[Millee]

Why Western Civilization is better, # 954,014: we don't have to squat over a hole in the ground to go to the bathroom.

[Graycliff]

We used some interesting toilets in Canada. On out fly in fishing trips the cabins have all changed from out houses to indoor compost toilets. Looks like a regular toilet with no water. When you through you just drop in a scoop of compost. Other than a fresh compost smell there was nothing offencive. On the toilet was a sign saying “ If you take a poop, leave a scoop”. Now there is a little problem when swapping out the full container for an empty.

[polymuser]

I’ll follow the lead of Al Gore Jr., Mikey Moore and Rosie on this one.

[RockinRight]

Each year, a typical person will use almost 4,000 gallons of drinking water to flush away 75 pounds of feces and 130 gallons of urine, according to a 2001 study by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency.

Leave it to Swedes to conduct such a study.

[Spiff]

It isn't the toilets that we use that are wasteful. It is the fact that all water provided to your home has to meet Federal drinking water standards even though almost all of it is flushed, run down the drain, or used to water your lawn. Very little of it is actually consumed yet all of it must be tested, treated, and handled properly all the way to your water meter. A water plant will treat millions of gallons a day to make the water meet drinking water standards, yet very little of that is actually used for drinking or cooking.

There's got to be a better way.

By the way, I know all of this because I just got involved with running a water company and just recently took and passed the Certified Water Distribution Operator examination.

[Daffynition]

Oh gracious ... you will never appreciate western civilization until you've had to use one of these!

[ken21]

i grew up on a farm without indoor plumbing until i was 10 years.

they can take their out house and shove it.

[AngelesCrestHighway]

“squat toilet” in which one squats over a hole in the ground, are prevalent in parts of Asia, Europe and Africa,...Yeah! and that’s why diseases you never heard of are everywhere....The liberals want everyone to live in small apartments on top of each other downtown...The aroma would be third world for sure!

[etcetera]

"While drinking-water shortages plague millions in such places as India and in some African nations, Westerners continue to oppose alternatives to the flushing toilet."

So if I don't flush my toilet, some thirsty Indian or African will get clean drinking water...how?

This reminds me of my Mom - when I was little, she always said, "There are people in India who are starving" every time I wouldn't finish my dinner. I couldn't figure out how my eating all my dinner would save a starving Indian.

[SunkenCiv]

The Western World's dependence on flush toilets could be its environmental downfall.

And forget about toilet paper.

And takin' baths.

And burning oil.

And expressing yourself on the Internet, letters to the editor, or anywhere else.

And eating meat.

And killing "other animals".

Welcome to the road to serfdom.