Airlines Take Note
January 2, 2017 12:18 PM Subscribe
Like ok yes this is ten kinds of fucked up, but...couldn't you just open the tank and jangle the chain by hand?
posted by phunniemee at 12:21 PM on January 2, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by phunniemee at 12:21 PM on January 2, 2017 [4 favorites]
I might be inclined to open the top and take a dump in there, myself.
posted by Literaryhero at 12:25 PM on January 2, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by Literaryhero at 12:25 PM on January 2, 2017 [4 favorites]
Or just teem water from a jug?
posted by Emma May Smith at 12:26 PM on January 2, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Emma May Smith at 12:26 PM on January 2, 2017 [1 favorite]
The tank is probably locked. The landlord obviously didn't design and build this thing himself, so it's probably made with some consideration of that kind of security.
You could, however, keep a bucket of water handy and just dump it into the bowl.
posted by Bringer Tom at 12:26 PM on January 2, 2017 [6 favorites]
You could, however, keep a bucket of water handy and just dump it into the bowl.
posted by Bringer Tom at 12:26 PM on January 2, 2017 [6 favorites]
I might be inclined to open the top and take a dump in there, myself.
He'd just make the super clean it up, sadly.
posted by jonmc at 12:27 PM on January 2, 2017
He'd just make the super clean it up, sadly.
posted by jonmc at 12:27 PM on January 2, 2017
I'd deliver my movements to the landlord in person, in lieu of payment.
posted by Existential Dread at 12:28 PM on January 2, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by Existential Dread at 12:28 PM on January 2, 2017 [8 favorites]
I suspect that this is highly illegal, particularly as the tenant is paying the water bill. I hope the tenant is line for significant damages.
posted by Existential Dread at 12:30 PM on January 2, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Existential Dread at 12:30 PM on January 2, 2017 [2 favorites]
How much does it cost to unclog the toilet? Do you get freebies for plunging? I suspect that you do not.
posted by Countess Elena at 12:31 PM on January 2, 2017
posted by Countess Elena at 12:31 PM on January 2, 2017
Oh man, we have a long standing joke in my house about trying to rent a half-bachelor apartment. That's an apartment that is super cheap but is missing something usually considered important. It was inspired by an apartment we considered renting in Los Angeles until the landlord casually mentioned that the only working sink in the apartment was outside on the stairwell.
To play Half Bachelor jokes you try to dream up the most ludicrous thing that could be missing and deftly mention it like it's not big deal. Until today the best version was a Half Bach that was missing a toilet, but where the landlord had negotiated a deal with the gas station next door, so you could buy things any time of the day or night, and then be considered a customer, and allowed to use the toilet.
I tip my hat to this Australian landlord, and I think Half Bach jokes are done for 2017.
posted by holyrood at 12:33 PM on January 2, 2017 [28 favorites]
To play Half Bachelor jokes you try to dream up the most ludicrous thing that could be missing and deftly mention it like it's not big deal. Until today the best version was a Half Bach that was missing a toilet, but where the landlord had negotiated a deal with the gas station next door, so you could buy things any time of the day or night, and then be considered a customer, and allowed to use the toilet.
I tip my hat to this Australian landlord, and I think Half Bach jokes are done for 2017.
posted by holyrood at 12:33 PM on January 2, 2017 [28 favorites]
If you want people to shit in garbage bags and pee in sinks, well done.
posted by emjaybee at 12:35 PM on January 2, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by emjaybee at 12:35 PM on January 2, 2017 [3 favorites]
Why not just fill a bucket in the sink and flush with it?
posted by Bee'sWing at 12:36 PM on January 2, 2017
posted by Bee'sWing at 12:36 PM on January 2, 2017
Also, isn't this a Murdoch paper? It makes me question their motives for publishing this.
posted by Bee'sWing at 12:39 PM on January 2, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Bee'sWing at 12:39 PM on January 2, 2017 [2 favorites]
The amount of custom hardware required to connect an unpowered coin box to the flush mechanism on a tank toilet seems prohibitive.
I've been to a lot of pay toilets in a lot of places, and this isn't anything like any mechanism I've ever seen. (Has anyone?) Given that it prevents flushing, but not doing the things that precede flushing, it seems like a terrible design for commercial toilets. So terrible that nobody would actually build it or sell it. Which means the landlord built a series of custom pay toilets with a surprisingly professional looking finish and little of the homebrew creakiness you'd expect from someone disconnected from the world enough to think this is a good idea. If I were forced to bet, I'd go with art project rather than tenant abuse.
Have you tried Ubik? We offer wholesale discounts!
posted by eotvos at 12:43 PM on January 2, 2017 [3 favorites]
I've been to a lot of pay toilets in a lot of places, and this isn't anything like any mechanism I've ever seen. (Has anyone?) Given that it prevents flushing, but not doing the things that precede flushing, it seems like a terrible design for commercial toilets. So terrible that nobody would actually build it or sell it. Which means the landlord built a series of custom pay toilets with a surprisingly professional looking finish and little of the homebrew creakiness you'd expect from someone disconnected from the world enough to think this is a good idea. If I were forced to bet, I'd go with art project rather than tenant abuse.
Have you tried Ubik? We offer wholesale discounts!
posted by eotvos at 12:43 PM on January 2, 2017 [3 favorites]
"Why not just fill a bucket in the sink and flush with it?"
Because most bathroom sinks are rarely big enough to fit a bucket. And because pouring water into a toilet doesn't always flush the contents with the same velocity or thoroughness as when the water is coming from the outlets surrounding the bowl. AND BECAUSE NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO PAY TO USE A TOILET, PERIOD, LET ALONE ONE FOR WHICH THEY ARE PAYING THE WATER BILL.
posted by jonathanhughes at 12:43 PM on January 2, 2017 [9 favorites]
Because most bathroom sinks are rarely big enough to fit a bucket. And because pouring water into a toilet doesn't always flush the contents with the same velocity or thoroughness as when the water is coming from the outlets surrounding the bowl. AND BECAUSE NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO PAY TO USE A TOILET, PERIOD, LET ALONE ONE FOR WHICH THEY ARE PAYING THE WATER BILL.
posted by jonathanhughes at 12:43 PM on January 2, 2017 [9 favorites]
If you couple it with a swear jar its not that cumbersome. Say shit today so you can take a shit tomorrow.
posted by ian1977 at 12:44 PM on January 2, 2017 [4 favorites]
posted by ian1977 at 12:44 PM on January 2, 2017 [4 favorites]
I'm calling this fake. The device resembles the box on some of the older coin-operated washing machines.
All pay toilets I'm aware of control use by a lock on the door, rather than a lock on the flushing mechanism.
Fake news is more likely than an art project, considering this is a Murdoch paper.
posted by SteveInMaine at 12:54 PM on January 2, 2017 [9 favorites]
All pay toilets I'm aware of control use by a lock on the door, rather than a lock on the flushing mechanism.
Fake news is more likely than an art project, considering this is a Murdoch paper.
posted by SteveInMaine at 12:54 PM on January 2, 2017 [9 favorites]
NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO PAY TO USE A TOILET, PERIOD
I don't understand? You think you've got some kind of right?
posted by Navelgazer at 12:54 PM on January 2, 2017 [4 favorites]
I don't understand? You think you've got some kind of right?
posted by Navelgazer at 12:54 PM on January 2, 2017 [4 favorites]
Navelgazer I heart you for introducing me to Urinetown. The world just got brighter.
posted by ian1977 at 1:06 PM on January 2, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by ian1977 at 1:06 PM on January 2, 2017 [1 favorite]
Fwiw, current Reddit consensus is that it's bullshit (all AU media reporting is just cut and pasted from reddit comments).
posted by effbot at 1:10 PM on January 2, 2017 [7 favorites]
posted by effbot at 1:10 PM on January 2, 2017 [7 favorites]
It's obviously fake, but any decent news outlet should know better than to use a reddit post as the sole basis for a story so I hope they get some flak for this. It is pretty funny though - well played, reddit poster.
posted by emd3737 at 1:12 PM on January 2, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by emd3737 at 1:12 PM on January 2, 2017 [1 favorite]
Here I sit, broken-hearted, paid a dollar and – oh, fake news? carry on.
posted by Joe in Australia at 1:15 PM on January 2, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by Joe in Australia at 1:15 PM on January 2, 2017 [2 favorites]
Now that's what I call... a COINY TOILET!!!!!
I'd have called 'em chazzwozzers.
posted by dephlogisticated at 1:28 PM on January 2, 2017 [3 favorites]
I'd have called 'em chazzwozzers.
posted by dephlogisticated at 1:28 PM on January 2, 2017 [3 favorites]
It's obviously fake, but any decent news outlet should know better than to use a reddit post as the sole basis for a story so I hope they get some flak for this.
'Decent' and 'news' are not words often used to describe Murdoch outlets, particularly news.com.au.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 2:04 PM on January 2, 2017 [4 favorites]
'Decent' and 'news' are not words often used to describe Murdoch outlets, particularly news.com.au.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 2:04 PM on January 2, 2017 [4 favorites]
Very, very fake.
SteveInMaine: “Fake news is more likely than an art project, considering this is a Murdoch paper.”
They're just reporting straight from Reddit. The way they breathlessly point out that moderators allowed the post to stay after a picture was included – as though that amounted to verification – would be comedic if it weren't so dumb.
posted by koeselitz at 2:04 PM on January 2, 2017
SteveInMaine: “Fake news is more likely than an art project, considering this is a Murdoch paper.”
They're just reporting straight from Reddit. The way they breathlessly point out that moderators allowed the post to stay after a picture was included – as though that amounted to verification – would be comedic if it weren't so dumb.
posted by koeselitz at 2:04 PM on January 2, 2017
This, of course, is beyond the pale as it's the person's home and they're paying for water, though I suspect it's a joke since you could easily work around it. A friend's live-in landlord monitored the number of toilet paper squares being used, and charges extra if they used too many in a month.
Said landlord was a retired woman on a fixed income, so it was simultaneously really aggravating and kind of sad at the same time.
posted by fragmede at 2:10 PM on January 2, 2017 [2 favorites]
Said landlord was a retired woman on a fixed income, so it was simultaneously really aggravating and kind of sad at the same time.
posted by fragmede at 2:10 PM on January 2, 2017 [2 favorites]
Fake. And Murdoch papers usually do their most useful work in the bathroom. A little too scratchy for my liking though.
posted by adept256 at 2:18 PM on January 2, 2017 [2 favorites]
posted by adept256 at 2:18 PM on January 2, 2017 [2 favorites]
Here I sit, broken-hearted, paid a dollar and – oh, fake news? carry on.
It takes two dollars, and quarters only, which might be a bit of a problem...
posted by effbot at 2:49 PM on January 2, 2017
It takes two dollars, and quarters only, which might be a bit of a problem...
posted by effbot at 2:49 PM on January 2, 2017
most bathroom sinks are rarely big enough to fit a bucket
Attach rubber hose to faucet, leading to bucket on the floor.
So terrible that nobody would actually build it or sell it. Which means the landlord
...didn't actually do this. Agree with SteveInMaine, that's just a laundromat machine's coin box Photoshopped in. And wouldn't the landlord expect at least some percentage of his tenants to piddle out in the hallway, or even on his front door?
posted by Rash at 3:03 PM on January 2, 2017 [1 favorite]
Attach rubber hose to faucet, leading to bucket on the floor.
So terrible that nobody would actually build it or sell it. Which means the landlord
...didn't actually do this. Agree with SteveInMaine, that's just a laundromat machine's coin box Photoshopped in. And wouldn't the landlord expect at least some percentage of his tenants to piddle out in the hallway, or even on his front door?
posted by Rash at 3:03 PM on January 2, 2017 [1 favorite]
Just to cement the fact that it's a fake, you wouldn't have 8 coin slots for $2 in Australia, where we do not have quarters. You'd have two, for 2 $1 coins.
posted by Athanassiel at 3:05 PM on January 2, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by Athanassiel at 3:05 PM on January 2, 2017 [10 favorites]
Here I sit, broken-hearted, paid a dollar and –
... merely farted
posted by Hairy Lobster at 3:37 PM on January 2, 2017 [4 favorites]
... merely farted
posted by Hairy Lobster at 3:37 PM on January 2, 2017 [4 favorites]
Maybe just the first step...
...that the fabulously beautiful planet Bethselamin is now so worried about the cumulative erosion by ten billion visiting tourists a year that any net imbalance between the amount you eat and the amount you excrete whilst on the planet is surgically removed from your bodyweight when you leave: so every time you go to the lavatory it is vitally important to get a receipt.
(Though fake, if someone came up with something similar which had wireless capabilities, pressure sensors and an app I can totally see it exciting the disruptosphere in SV.)
posted by maxwelton at 4:34 PM on January 2, 2017 [1 favorite]
...that the fabulously beautiful planet Bethselamin is now so worried about the cumulative erosion by ten billion visiting tourists a year that any net imbalance between the amount you eat and the amount you excrete whilst on the planet is surgically removed from your bodyweight when you leave: so every time you go to the lavatory it is vitally important to get a receipt.
(Though fake, if someone came up with something similar which had wireless capabilities, pressure sensors and an app I can totally see it exciting the disruptosphere in SV.)
posted by maxwelton at 4:34 PM on January 2, 2017 [1 favorite]
Being allowed to eliminate with dignity is a fundamental human human right. Nobody should ever have to worry about holding their water for lack of a freakin' dime.
A friend's live-in landlord monitored the number of toilet paper squares being used, and charges extra if they used too many in a month.
On this I call BS--doesn't every renter buy their own paper? How else could you make sure you get the soft and fluffy stuff?
posted by BlueHorse at 4:57 PM on January 2, 2017 [1 favorite]
A friend's live-in landlord monitored the number of toilet paper squares being used, and charges extra if they used too many in a month.
On this I call BS--doesn't every renter buy their own paper? How else could you make sure you get the soft and fluffy stuff?
posted by BlueHorse at 4:57 PM on January 2, 2017 [1 favorite]
To play Half Bachelor jokes you try to dream up the most ludicrous thing that could be missing and deftly mention it like it's not big deal.
Moved in with a guy I met on Craigslist...everything seemed legit until I ended up asking myself this question: "Hm. Wasn't there a doorknob on this bathroom door when I looked at the place?" I wasn't there long.
Navelgazer I heart you for introducing me to Urinetown. The world just got brighter.
Ha...I worked on the original Broadway costumes for that show...lotta staining.
posted by sexyrobot at 10:11 PM on January 2, 2017 [1 favorite]
Moved in with a guy I met on Craigslist...everything seemed legit until I ended up asking myself this question: "Hm. Wasn't there a doorknob on this bathroom door when I looked at the place?" I wasn't there long.
Navelgazer I heart you for introducing me to Urinetown. The world just got brighter.
Ha...I worked on the original Broadway costumes for that show...lotta staining.
posted by sexyrobot at 10:11 PM on January 2, 2017 [1 favorite]
The situation is deteriorating: "As for the coin machine. I really thought my landlord would be worried about the world wide media attention. But in retaliation to me exposing him, I've come home after work and he's installed a handgun on a chain. I have to pay for the bullets and now every time I want to flush I have to shoot the toilet. I've already had noise complaints from other tenants. How am I to live like this?"
posted by effbot at 2:51 AM on January 3, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by effbot at 2:51 AM on January 3, 2017 [1 favorite]
I was in a pub/bar/saloon in Spain and the owner had pay toilets. You had to put a coin in the locking mechanism to open the door. I've seen these in airports/train/bus stations but never in bar. I always thought the use of the facilities came with the price of a drink.
posted by james33 at 4:32 AM on January 3, 2017
posted by james33 at 4:32 AM on January 3, 2017
Regardless of the obvious fakery behind this, I'm sick and tired of articles that cull from Reddit, or any other discussion site and call it an article. There are dozens and dozens of supposed 'newspapers' and media sites that do this.
posted by wingless_angel at 6:16 AM on January 3, 2017
posted by wingless_angel at 6:16 AM on January 3, 2017
O Cloacina, Goddess of this place,
Look on thy suppliants with a smiling face.
Soft, yet cohesive let their offerings flow,
Not rashly swift nor insolently slow.
posted by lazaruslong at 8:51 AM on January 3, 2017 [1 favorite]
Look on thy suppliants with a smiling face.
Soft, yet cohesive let their offerings flow,
Not rashly swift nor insolently slow.
posted by lazaruslong at 8:51 AM on January 3, 2017 [1 favorite]
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posted by jonmc at 12:20 PM on January 2, 2017 [8 favorites]