that hole?
3 people like this
@bagarad (14283)
• Paso Robles, California
16 Mar 17
@JudyEv I figured you wouldn't dig yourself into a hole you couldn't get out of. You're too smart to do that.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342172)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Mar 17
(Whispers) I think I might have been kneeling! And there was no doubt what we call a 'milk crate' that I could stand on to get myself out. A milk crate is a plastic crate that would once have held milk cartons.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (342172)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Mar 17
@bagarad Up here for thinking (taps head).
1 person likes this
@xFiacre (13151)
• Ireland
16 Mar 17
@judyev A woman drowned in one of those self cleaning toilets when the door failed to let her out and proceeded with its vigorous cleaning regimen unabated. The doors also have a reputation of opening of their own accord before the occupant has completed their business. No way would I ever go in one of them. I'd rather nip behind it than risk going inside.
3 people like this
@shaggin (72262)
• United States
16 Mar 17
@xFiacre that is terrifying I would probably still use it though as I tend to think nothing bad will happen to me and it was just a fluke thing the poor woman drowned.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (342172)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Mar 17
After your comment, I doubt we'll be going in another one either!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342172)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Mar 17
It seems odd that she drowned. I can't imagine they fill it with water.
1 person likes this
• Bournemouth, England
16 Mar 17
Our local council is thinking about closing 13 out of 18 free public toilets in the town (the surviving ones will be in the tourist areas!).I would rather pay than lose the facility altogether.
3 people like this
@shaggin (72262)
• United States
16 Mar 17
@asfarasiknow that is a good point. You should bring that up to the council!
2 people like this
• Bournemouth, England
17 Mar 17
@shaggin They plan to try and get three taken over by private companies but not the rest. They don't tend to listen to what locals want. As an example, our garbage collections will go from weekly to fortnightly in April.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (342172)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Mar 17
We sometimes found it very difficult to find a public toilet when we were in Europe. Whatever the problems there needs to be some.
1 person likes this
@diosabella (4789)
16 Mar 17
I don't mind paying. Some people don't know how to use public toilets and exploit it for their own convenience not thinking of the next person that will use it. Thankfully, there's a person in charge to give out change and hand sanitizer after.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (342172)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Mar 17
It can be good to have someone keeping such places clean.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342172)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Mar 17
@diosabella Me either!
16 Mar 17
@JudyEv Yes! I don't like any surprises!
1 person likes this
• India
16 Mar 17
Never experienced such toilets yet I guess it would have been amazing
3 people like this
@JudyEv (342172)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Mar 17
We thought it was funny that you couldn't actually pay 25c because the machine only took 50s, 20s and 10s.
@pumpkinjam (8769)
• United Kingdom
16 Mar 17
I don't mind paying to use a public toilet as the paid-for ones I've used do tend to be better kept than some others. However, it is a pain when they only take a certain denomination of coin and you don't have one. Or you do have one but there are four of you wanting to go to the toilet!
2 people like this
• United Kingdom
17 Mar 17
@JudyEv I did that when the children were little. It's a bit more difficult with them now! We have a few public toilets which have turnstile gates. When the boys were little, I'd either pick them up and carry them through or get them to crawl underneath. Now, of course, they are too big to come into the ladies' with me so I can't even sneak them in!
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342172)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Mar 17
That's when you hold the door open for each other and all try to get through within the time limit allowed.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342172)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Mar 17
@pumpkinjam Nothing stays the same for too long does it?
1 person likes this
@shaggin (72262)
• United States
16 Mar 17
I think I would be a big claustrophobic down in a hole like you are in the photo. I think that is a bit over the top about the toilet in Ireland for my needs...But for those out there who cannot stand using a public bathroom because of germs that toilet would likely be well worth the cost!
2 people like this
@shaggin (72262)
• United States
17 Mar 17
@JudyEv My mother will not use public restrooms at all. She would wear a diaper she said before using one. It's a bit overboard! She made my niece so worried about it when she was little that when I had her at Target with me she cried about having to use the bathroom because of the germs.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342172)
• Rockingham, Australia
18 Mar 17
@shaggin I REALLY am not keen on wearing a diaper. You can buy plastic toilet seat covers which would be a better option if you were so worried about germs.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342172)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Mar 17
Some are a bit paranoid aren't they? But when ya gotta go, ya gotta go.
1 person likes this
@skysnap (20153)
16 Mar 17
Surprised with this new trend of pay for toilet.
3 people like this
@JudyEv (342172)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Mar 17
It's been around for a long time but only in some places. Mostly public toilets are free to use.
1 person likes this
@Ceerios (4698)
• Goodfellow, Texas
16 Mar 17
@JudyEv - Ms Judy -Such a waste. -Gus-
2 people like this
@Ceerios (4698)
• Goodfellow, Texas
17 Mar 17
@JudyEv - Ms Judy - And to think that no one came along to use their effluence to assist you... -Gus-
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342172)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Mar 17
@Ceerios I'd like to be effluent.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342172)
• Rockingham, Australia
17 Mar 17
Yes, it wasn't a convenience at all!
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38219)
• Philippines
16 Mar 17
Wow that deep!
3 people like this
@JudyEv (342172)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Mar 17
We had to go a lot deeper than that. We just kept doing a bit each day till we got it done.
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
16 Mar 17
Now you remind me of the old song entitled "The great pretender" hahaha!
2 people like this
@JudyEv (342172)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Mar 17
Not sure of the relevance but I know the song.
1 person likes this
@sunrisefan (28524)
• Philippines
16 Mar 17
@JudyEv No relevance but just got reminded of it when you said you pretended to help dig the hole hehehe! No offense intended though, Ms. Judy :)
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342172)
• Rockingham, Australia
16 Mar 17
@sunrisefan Oh, I'm with you now. It's getting late here so I'm not as bright as I might be.
1 person likes this