Starbucks went to gender neutral bathrooms

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Homerboy

Lifer
Mar 1, 2000
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I don't think any woman would be comfortable if it's a multi-person restroom. I don't care about "rights"... this is just weird for the public. I know in some college dorms they have unisex bathrooms too but people know each other.

I know many women that wouldn't give two shits (no pun intended) about a unisex multi-person bathroom.

Side (but related) note: Anyone remember the TV show Ally McBeal? That show is 15+ years old I think and in it they promoted unisex bathrooms. Talk started back then.
 

nakedfrog

No Lifer
Apr 3, 2001
63,405
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I don't think any woman would be comfortable if it's a multi-person restroom. I don't care about "rights"... this is just weird for the public. I know in some college dorms they have unisex bathrooms too but people know each other and there aren't potential freaks/criminals walking in there from the street.
Given that I've seen women use the men's multi-person restroom because the line for the women's was too long, I believe your assessment of "any woman" is incorrect.
 
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Mike64

Platinum Member
Apr 22, 2011
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I don't think any woman would be comfortable if it's a multi-person restroom. I don't care about "rights"... this is just weird for the public. I know in some college dorms they have unisex bathrooms too but people know each other and there aren't potential freaks/criminals walking in there from the street.
Apparently what this is really about is allowing transgendered people to use the "correct" bathroom according to their self/identified "gender". Which except to those with extremely limited worldviews/imaginations, is really a whole different ball of wax than "gender neutrality" in the abstract.

And no, I've known quite a few women who wouldn't give a rat's ass, even when urinals are involved. I do imagine the ones with "troughs" wouldn't be very popular with (some of) "the ladies" (though some would probably find it entertaining:D), but then I can't say I'm a fan of those either.;) I mean, most men would all but freak out if some guy turned away from a urinal with his "junk" hanging all out of his pants and whatnot too, even if it was just 'cos he wasn't wearing underwear and was in the process of tucking himself back in (and seriously, how often have you seen anything like that happen?)
 
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rh71

No Lifer
Aug 28, 2001
52,844
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Given that I've seen women use the men's multi-person restroom because the line for the women's was too long, I believe your assessment of "any woman" is incorrect.

In case of emergencies or a time crunch, that takes precedence over safety.
I know many women that wouldn't give two shits (no pun intended) about a unisex multi-person bathroom.

True not every, but on the same note, you have to know that not every woman is as strong-willed or as brave.
 

Homerboy

Lifer
Mar 1, 2000
30,890
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True not every, but on the same note, you have to know that not every woman is as strong-willed or as brave.

I agree with you on THAT statement - not everyone woman is as strong-willed.
But I was commenting on your previous statement

I don't think any woman would be comfortable if it's a multi-person restroom.

You've sort of contradicted yourself here.
 

Mike64

Platinum Member
Apr 22, 2011
2,108
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In case of emergencies or a time crunch, that takes precedence over safety.
Emergencies, I can understand, but if mere impatience and "time crunch" are enough to override it, their perception of the "lack of safety" can't be terribly strong...

[ETA] Hell, no one worries about people getting on elevators even with just one other person, even on really long rides, and it's hardly as though there's never been a sexual assault in an elevator -- it's all about what I consider the bizarre concept that being within eye- or even earshot of someone of the opposite biological sex when one's genitals aren't hidden under (possibly very thin) layers of fabric is unsafe/creepy/weird/wrong/immoral...
 
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JM Aggie08

Diamond Member
Jan 3, 2006
8,431
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They are single use bathrooms at our local Starbucks....which makes sense.

Also, who cares? The only concern I have about gender neutral, multi-tenant bathrooms, is seeing a hottie come out of a stall after destroying the toilet bowl, and ultimately tarnishing my perception of her.
 
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rh71

No Lifer
Aug 28, 2001
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Emergencies, I can understand, but if mere impatience and "time crunch" are enough to override it, their perception of the "lack of safety" can't be terribly strong...
I don't think either of those applies when you're at a concert and it's between sets...

One thing you're forgetting is that 1) if it's a long line or 2) you're at a concert... there are plenty of people around that safety isn't a concern. In a Starbucks bathroom, where another person may not come in to help for 5+ minutes, that's another story. Think like a physically-weaker, small-statured woman for a second.

EDIT> https://www.buzzfeed.com/juliegerst...for-our-safety?utm_term=.ubZk6ypzA#.for93lDNn
 

nakedfrog

No Lifer
Apr 3, 2001
63,405
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One thing you're forgetting is that 1) if it's a long line or 2) you're at a concert... there are plenty of people around that safety isn't a concern. In a Starbucks bathroom, where another person may not come in to help for 5+ minutes, that's another story. Think like a physically-weaker, small-statured woman for a second.

EDIT> https://www.buzzfeed.com/juliegerst...for-our-safety?utm_term=.ubZk6ypzA#.for93lDNn
If the bathrooms have signs that say "men" and "women" the danger is exactly the same. Those signs aren't/weren't stopping anyone with ill intent.
 
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[DHT]Osiris

Lifer
Dec 15, 2015
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In case of emergencies or a time crunch, that takes precedence over safety.

Is there like, some rash of sexual assaults between men and women in bathrooms across America I'm not aware of? Are there arcane wards around the existing women's bathrooms that prevent men from entering said bathroom and raping everyone? Where do people get this idea that the sky is going to fall if people piss near each other?
 
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Mike64

Platinum Member
Apr 22, 2011
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In a Starbucks bathroom, where another person may not come in to help for 5+ minutes, that's another story. Think like a physically-weaker, small-statured woman for a second.
So how come all these (self) righteous advocates of women's safety aren't demanding sex-segregated elevators in public buildings? Seriously, I'll bet there have been way more sexual assaults in those than in public lavatories anywhere (let alone businesses where, again - seriously speaking - the bathrooms aren't exactly in out-of-the-way, hidden spots where no one is going to hear someone shout in the (extremely) unlikely event they have reason to), and it's not as though a sign saying "Women" is going to keep a sex-offender-on-the-prowl out of the effing women's room to begin with...
 

rh71

No Lifer
Aug 28, 2001
52,844
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So how come all these (self) righteous advocates of women's safety aren't demanding sex-segregated elevators in public buildings? Seriously, I'll bet there have been way more sexual assaults in those than in public lavatories anywhere (let alone businesses where, again - seriously speaking - the bathrooms aren't exactly in out-of-the-way, hidden spots where no one is going to hear someone shout in the (extremely) unlikely event they have reason to), and it's not as though a sign saying "Women" is going to keep a sex-offender-on-the-prowl out of the effing women's room to begin with...

Having separate bathrooms is an option. An elevator with strangers to the 29th floor is NOT. Let me guess, you're going to comment about women choosing to take an elevator to the 3rd floor instead of walking it. Women weigh safety with convenience too. Is every woman 100% paranoid? Of course not. But it remains, having separate bathrooms where if you see a man go into a woman's restroom, it's clear something is up.

Is there like, some rash of sexual assaults between men and women in bathrooms across America I'm not aware of? Are there arcane wards around the existing women's bathrooms that prevent men from entering said bathroom and raping everyone? Where do people get this idea that the sky is going to fall if people piss near each other?

A bathroom, or any room FOR THE OPEN PUBLIC where the door can be jammed shut by an assailant, is always going to be a concern.

You guys are trying to rationalize everything like the males that you are. Objectivity.
 

Mike64

Platinum Member
Apr 22, 2011
2,108
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Having separate bathrooms is an option. An elevator to the 29th floor is NOT.
It might not be a cheap or convenient option, but in any building with more than one elevator, it's an option. As would be a plexiglas barrier down the middle of one, if there is only space for one... And considering that there have in fact been many documented cases of sexual assaults in elevators (fortunately not a "huge" number, but I'm pretty comfortable saying more than in public bathrooms), it would be a more rational response to an actual problem.
 

[DHT]Osiris

Lifer
Dec 15, 2015
17,526
16,861
146
Having separate bathrooms is an option. An elevator to the 29th floor is NOT.



A bathroom, or any room FOR THE OPEN PUBLIC where the door can be jammed shut by an assailant, is always going to be a concern.

Uh, all bathrooms are open to the public, you just walk in one. Also a billion other types of 'rooms' with 'doors' on them.

As nakedfrog asked, do you really think those signs would keep someone out?

Or maybe is it that there's just not herds of roaming rapists waiting for that awesome opportunity to nab another wife/daughter? Maybe this is just a little FUDdy?
 

rh71

No Lifer
Aug 28, 2001
52,844
1,049
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It might not be a cheap or convenient option, but in any building with more than one elevator, it's an option. As would be a plexiglas barrier down the middle of one, if there is only space for one...

WTF is wrong with you?

Uh, all bathrooms are open to the public, you just walk in one. Also a billion other types of 'rooms' with 'doors' on them.

As nakedfrog asked, do you really think those signs would keep someone out?

Or maybe is it that there's just not herds of roaming rapists waiting for that awesome opportunity to nab another wife/daughter? Maybe this is just a little FUDdy?

Once again, you're not thinking like a woman would. Some are more concerned than others at even the potential of something happening. Did you read this?

https://www.buzzfeed.com/juliegerst...for-our-safety?utm_term=.ubZk6ypzA#.for93lDNn

Some are FUDdy but you're not being totally objective either.

Having a sign obviously doesn't keep someone out, but as I just mentioned, seeing a male go into a female bathroom would raise an alarm immediately. Having unisex bathrooms, you would never know if the victim is made to keep quiet and the door jammed.
 

[DHT]Osiris

Lifer
Dec 15, 2015
17,526
16,861
146
Once again, you're not thinking like a woman would. Some are more concerned than others at even the potential of something happening. Did you read this?

https://www.buzzfeed.com/juliegerst...for-our-safety?utm_term=.ubZk6ypzA#.for93lDNn

Some are FUDdy but you're not being totally objective either.

Well shit, I'm glad we've got buzzfeed 'XX THINGS SOMETHING SOMETHING THINGS' articles being used as citations ITT.

Is this really what you bring to this table? That's embarassing.

And there's already unisex bathrooms all over the place, they're those 'family' bathrooms. I see men and women stroll in and out constantly, and shockingly, no rapin' going on.
 

nakedfrog

No Lifer
Apr 3, 2001
63,405
19,790
136
Having separate bathrooms is an option. An elevator with strangers to the 29th floor is NOT. Let me guess, you're going to comment about women choosing to take an elevator to the 3rd floor instead of walking it. Women weigh safety with convenience too. Is every woman 100% paranoid? Of course not. But it remains, having separate bathrooms where if you see a man go into a woman's restroom, it's clear something is up.



A bathroom, or any room FOR THE OPEN PUBLIC where the door can be jammed shut by an assailant, is always going to be a concern.

You guys are trying to rationalize everything like the males that you are. Objectivity.
I don't think you're being objective.
 

Mike64

Platinum Member
Apr 22, 2011
2,108
101
91
WTF is wrong with you?
Nothing at all.

If someone considers the alleged "safety" of 50% of the population to be subject to "convenience", one has to wonder how seriously they take the idea at all? If you seriously believe that somehow "public lavatories" are such a unique danger zone, your belief is founded on anything but objective fact.

And once again, I must point out that the brouhaha that started this thread is not in fact about "gender-neutral" restrooms in the abstract or across-the-board, it's about not denying transgendered people the right to use the bathroom of the biological sex they self-identify as. Which, I repeat, is an entirely different ball of wax in any event.
 
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rh71

No Lifer
Aug 28, 2001
52,844
1,049
126
Well shit, I'm glad we've got buzzfeed 'XX THINGS SOMETHING SOMETHING THINGS' articles being used as citations ITT.

Is this really what you bring to this table? That's embarassing.

And there's already unisex bathrooms all over the place, they're those 'family' bathrooms. I see men and women stroll in and out constantly, and shockingly, no rapin' going on.
Well shit, saying "this is embarrassing" doesn't negate women's concerns. Family bathrooms have locks and only have room for 1 family who would then lock the door.

I see men and women stroll in and out constantly, and shockingly, no rapin' going on.
Is this really what you bring to this table? That's embarassing.

I don't think you're being objective.

To which part? Perhaps the reason why there aren't out of control statistics on this is because women have been playing it safe.
 

rh71

No Lifer
Aug 28, 2001
52,844
1,049
126
If someone considers the alleged "safety" of 50% of the population to be subject to "convenience", one has to wonder how seriously they take the idea at all? If you seriously believe that somehow "public lavatories" are such a unique danger zone, your belief is founded on anything but objective fact.

So what you're saying is elevators are known sexual assault opportunities. And you want to exponentially increase that opportunity by making another room (much more plentiful than elevators) just like it.
 

nakedfrog

No Lifer
Apr 3, 2001
63,405
19,790
136
Well shit, saying "this is embarrassing" doesn't negate women's concerns. Family bathrooms have locks and only have room for 1 family who would then lock the door.


Is this really what you bring to this table? That's embarassing.



To which part? Perhaps the reason why there aren't out of control statistics on this is because women have been playing it safe.
You're accusing us of rationalizing it from a subjective male viewpoint, and it appears to me you're rationalizing from a subjective female viewpoint.
 

Mike64

Platinum Member
Apr 22, 2011
2,108
101
91
So what you're saying is elevators are known sexual assault opportunities. And you want to exponentially increase that opportunity by making another room (much more plentiful than elevators) just like it.
All I can, and the only thing further in this sub-thread I will, say is go back and read posts 35-37 and 40, and then tell me you're being "objective" in any rational sense of that word...

You're accusing us of rationalizing it from a subjective male viewpoint, and it appears to me you're rationalizing from a subjective female viewpoint.
Not merely a subjective one, an irrational one. I have no issue with taking measure's to ensure any vulnerable group's safety, but when those measures work to someone else's detriment, there should be at least some sort of factually rational basis for them.

And again, to stick to the actual situation at hand, what we're talking about is a female-identifying-transgender-biological-male using a women's room. And a woman's chance of being assaulted by such a person is about as high as being hit by a meteor while she's leaving the stall... (Not to mention orders of magnitude lower than a transgender-woman's risk of being assaulted in a biological-male restroom, I might add.)
 
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rh71

No Lifer
Aug 28, 2001
52,844
1,049
126
You're accusing us of rationalizing it from a subjective male viewpoint, and it appears to me you're rationalizing from a subjective female viewpoint.

Objective means seeing both sides. As a male, it's obvious to me you guys are not considering their everyday concerns. I bring up objectivity to make you guys realize it's not all about your feelings on their safety but their feelings on their safety.
 

nakedfrog

No Lifer
Apr 3, 2001
63,405
19,790
136
Objective means seeing both sides. As a male, it's obvious to me you guys are not considering their everyday concerns. I bring up objectivity to make you guys realize it's not all about your feelings on their safety but their feelings on their safety.
I thought objectivity was viewing it from an outside perspective. Regardless, I continue to disagree with your assessment.