Separate Bathrooms by Religion? - A New Front in Transgender Debate

[Pcdunn]

I was just filling my house-mate in on the course of this thread's discussion, and she said, "You start out with politics, and end up in the toilet-- well, you haven't gone very far, have you?!"

She also said to tell you folks that the bathroom controversy is just a ploy to manipulate the government, it's not really about religion!

[Graham]

crap (v.) Look up crap at Dictionary.com
"defecate," 1846, from one of a cluster of words generally applied to things cast off or discarded (such as "weeds growing among corn" (early 15c.), "residue from renderings" (late 15c.), underworld slang for "money" (18c.), and in Shropshire, "dregs of beer or ale"), all probably from Middle English crappe "grain that was trodden underfoot in a barn, chaff" (mid-15c.), from Middle French crape "siftings," from Old French crappe, from Medieval Latin crappa, crapinum "chaff." Related: Crapped; crapping.

Despite folk etymology insistence, not from Thomas Crapper (1837-1910) who was, however, a busy plumber and may have had some minor role in the development of modern toilets. The name Crapper is a northern form of Cropper (attested from 1221), an occupational surname, obviously, but the exact reference is unclear. Crap (v.) as a variant of crop (v.) was noted early 19c, as a peculiarity of speech in Scotland and what was then the U.S. Southwest (Arkansas, etc.)

Due acknowledgement to Online Etymology Dictionary

Well, I submit to your greater knowledge - here's proof enough for me that Thomas Crapper's surname was indeed coincidental.

And now I think I've earned a nice long sit down.....

Graham

[Robert]

http://www.thomas-crapper.com/The-History-of-Thomas-Crapper.html

[Azarna]

Sorry, can't agree. If the word "crap" was used in Britain prior to Mr Crapper's noble invention, then his name must have been a massive coincidence.

Yes, just a coincidence. No doubt he was very aware of this fact and perhaps played on it in his marketing.

Here is an article from the Huff Post, which includes a poem using "crap" which was written 50 years before the birth of Thomas Crapper.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/02/word-meaning-crap_n_1930243.html

[Pcdunn]

Aha, thanks, Graham.

We camped during summer vacations, so I'm familiar with outhouses, and have "gone in the bushes" once or twice.

[Graham]

Hi Pat D,

a spinney is a small wooded area. So Olive had an al fresco (and free) piddle!

Graham

[Pcdunn]

I hope that the following doesn't have to be explained to Americans....

To A Lady Who Wanted A Penny For Two Halfpennies

Look lady, follow Olive Snell
To whom your accident befell.
It happened, as it does to many,
That Olive went to spend a penny.

She searched her bag, and had just one -
And that was bent - so what she done?
She went and found a spinney shady,
And saved herself the penny, lady!

Arnold Silcock

I've read enough British literature to know the expression "spend a penny" means to use a public toilet, but I have no idea what "a spinney shady" means ( a tree, perhaps)

I liked it when the current "Big Bang Theory" sitcom once had a character's mother say primly, "I have to urinate" before leaving the table. But then, we didn't even hear a toilet flush on television till the 1970s, on an episode of "All in the Family" (based, of course, on a well-known British series called, I think, "Till Death Do Us Part").

[Graham]

I hope that the following doesn't have to be explained to Americans....

To A Lady Who Wanted A Penny For Two Halfpennies

Look lady, follow Olive Snell
To whom your accident befell.
It happened, as it does to many,
That Olive went to spend a penny.

She searched her bag, and had just one -
And that was bent - so what she done?
She went and found a spinney shady,
And saved herself the penny, lady!

Arnold Silcock

[Pcdunn]

Remind me what century we are in, someone.

If religious Americans would "go to the bathroom" in their pants (meaning they would piss or sh** themselves where they stood) at the thought of having to share a public lavatory with a transgender person (which is not just a matter of personal choice, nor an indicator of sexuality, which has bugger all to do with it) it's probably a good thing if they don't have a passport. They'd have to put their watches forward forty years when coming to Europe.

Love,

Caz
X

Hello, Caz, if the forum had a "like" button for your post, I'd use it! Yes, it is more a matter of civil rights, than religion or sexuality.

Although part of the problem lately is some parents listening to their young children when they say they feel as if they're a girl, not a boy, and asking schools to help educate the other students and parents about transgender children. It has led to nasty fallout, even in areas not predominantly in the so-called "Bible belt".

I definitely approve of the parents supporting their children, but a six year old boy who identifies as a girl and must use the boy's restroom-- that is really setting up a situation for bullying!

[Robert]

I wont go at work or in public if it can be avoided

Me too. Not out of 'poop shame' but because I'm anti-social and prefer my own toilet.

In the same way maybe, my waste products are mine and though they are not nice, they are somehow a bit nicer than other people's.

[caz]

Remind me what century we are in, someone.

If religious Americans would "go to the bathroom" in their pants (meaning they would piss or sh** themselves where they stood) at the thought of having to share a public lavatory with a transgender person (which is not just a matter of personal choice, nor an indicator of sexuality, which has bugger all to do with it) it's probably a good thing if they don't have a passport. They'd have to put their watches forward forty years when coming to Europe.

Love,

Caz
X

[Steadmund Brand]

I always got a laugh out of "lavatories", I had a teacher in grade school (1st grade if memory serves) who would not accept ANY word but lavatories....she would cringe at even restroom or bathroom as though they were "dirty" words...let alone toilet etc....looking back now I see how odd it was, but as it has been said, Americana is a bit overly sensitive when it comes to natural body functions....there is a common condition in America ( not sure about other places) called "poop shame" ....I swear I am not making this up!!!....and I'll even admit to having this problem, I wont go at work or in public if it can be avoided...and I have no logical explanation other then that is how our society has made us....quite sad really...after all, as the best selling book says, everybody poops!!

Steadmund Brand

[GUT]

What better, Gut? Sums it all up and leaves nothing to the imagination. As my wife would say when the time comes, "Jesus, I could do with a ****, so where's the shithouse round here?" Mind you, she is Irish.

Graham

I love people that call a spade a




#@?!ing shovel.

[Geddy2112]

"netty" (Geordie).....

Indeed and my dear nana had a school friend named Henrietta Hole, shortened to 'Netty Hole' quite unfortunate....

Or maybe 'powder my nose' for women.

Yes and if that is where our lasses nose is she has a rather big mouth! (Never did understand that phrase.)

[Graham]

Good old fashioned Sh!thouse.

What better, Gut? Sums it all up and leaves nothing to the imagination. As my wife would say when the time comes, "Jesus, I could do with a ****, so where's the shithouse round here?" Mind you, she is Irish.

Graham