Shoot the Wall (A.K.A. The Rant Thread)

[Pseudonym]

The worst thing is going the the toilet in the dark and someone has left the seat up so you fall down the toilet. 

[Carol the Dabbler]

... at which point you just hope that whoever left the seat up at least remembered to flush.

[Pseudonym]

 

[Arcadia]

*sigh* The topics you folks get into....
 
When I was a kid I had a bit of a phobia about public restrooms for awhile. When we lived in Thailand and went on trips to parks and whatnot, it wasn't uncommon for the public toilet to simply be a hole in the ground. I can still remember the stench.
 
But what really did it was when we were in, I believe, Germany. Nice, clean, shiny new restroom ... with an automatic flush, which I had never encountered before. It flushed before I was, shall we say, ready, and scared the bejeebers out of little 8-year-old me. I went flying out of there like a bat out of hell, bawling my eyes out, and fortunately bolted straight into my mom, who, er, got me sorted out. But it took awhile before I ever trusted a strange toilet again. Now that we have those automatic things nearly everywhere, I've finally become inured to the shock of an unexpected flush.

[Pseudonym]

I'm not sure I've come across an automatic flush here, plenty of those with a sensor though that you just put your hand in front of to flush. 

 

I find most public toilets creepy, I heard something in an empty one once and I never liked them but that made me more leery. 

[SherlockedCAMPer]

Having the lid down on a toilet does a couple of things: 1) reduces water from the flushing from going everywhere (automatic flushing toilets & other strong flushing toilets are bad at having sprays of droplets go out of the bowl) 2) helps reduce bad smells (very important with port a potties) by allowing the wind to blow over the exhaust vent pulling the smell with it. If the lid is up (particularly on a port a potty) the smell can get pushed back into the room making for an unpleasant experience for the next person.

 

Before I sit on a public toilet, I'm inspecting the seat for water droplets and other undesirable stuff as I don't want a surprise.

[Carol the Dabbler]

A very sensible precaution. I mean, water drop, so what -- but what if it's not exactly water?

 

I hate those auto-flush toilets! Can't recall ever encountering one till I was well into my adult years, so I can't blame childhood trauma, but dammit, *I* will decide when I want to flush!

 

One day when I was feeling really tired, I put my head down on my knees to rest a moment -- and the damn thing flushed with me sitting on it. As Camper says, those things are enthusiastic, so I got sprayed!

[Pseudonym]

I can confirm that my city leisure centre does not have toilet lids. (The things I look at because of you guys.)

 

I'm going to be miserly now. I like Halloween, the whole spooky creepy vibes speak to my black little heart. I like that there are parties on and there's an excuse to do creepy stuff. However, I hate, f***ing hate, trick or treaters. I've been in work all day, then to the gym for an hour, I've finally gotten home, I'm hot, sweaty, tired and for someone who doesn't really get hangry I'm feeling pretty bl00dy hangry right now. And then there are swarms of little darlings all over the road and all over my street making nuisances of themselves. Sod the f**k off. I'm hoping I've got home late enough to miss most of them, I spent a while lurking in my dark car reading news articles until one particularly large group had moved along. 

 

I don't like the 'getting something for nothing,' I don't like people knocking on my door (I can't be the only one who gets a bolt of anxiety at people knocking), I hate the whole 'trick' concept - if you don't give me something I'm going to do something unpleasant to your property. I'm lurking in my bedroom now with the dimmer switch on my light turned right down so it looks like there's no one home. I'll have to emerge soon though to feed my cats and myself before I start gnawing on my arm. At least that would be inkeeping with the theme of the day I suppose. 

[Carol the Dabbler]

II like Halloween, the whole spooky creepy vibes speak to my black little heart. I like that there are parties on and there's an excuse to do creepy stuff. However, I hate, f***ing hate, trick or treaters [....]

 

I don't like the 'getting something for nothing,' I don't like people knocking on my door (I can't be the only one who gets a bolt of anxiety at people knocking), I hate the whole 'trick' concept - if you don't give me something I'm going to do something unpleasant to your property.

 

Yeah, it bugs me too.  I especially hate being expected to hand out utter junk.  One year I handed out nice shiny red apples, and that seemed to go over reasonably well.  The next year I handed out little boxes of raisins, and everyone said thank you -- but next day I found an awful lot of little boxes of raisins in my shrubbery.  Obviously all the kids want is MORE CANDY.  (You mean just one pillowcase full isn't enough?)

 

But most places seem to have a system -- if your porch light is on, that means you have treats to hand out; if not, then not.  The trick-or-treaters seem to respect that (after all, why should they waste their time on somebody who isn't going to give them any CANDY?).

 

The only catch is, you have to know *when* to turn your porch light on/off.  Most communities nowadays seem to have an official trick-or-treat night.  It's usually a Saturday (so the kiddies aren't out trick-or-treating and then binging on sugar on a school night), and there are usually official start/stop times (so the kiddies aren't up late).

 

It also bugs me when I see a dozen kids pile out of a van, so they can swarm through a neighborhood (clearly not their own neighborhood) without having to walk there.  When I was a kid (oops, here she goes again!), my parents wouldn't allow me to trick-or-treat at any houses where we didn't know the people.  Now kids don't even have to live in the area.

 

Then there's a newer invention called "trunk or treat," which consists of everybody who wants to hand out treats coming to some central location (e.g., a church parking lot) with a trunkful of candy, and then the kids just go from car to car collecting the loot.  Am I the only one who feels this is kinda pointless?  I mean, it seems to me that it demeans the trick-or-treat ritual even further (if that's possible).  And besides, aren't the kids just going to hit *all* the nearby trunk-or-treat locations *before* trick-or-treating in all their favorite neighborhoods?  Gah!!!

[Van Buren Supernova]

Yup, definitely investigate the toilet when I have other people in my house, and of course, public toilets.

 

I used to refuse public/other toilets until I was around ten, unless it looked very very acceptable. I would hold and how I was great at holding. Still remember the time I visited my aunt's house, the toilet was dark and questionable, and man, it took three adults to drag me and still, they had to give up because I refused to pee there. (Why on earth they decided that I had to pee??)

 

Even when I had a lot of time out there, mountaineering and expeditions that took days in the nature, it takes a lot for me to do number one (luckily most time I pespired even when it's cold) and I don't do number two! (Have my trick :p)

 

Gah, Halloween sounds terrifying.

Yup I hate knocking on door, it's usually bad news or unwanted visitors or sales.

 

Pseud, actually gnawing on your arm while walking casually around the neighborhood a day before may do the trick.

 

Yah I always wonder, why parents spend most of the years cautioning about receiving anything from strangers and let the kids do just that on Halloween?

Yah, unknown neighborhood, that is .. gah.

[Carol the Dabbler]

I admire your "hold it" abilities, VBS. The closest I ever came to that was a weekend outing. There was a bathroom in the cabin we rented, plus there was an outhouse behind. But the bathroom was flooded (not deeply, but I wondered flooded with what? And the outhouse was not particularly well maintained either. So I held it for two days. Boy, was I glad to get home!

 

Added: Thinking back, why didn't I just go pee in the woods? I was not a particularly assertive child -- maybe that had something to do with it.

[Pseudonym]

You managed not to pee for two days?!!!

 

In my old work place, where I was last year, the toilets were vile so I would usually hold it all day. If things got really desperate I'd hop in the car and drive a few miles to the motorway service station where there were nice clean toilets. 

 

That's one thing about gets me about being out and about in the wilderness, I like it, but sometimes you've just gotta go, and I'm pants at peeing behind a bush or tree or whatever. 

 

I don't think trick or treating is quite such a big thing here as it is in America, but yea, still bugs me. My gym class teacher gave out little bags at the end of the lesson which I was both thrilled and stumped by (free food! But... sweets at the gym?) but it was cool - one chewy sweet and a little hand made wool ghost.

 

 

[T.o.b.y]

There are actually little funnel-like gadgets that allow women to pee standing up. Learned that from a friend who goes backpacking a lot.

 

Halloween made it to Germany a while ago and while I am not a fan of the decor and junk the stores are pushing, I also don't like how grumpy the older generation is about it. I always get some candy and if kids come trick-or-treating, I open the door, hand it out and compliment their costumes. It's innocent enough, especially since where I live, they don't seem to have gotten the tricking part - people who don't answer or don't give anything aren't pranked, the children just move on.

[Pseudonym]

Ah, you're one of the nice people. I think it's the roaming teenagers that make me the most nervous. 

 

I've heard of those funnel things, they freak me out a bit, but really it has to be better than peeing down your leg. 

 

God, kids here are hardcore. It's currently 11 degrees celcius (just under 52 farenheit) but because it's sunny the kids are out and about in shorts and t-shirts. Classic British 'there is sun so I'm wearing shorts damn it' even when at risk of hyperthermia. I'm hunched up next to a radiator and I'm freezing. 

 

I'm also hobbled today by having gone back to my gym class yesterday after slacking off for a few weeks. Oh, the pain. Exercise is meant to be good for you, isn't it? 

[SherlockedCAMPer]

 

II like Halloween, the whole spooky creepy vibes speak to my black little heart. I like that there are parties on and there's an excuse to do creepy stuff. However, I hate, f***ing hate, trick or treaters [....]

 

I don't like the 'getting something for nothing,' I don't like people knocking on my door (I can't be the only one who gets a bolt of anxiety at people knocking), I hate the whole 'trick' concept - if you don't give me something I'm going to do something unpleasant to your property.

Yeah, it bugs me too. I especially hate being expected to hand out utter junk. One year I handed out nice shiny red apples, and that seemed to go over reasonably well. The next year I handed out little boxes of raisins, and everyone said thank you -- but next day I found an awful lot of little boxes of raisins in my shrubbery. Obviously all the kids want is MORE CANDY. (You mean just one pillowcase full isn't enough?)

 

But most places seem to have a system -- if your porch light is on, that means you have treats to hand out; if not, then not. The trick-or-treaters seem to respect that (after all, why should they waste their time on somebody who isn't going to give them any CANDY?).

 

The only catch is, you have to know *when* to turn your porch light on/off. Most communities nowadays seem to have an official trick-or-treat night. It's usually a Saturday (so the kiddies aren't out trick-or-treating and then binging on sugar on a school night), and there are usually official start/stop times (so the kiddies aren't up late).

 

It also bugs me when I see a dozen kids pile out of a van, so they can swarm through a neighborhood (clearly not their own neighborhood) without having to walk there. When I was a kid (oops, here she goes again!), my parents wouldn't allow me to trick-or-treat at any houses where we didn't know the people. Now kids don't even have to live in the area.

 

Then there's a newer invention called "trunk or treat," which consists of everybody who wants to hand out treats coming to some central location (e.g., a church parking lot) with a trunkful of candy, and then the kids just go from car to car collecting the loot. Am I the only one who feels this is kinda pointless? I mean, it seems to me that it demeans the trick-or-treat ritual even further (if that's possible). And besides, aren't the kids just going to hit *all* the nearby trunk-or-treat locations *before* trick-or-treating in all their favorite neighborhoods? Gah!!!

The thing about trunk or treat is that it happens during the trick or treat time and the cars are usually themed. Also it provides a safe environment for kids to get treats without having to worry about psycho cars mowing them down or shady houses with potential dubious intent. Churches and other places holding such things will want to put a good face to the community so will be less likely to have candy with dangerous ingredients.

[Pseudonym]

It sounds like a good idea for families with younger kids, I get the impression it's a bit more like a party than standard trick of treating if everyone is in one place. Plus people who do have anxiety over strangers knocking at their door get less visitors unless, of course, as Carol said people still hit up all the houses afterwards. 

[Carol the Dabbler]

You managed not to pee for two days?!!!

 

My only explanation is that when you're only 15 years old, your bladder is more elastic.  Plus maybe I had the sense not to drink much.  But God knows I couldn't do it now!

 

It's innocent enough, especially since where I live, they don't seem to have gotten the tricking part - people who don't answer or don't give anything aren't pranked, the children just move on.

 

Oh, the "trick" part seems to have mostly died out here as well.  Some kids will use the holiday as an excuse to festoon a "favorite" neighbor's tree with toilet paper or throw eggs at their house, but that seems to be independent of the treats / no treats question.

 

I read about one case where a kid came to the door and said "trick or treat" and the householder decided to see what would happen, so they said "OK, how about a trick?"  And the kid stood on his head!  So apparently it's not just the custom that's dying out, it's the entire concept.

 

I've heard of those funnel things, they freak me out a bit, but really it has to be better than peeing down your leg.

 

Heavens, ladies, doesn't anyone remember how to squat?!  When I was in the Girl Scouts, that's what we'd do under primitive wilderness conditions.  Or if it was #2, we'd scrape a little hole in the ground first, then cover it up after, just like a cat does.

 

The thing about trunk or treat is that it happens during the trick or treat time and the cars are usually themed. Also it provides a safe environment for kids to get treats without having to worry about psycho cars mowing them down or shady houses with potential dubious intent. Churches and other places holding such things will want to put a good face to the community so will be less likely to have candy with dangerous ingredients.

 

That does seem to be the theory, yes.  But I'm enough of a skeptic to wonder just how well it works in practice.  The good little kids who would never have been an annoyance anyhow will go along with it just fine, but the ravening hordes -- maybe not so much.

 

It sounds like a good idea for families with younger kids, I get the impression it's a bit more like a party than standard trick or treating if everyone is in one place.

 

Right.  The church across from Mom's house was offering free food, plus I think some form of entertainment.

[Pseudonym]

I do squat! But I usually still manage to get my leg. 

 

The idea of scratching about like a cat and then covering it up again amused me. Keeping yourself safe from larger predators. 

[Carol the Dabbler]

That too! But I think our main concern was so nobody (e.g., one of us) would accidentally step in it later.

[T.o.b.y]

Some German communities have a more specific system in place for letting kids know who is open to being visited, for example having a jack-o-lantern next to your driveway or hanging a little paper ghost in your window, that kind of thing.

 

I don't worry so much about the junk. It's only once a year. Okay, fine, they get candy at Christmas and Easter too but that's still less than most adults consume every week.

 

I guess I am relatively un-bothered because it just hasn't gotten out of hand where I live. There's actually a very similar regional tradition of going from house to house and singing a little song on New Year's Eve, where adults get alcohol and kids get sweets. To me, it seems more like they just moved that to October, added costumes and left out the alcohol. Not a bad change imo.

[Carol the Dabbler]

Yeah, it was cute and sweet like that when I was a kid. Not positive whether it's the times that have changed, or my perspective -- but I'm pretty sure it's largely the former.

[Pseudonym]

We get carol singers around Christmas sometimes who expect money for knocking on your door and yelling a song at you. I ignore them too. 

[Carol the Dabbler]

That is just downright obnoxious!

[Caya]

We have these around Epiphany, but they're children in costume as the Three Kings (the girls too) plus one Star Bearer carrying a paper or foil star/comet on a stick (that's why they're called the Star singers), and one adult accompanying them. They sing a little song and say a poem, and then collect money for a Catholic charity (the whole thing is organized by the Catholic youth organization), but don't say no to a little treat (and/or hot tea if it's a bad weather day) either. The adult then marks your door frame with consecrated chalk, writing a traditional blessing. It's a cute little tradition that warms even heathen hearts like mine, and they are generally well-received.

 

Halloween has only become somewhat popular in the last decade or so, and some people still grumble about the "stupid American tradition" and don't want to hear any explanations to the contrary. I must admit, though, that I'd become a bit annoyed too because, living in the suburbs, we got plenty of what we called trick-or-treat-tourists from the nearby denser populated areas, because our mostly townouse-area made for a better evening stroll. I finally solved this by letting the dog out first whenever the bell rang - if the kids screamed and scattered when the Big Bad Black Dog approached the garden door, they were tourists anyway, if however they happily greeted her (since they knew her to be a big softie) they were locals and got the good treats. This must've given our house a bit of a reputation though because the last few years we only got a handful of callers. :D

[Pseudonym]

Hm, not sure I'd be too thrilled to have anyone collecting for any kind of religious charity at my door. Nor would I want chalk, consecrated of otherwise, on my door frame.