Apparently, when is comes to judging the average person’s ability to correctly assess, “Should I urinate here?” you really can’t be too careful.
Especially, it seems, in Chicago — as witnessed by both Julie and Whitney. Although, “To be fair,” Whitney adds, “the entire city seems to be fair game for public urination.”
related: What is it about thrift store fitting rooms?!
extra credit: Street art by ELBOW-TOE
54 responses so far ↓
#1
luckaye
If you have to ask, then it probably isn’t a toilet ….
Dec 19, 2012 at 5:08 pm rating: 90
#2
Joanne M.
It’s a privilege to pee.
Dec 19, 2012 at 5:10 pm rating: 90
#3
Smokey
If you look both ways nervously before you leave…it’s not a bathroom.
Dec 19, 2012 at 5:19 pm rating: 90
#4
Who passed out the Haterade?
To (probably) no one’s surprise, most of the graffiti discovered in Pompeii had to do with sex. But PA notes along these lines were a close second.
“To the one defecating here. Beware of the curse. If you look down on this curse, may you have an angry Jupiter for an enemy.”
Dec 19, 2012 at 5:33 pm rating: 90
#5
shwo!
IKEA also kindly requests that customers refrain from standing naked under the showerhead displays. Thank you.
Dec 19, 2012 at 5:40 pm rating: 90
#6
H for Toy
If your tanning session is so long that you need to urinate in the booth, you probably should be worried about skin cancer.
Dec 19, 2012 at 5:45 pm rating: 90
#7
shwo!
And who can forget Magritte’s PA masterpiece, “Ceci n’est pas une toilette”?
Dec 19, 2012 at 5:50 pm rating: 90
#8
jaylemeux
What fact?
Dec 19, 2012 at 5:55 pm rating: 90
#9
fpelayo
ugh… I see the douchebag prank of dumping in the change room is still a “thing” out there . -_-;
Dec 19, 2012 at 7:23 pm rating: 90
#10
Ely North
I kind of hope that civilization collapses this week so we can start just peeing wherever we want again.
Dec 19, 2012 at 9:45 pm rating: 90
#11
Sosij
Anyone who has worked in retail can tell you that people confuse “fitting room” and “restroom” shockingly often.
Dec 19, 2012 at 11:01 pm rating: 90
#12
Defecator
Surely ikea doesn’t expect me to buy a toilet without trying it out first. How do I know if the height is right, or if the seat comfortably supports the rolling of my thighs as I bear down?
Dec 20, 2012 at 12:46 am rating: 90
#13
havingfitz
I personally hate it when I get all cozy in bed and I’m just about to drift off to sleep, and then some asshat of a salesman starts yelling at me that the store is closing and if I don’t leave immediately he’ll call the cops.
Dec 20, 2012 at 8:01 am rating: 90
#14
Gladystopia
While I can’t for certain say that random inappropriate excretion is a “Chicago thing”, I must admit, sadly, that it is a fairly common thing in Chicago.
I must even MORE sadly admit that I know several culprits personally. And when one of them actually got ticketed for it–I’ll admit it!–I cheered. Because seriously, that’s just gross.
Dec 20, 2012 at 8:19 am rating: 90
#15
The Elf
Ikea is missing an opportunity here. All they need to do is slap a faux-Swedish word on the label and sell it at a discount. Don’t forget the umlauts and the little circles above the a!
“Honey, let’s buy the Fyrkavar! It’s cheaper than the Grunkstorp.”
By the time they make it all the way through that maze over to the customer pick-up warehouse section (where I always expect to accidentally stumble across the Ark of the Covenant), they’ll buy it even if it smells like pee because the alternative is weaving back through against traffic about 3.4 miles to pick out another one.
Dec 20, 2012 at 9:11 am rating: 90
#16
t-rex
If Ikea would offer more convenient restrooms, this would not be a problem. Seriously, the place is a maze! What do they expect people to do, hold their nearly exploding bowels for 30 minutes as people try to figure out (1) where they are, and (2) how to get where they want to go.
Dec 20, 2012 at 9:31 am rating: 90
#17
The Elf
Thank goodness there’s always the parking garage stair well.
Dec 20, 2012 at 11:50 am rating: 90
#18
EARL
The tanning salon used to tolerate people urinating in the trash cans and under rugs, but NO MORE!
Dec 20, 2012 at 5:29 pm rating: 90
#19
Kris
When you gotta go you gotta go, but come on there are limits. I’ve lost track the number of times I’ve seen some random puddle or pile and gone, “Oh look more signs of two legged dogs.”
Its impossible to go downtown behind any bar(or even the local library) without seeing someone’s crap at least once a week.
Most places that used to have public restrooms have changed their tune as many of the homeless have abused that generosity to use the restrooms as spots to shoot up.
Dec 20, 2012 at 5:45 pm rating: 90
#20
oldtaku
I’ve used plenty of (working) restrooms without doors, and toilet stalls without doors as well. Not having a door means very little. Now if it’s the middle of a showroom…. but that doesn’t look like it.
Dec 20, 2012 at 11:06 pm rating: 90
#21
redank
PA-notes on a brick wall – now that’s priceless!
Dec 21, 2012 at 12:40 am rating: 90
#22
Geek Goddess
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDUrqKD9RHA
Goes well beyond using the toilets in the display bathrooms.
Dec 21, 2012 at 12:40 am rating: 90
#23
anotherfool
Am I being sexist to assume that mostly men do this? An interesting google: “public urination murder.” Some people apparently get really pissed off over the issue and a PA note is not enough.
Dec 21, 2012 at 6:24 am rating: 90
#24
BuckyTooth
I understand to an extent, but don’t condone, using an alley as a toilet on a drunken night out. It’s absolutely disgusting, but drunk people have to pee and have little regard for etiquette. I also sort of understand IKEA, since it IS a toilet. Some people aren’t in their right mind and could get confused, or a child could wander off from their parents for a split second and think it’s fine to use. What I don’t understand at all and find completely appalling is peeing in a trash can in a tanning salon. You’re most likely not drunk and in your right mind, and you’re not a child. How the hell would you ever think it’s okay to do that? You’d have to be the most inconsiderate, selfish arse on the planet to think that’s acceptable behaviour. I mean, I guess it doesn’t surprise me that people stupid and vain enough to try to give themselves skin cancer would be that inconsiderate, but COME ON, PEOPLE! GROW UP!
Dec 21, 2012 at 10:01 pm rating: 90
#25
VoiceMail
I’m concerned by number 3. They have drinking fountains shaped like toilets in America?
Dec 23, 2012 at 6:30 am rating: 90
#26
Jamie
I’d really like to see the psychology behind this stuff. It’s obviously wide spread enough to warrant this story:
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/11/23/brown-friday-why-do-people-poop-in-retail-stores/
Dec 26, 2012 at 10:25 am rating: 90
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