Only in nightmares do you have to do this with everyone watching!

February 27, 2004 11:21 AM

Looky-Loo. They claim it's art. Is it? Would you be able to "complete your business" in this?
posted by aaronscool (19 comments total)

No. Way. Ever.
posted by rhapsodie at 11:44 AM on February 27, 2004

Yes. Yes I would.
posted by o2b at 11:46 AM on February 27, 2004

It's brilliant.... as an idea.

But aren't most one-way mirrors sort of transparent to somebody who presses their face right up against the glass and squints? Am I behind in my glass tech knowledge?
posted by grabbingsand at 11:48 AM on February 27, 2004

Reminds me of the "Fortress of Solitude" de-clenching discussion in episode 6. Also, reminds me of this quote from an Aphex Twin interview: "In Seattle, all the public toilets didn't have any doors on them. It was well strange. What's that all about? I had to take a shit, and they're was like twenty people in a row going for a shit, and I was like, "uh." So after about ten minutes, I thought it was quite wicked actually. I was quite into the idea of it."
posted by shoepal at 11:51 AM on February 27, 2004

People will throw crap at you as you walk by or try peeking through the glass. Remember grade school shenanigans, this will be a fun house for kids.
posted by thomcatspike at 11:55 AM on February 27, 2004

I heard a segment on the BBC in which a reporter went in and recorded his observations:

"A small child is pressing his face against the glass now. I'm waving to him. Children can't resist the urge to wave back when waved to. He's not waving back. I think he must not see me. I have more confidence in the reflective glass now."

Something like that...
posted by whatnotever at 12:05 PM on February 27, 2004

Dookie bombing while watching the world carry on right in front of you?

I'd be more worried about people stopping by for a quick shag.
posted by fenriq at 12:11 PM on February 27, 2004

Piss-poor concept, shitty execution.
posted by mr_crash_davis at 12:26 PM on February 27, 2004

Good point, fenriq. It's like a practice zone for would-be exhibitionists!
posted by shoepal at 12:26 PM on February 27, 2004

I think a bit of graffiti in there would make it feel more comfortable. In public poop pots I find a distraction always helps the process.
posted by y6y6y6 at 12:31 PM on February 27, 2004

Heh I think this is brilliant.

Art? I dunno I'm no expert, but it's a fascinating idea none the less.

Here in SF there's a bar where in the men's room theres a one-way mirror that looks out over the bar.
posted by bitdamaged at 12:31 PM on February 27, 2004

That's the most subversive, avant-garde homeless squat I've ever seen.

[fingersnap applause]
posted by scarabic at 12:32 PM on February 27, 2004

But aren't most one-way mirrors sort of transparent to somebody who presses their face right up against the glass and squints? Am I behind in my glass tech knowledge?

Generally, this is true only if there's more light on the other side than on the viewer's side. In the cop shows, the interrogation room is always bright, and the observers are in a darkened room. Outside the loo, you could put your nose to the glass and shield your eyes with your hands, but if it's kind of dim inside, and bright outside, you'd still not see anything. I wouldn't use the thing at night, though.
posted by beagle at 12:40 PM on February 27, 2004

I think I'd be tempted to stand outside and point at the cube and laugh, just to freak the user out.
posted by Tin Man at 12:55 PM on February 27, 2004

Ah, a public whacking box.

Excellent.

Also fenriq is right, this would instantly be shag-o-rama. Although I really see nothing wrong with that.

Training wheels for exhibitionists. Very funny shoepal.
posted by Ynoxas at 2:02 PM on February 27, 2004

Nice one, Tin Man!
posted by fenriq at 2:07 PM on February 27, 2004

I remember there used to be something like this at a saloon in beaver creek that is sadly no longer extant. There was a big mirror behind the bar. It was one way. On the other side was the men's urinals. I have never been so surprised in my life as when I went in, began my business, then looked up and saw the barmaid mixing a drink right in front of me.
posted by jearbear at 5:17 PM on February 27, 2004

Yeah, there was a sandwich shop in Tulsa a few years back called City Bites that had one way mirrors in the bathroom. It really didn't freak me out near as much as I figured it would, and I had a pretty bad history of stagefright back in those days.
posted by Ufez Jones at 5:45 PM on February 27, 2004

There's a Thai restaurant down in the SoHo area of NYC (sorry, don't remember which street or even the name of the place) that has a bathroom with a one-way mirror like this. Pretty freaky. Not sure I'd call it art.
posted by mrbarrett.com at 12:17 PM on February 28, 2004