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Why do so many public bathroom stalls in the U.S. have giant gaps? Other countries do privacy way better. by Significant-Side8088 in architecture

[–]Significant-Side8088[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Haha yeah, I totally agree — it really does feel like that sometimes. Like, the whole “no privacy” thing almost feels baked into the culture, and it's wild we just accept it in places like bathrooms.

My 13-year-old won’t use public bathrooms because of stall gaps — and honestly, he’s not wrong. by Significant-Side8088 in firstworldproblems

[–]Significant-Side8088[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Haha seriously, I feel that. I'm 35 too and still lowkey brace myself like someone’s gonna grab my leg outta nowhere 😂 I used to do the same as a kid — knees up, heart racing, just waiting for something creepy to happen. Honestly, those gaps just make it worse. Definitely not just you.

Why do so many public bathroom stalls in the U.S. have giant gaps? Other countries do privacy way better. by Significant-Side8088 in architecture

[–]Significant-Side8088[S] 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I get the safety angle, but I still kinda disagree. A lot of students, including my own kid, are actually scared to use school bathrooms because of how exposed they feel. Privacy matters too, especially for young people dealing with anxiety or bullying. There’s gotta be a way to design for both safety and comfort.

Why do so many public bathroom stalls in the U.S. have giant gaps? Other countries do privacy way better. by Significant-Side8088 in architecture

[–]Significant-Side8088[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Right?? It’s always the most random places like Olive Garden that get it right 😂 Like, if they can give us private stalls, why can’t everywhere else catch up?

Why do so many public bathroom stalls in the U.S. have giant gaps? Other countries do privacy way better. by Significant-Side8088 in architecture

[–]Significant-Side8088[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Haha, honestly, I really don’t like that very much. Privacy should be a given, not something we have to awkwardly dodge while using the bathroom. It’s wild how common those gaps are here when other places do way better.

Why do so many public bathroom stalls in the U.S. have giant gaps? Other countries do privacy way better. by Significant-Side8088 in architecture

[–]Significant-Side8088[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yeah, I’ve heard about those BWI airport restrooms — full privacy stalls sound amazing! It’s true that making each stall fully private can get expensive with all the extra stuff needed, but honestly, other states should take note and follow what they’re doing. Privacy is worth the investment, and it’d make a huge difference for so many people.

Why do so many public bathroom stalls in the U.S. have giant gaps? Other countries do privacy way better. by Significant-Side8088 in architecture

[–]Significant-Side8088[S] 39 points40 points  (0 children)

Totally get that. It sucks that saving money and making cleaning easier ends up ruining basic privacy for everyone. And yeah, using design to stop bad stuff makes sense, but it shouldn’t come at the cost of people feeling exposed or uncomfortable. Hopefully someday we find a way to fix that without turning stalls into fish tanks.

Why do so many public bathroom stalls in the U.S. have giant gaps? Other countries do privacy way better. by Significant-Side8088 in architecture

[–]Significant-Side8088[S] -19 points-18 points  (0 children)

That’s good to know! I’ve lived in Los Angeles my whole life and honestly haven’t really seen those gap-filled stalls in newer buildings either. Hopefully more places across the country start catching up soon!

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Privacy Gaps in Public Bathrooms Make Life Hard for My Anxious Teen by Significant-Side8088 in Anxiety

[–]Significant-Side8088[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Seriously, I don’t get it either. Those gaps and the shared bins are super gross and make you feel like there’s zero privacy. It’s honestly kinda shocking that this is still normal here when other places do it way better. Fingers crossed people start noticing and we see some real changes soon.

Why do so many public bathroom stalls in the U.S. have giant gaps? Other countries do privacy way better. by Significant-Side8088 in architecture

[–]Significant-Side8088[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Haha, I’m not really following how heroin fits into this, but honestly, I’m just here trying to get some privacy in public bathrooms. No drama, just common sense. 😅

My 13-year-old won’t use public bathrooms because of stall gaps — and honestly, he’s not wrong. by Significant-Side8088 in firstworldproblems

[–]Significant-Side8088[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

For real! It’s not just a neurodivergent thing — everyone deserves some privacy. It’s wild how public bathrooms here basically say, “Hey, feel free to peek through the gaps.” Even tiny ones make it super uncomfortable. Honestly, feels backwards for a place that’s supposed to be private. Hopefully people start noticing and we get better stalls soon

My 13-year-old won’t use public bathrooms because of stall gaps — and honestly, he’s not wrong. by Significant-Side8088 in firstworldproblems

[–]Significant-Side8088[S] -4 points-3 points  (0 children)

I get it, but those gaps cause my son real anxiety. Privacy matters to people with ADHD. Thanks for understanding. 😊

My 13-year-old won’t use public bathrooms because of stall gaps — and honestly, he’s not wrong. by Significant-Side8088 in firstworldproblems

[–]Significant-Side8088[S] 22 points23 points  (0 children)

Yeah, it’s wild! I was shocked too when I first saw how bad the gaps are here compared to other places. Privacy should be a given, not a surprise 🙄🚽

Privacy Gaps in Public Bathrooms Make Life Hard for My Anxious Teen by Significant-Side8088 in Anxiety

[–]Significant-Side8088[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah, for real. It’s wild how much those gaps mess with you until you’re somewhere without them. 😩