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Audible Confirmation Dialog for Urinal Pre-flushers

Urinal politely declines to flush until user has actually urinated.
  (+11, -2)(+11, -2)
(+11, -2)
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What is it with some people?

They walk up to a urinal, flush it, and *then* begin to use it. Is their urine too pure to be mixed with whatever lower-caste urine may be there? Are they pretending that they're peeing into a waterfall?

I propose a urinal that, if the handle is pulled just as the user walks up, asks in a loud, friendly voice, "Are you sure you want to flush? You haven't begun to urinate yet. Remember, water is a precious resource. (pause) If you must flush now, pull the handle again within 3 seconds, or just begin urinating like a normal person. Thank you." The voice should sound like those happy guys on my kid's CD-ROM games who ask "Are you sure you want to quit?"

land, Aug 12 2002

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       I've learned so much about what men do with urinals since I came to this site.
Helium, Aug 12 2002
  

       And to think I've never even seen a manually flushable urinal. Those ones that flush when you step away from them rule though.   

       Croissant for an idea to conserve water. And because I like the category you've put it in.
-alx, Aug 12 2002
  

       Hang on a minute....how come you can see which bit they're up to? Or are you just listening a little too intently?
Helium, Aug 13 2002
  

       Maybe an infrared penis sensor is in order, to fully determine whether or not said object has entered urinal airspace within firing distance.
polartomato, Aug 13 2002
  

       I pity the poor guy with prostate problems..
  

       "Are you SURE you want to flush"?
  

       "You've hardly even started"
Helium, Aug 13 2002
  

       I've never seen a urinal with a manual flush... Sounds kinda ... icky..
yamahito, Aug 13 2002
  

       Yamahito, it's not like you have to reach in and pull out the plug, you know... See, the handle's way up where the plumbing comes in... Mabye it's an American thing.
land, Aug 13 2002
  

       Having seen both automatic and manual flushes in both the US and UK used by people who evidently like to flush before, during and/or after, I will just make the point that automatic flushes do a lot to prevent people flushing before their time, as it were. They also, of course, remove the perceived need to flush before you use the urinal, since they will have flushed after the last person, at least most of the time.   

       So the application is Baked (saving water from pre-flushing), if not precisely by your method.   

       [And for Helium's further edification, I will note that European men generally size each other up in the bathroom, while American men do their damnedest to hide their wangs from view. (Probably something to do with being circumcized - they're worried someone might come at them again.) Also, a surprisingly large number of Americans don't know how to use their flies, having to unbuckle their trousers just to take a whizz. I have *never* seen that done in Europe.]
DrCurry, Aug 13 2002
  

       doesn't matter what the size is, everyone thinks those things are bigger than they are. Hence the odd spot on the floor...
yamahito, Aug 13 2002
  

       Here in the states you see automatic flushing urinals only in newer buildings.
BinaryCookies, Aug 13 2002
  

       DrCurry: It's not that we don't know how to unzip them, it just introduces the possibility of a painful 'franks 'n' beans' incident when finished..
Mr Burns, Aug 13 2002
  

       I've read too much, I'll remember never to wander into any idea with urinal in the title in future.
madradish, Aug 13 2002
  

       With the auto-flush type one could simply walk up to the urinal, step back and then step up again. I think the point of the pre-flush is to drown out the noise of the acutal urination. Seems silly to me.   

       And the reason American men unzip their pants to urinate is because we can't comfortably fit through the small, European-sized fly opening....
phoenix, Aug 13 2002
  

       In Scotland, we usually just dangle our boabs out of the bottom of our trouser leg.
calum, Aug 13 2002
  

       In Scotland you normally wear kilts, thereby solving all trouser-related issues.
PeterSilly, Aug 14 2002
  

       Musings of a digital urinal named Hal:   

       "Excuse me, Dave, but your bratwurst is somewhat smaller in length than the previous guy... but this is of course made up for by the fact that you exceed him in girth by 2.3 mm, in diameter."   

       "Dave, I can't let you do that." [flush]   

       "Dave, I would greatly appreciate it if you would please direct your urine stream into the appropriate locations, for the courtesy of other patrons."   

       "Dave, that kilt really flatters your bum."
polartomato, Aug 14 2002
  

       "Dave, Oh Dave...Harder Dave!"
FarmerJohn, Aug 14 2002
  

       May I suggest a Passive/aggressive Uri-Hal also pipes it's own sayings from men's room into women's loo for their amusement
Example
"Only as big around as a beer can, but you've got length"
or
Hahahahahahahaha!
Should set off a mad scramble from both restrooms, for their own reasons
thumbwax, Aug 14 2002
  

       sometimes women need the sound of running water - is it true of men? apologies, I have not read the last 6 / 7annos. urinals bore me - for reasons you may or may not know.
po, Aug 14 2002
  

       need the sound of running water? only if we are being forced to give a sample or something.   

       the worst are the old 'trough' urinals, where if you are at the downhill end you get to watch everyones elses urine flow by. rather got on a tree myself, marking territory and such.
rbl, Aug 14 2002
  

       Feels like an idea coming on, something about a trough toilet. There you are at the downhill end of the log sluice watching everyone else's logs floating by.
FarmerJohn, Aug 15 2002
  

       I pre-flush because I choose not to view the remnants of the previous occupant.
waugsqueke, Aug 15 2002
  

       Farmer: if I'm not mistaken, the Romans used to have communal shitters that were like the urinal troughs, and they would be flushed by running water from nearby rivers... hopefully your home was upstream...
polartomato, Aug 15 2002
  

       Farmer: The Pontiac Silverdome (Detroit Lions old playing field) had piss-troughs in all the mens bathrooms.. I guess when you're that drunk, it's easier to aim at a bathtub than a urinal. And people *still* used to piss on their shoes..
Mr Burns, Aug 15 2002
  

       In the army we used to have 6 crappers facing another 6 crappers with no barriers or dividers...   

       Fred: Whew, Bill! You just watered my eyes up with that one! What've you been eating son?   

       Dave: Hey Fred, are you done with that copy of Reader's Digest? I'll trade you for this... <LOUD FART!> sorry guys... copy of Sports Illustrated...
Dustoff, Jul 16 2003
  

       I think po is right. Some people have shy bladder syndrome or whatever it's called, and the water effect helps them go.
snarfyguy, Jul 17 2003
  

       Well, I like the idea of the interactive urinal, but I think that people should be allowed to flush before. Many people just forget to flush after, and I usually prefer not to smell other people's stale urine if I can avoid it.   

       I'm don't systematically flush before, though.
PauloSargaco, Sep 27 2003
  

       // I will note that European men generally size each other up in the bathroom, while American men do their damnedest to hide their wangs from view. //   

       Hmmm, maybe not in the whole of Europe. I know in Portugal we don't go sizing other guy's penises. Usually having a guy trying to peek at your manhood is not something that we portuguese perceive as a friendly act...heterosexual portuguese guys, I mean.   

       // Also, a surprisingly large number of Americans don't know how to use their flies, having to unbuckle their trousers just to take a whizz. I have *never* seen that done in Europe.] //   

       I've seen that done in Portugal but I admit I never understood the point.
PauloSargaco, Sep 27 2003
  

       Just faskinating how much interest gets generated by this sort of topic, innit?
amosj, Sep 27 2003
  

       There are some great ideas here! A talking / water saving urinal seems to really get everyone going. I would be somewhat uncomfortable with my urinal second guessing my flushing decisions... If I had to have this I would at least like a woman's voice
catwater, Jan 18 2005
  
      
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