Culture shock

In a traditional German toilet, the hole into which shit disappears after we flush is right at the front, so that shit is first laid out for us to sniff and inspect for traces of illness. In the typical French toilet, on the contrary, the hole is at the back, i.e. shit is supposed to disappear as quickly as possible. Finally, the American (Anglo-Saxon) toilet presents a synthesis, a mediation between these opposites: the toilet basin is full of water, so that the shit floats in it, visible, but not to be inspected. [...] It is clear that none of these versions can be accounted for in purely utilitarian terms: each involves a certain ideological perception of how the subject should relate to excrement. Hegel was among the first to see in the geographical triad of Germany, France and England an expression of three different existential attitudes: reflective thoroughness (German), revolutionary hastiness (French), utilitarian pragmatism (English). In political terms, this triad can be read as German conservatism, French revolutionary radicalism and English liberalism. [...] The point about toilets is that they enable us not only to discern this triad in the most intimate domain, but also to identify its underlying mechanism in the three different attitudes towards excremental excess: an ambiguous contemplative fascination; a wish to get rid of it as fast as possible; a pragmatic decision to treat it as ordinary and dispose of it in an appropriate way. It is easy for an academic at a round table to claim that we live in a post-ideological universe, but the moment he visits the lavatory after the heated discussion, he is again knee-deep in ideology.

• Slavoj Žižek

They used to need to check for parasites, in the shattered state of misery that existed after the war. (Edit! This is wrong. TIL.) It's disgusting, but so is having parasites and not knowing it.

Pro tip for US people: Get ready! The world is not inherently a safe and stable place, and if you knock out the supports that are keeping it safe and stable for you, all kinds of really bad shit can happen.

You sit on it reverse, and use the tank lid to hold your chocolate milk and comic books.

That’s known as a Dutch toilet. It’s designed to allow you to inspect your movements for health concerns more easily than the standard toilet.

If you’re concerned with leaving evidence, just toss a couple pieces of tp on top of the water before you go so it’ll slide down easily when you flush.

btw this is far from common. only seen in a fraction of old homes

wtf is germanic culture? you mean every group the romans encountered towards the north?

But look how happy it is!

I LOVE these because:

1. No splash (aka Poseidons kiss)
2. No chance of dangling genitalia to touch the bowl

Toilets are hygiene facilities and this is the most hygienic design IMO

The downsides are the smell if you don't flush quickly after and having to brush the smear off more often.

There is a writer who has commented on toilet designs and cultures where the Germans like to study and understand the world thus have toilets like this. Where the French are more about getting rid of waste fast and efficiently much like their love for revolution. And the English are more of a diplomatic middle ground. Can't remember his name and couldn't find him from a quick search. I'm sure you can.