Your Chance to Spend More Time in Public Toilets

Yahoo ^ | 10/25/02

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

BERLIN (Reuters) - A German psychologist is touting a cure for paruresis, fear among men of using urinals, and seeking volunteers to spend time in public toilets.

Philipp Hammelstein, a researcher at the Heinrich Heine University in Duesseldorf, believed, however, it was not necessarily linked to the size of the sufferer's genitals.

"All healthy men should be capable of using a urinal," Hammelstein told Reuters on Friday. Though findings show six percent of men have an irrational fear of urinating next to others.

Hammelstein said he had already cured several patients and was seeking 60 volunteers for clinical trials to test his cure. The therapy lasts three months and encourages patients to drink a lot, as well as spend more time in public toilets.

He said men usually develop symptoms during puberty.

"It arises through humiliating experiences to do with masculinity," he said.

[IncPen]

George Michael's career has been in the toilet lately...

[billorites]

I have a very rational fear of some public toilets.

French squat toilets for starters...

[Revolting cat!]

All expenses paid trip to Dusseldorf? I'll sacrifice. Where do I sign up?

[ambrose]

Are you sure this isn't a BSSN story?

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

"It arises through humiliating experiences to do with masculinity," he said.

Would that be something akin to 'shrinkage'?

[Revolting cat!]

Dude, German loos at autobahn stops are verrrry clean and the female attendants who enter to do their maintenance stuff while you're doing yours, thank you profusely before you leave. Tipping is voluntary. Very classy! I could move in there for a bit!

[DaBroasta]

A German psychologist is touting a cure for paruresis, fear among men of using urinals, and seeking volunteers to spend time in public toilets.

Rather than sounding like science this sounds more like a homosexual recruiting gimmic.

[meenie]

Shame is the biggest motivating factor in my reluctance to belly up to the urinal alongside some stud.

[PatrickHenry]

Your kind of thread!

[Alex Murphy]

The therapy lasts three months and encourages patients to drink a lot, as well as spend more time in public toilets.

If he really wants them in there for three months, he should encourage them to eat a lot of spicy food and under-cooked pork.

[Looking for Diogenes]

I'm sure not going to volunteer for this study, but I have noticed that a lot of men use stalls when all they is a urinal. I wouldn't care except when I do need to use a stall and find the seat covered in urine.

Shyness? Maybe, but I wish those shy guys had better aim.

[Drop the Vernacular]

This is fairly common. Howard Stern's method of dealing with it was to do mental mathematics, which diverts the mind from whatever mental process is making it difficult. I have been told that many women find it difficult to urinate when someone else is in the restroom and would be able to hear.

[Eala]

"It arises through humiliating experiences to do with masculinity," he said.

Delicately put. But whenever I see someone using a stall instead of a urinal, you may be sure that's what goes through my mind, fairly or not.

[IronJack]

All healthy men should be capable of using a urinal

A statement I never thought would need to be validated by a scientist.

[Guillermo]

I stay away from them as much as possible out my fear of "splashback".

[Pappy Smear]

I'm one of those dudes. It all kinda started about the 2nd grade, when those bad@ss 4th graders would shove you forward into the urinal when trying to take a leak. I started avoiding the can, and pretty soon, I got freaky about using a public can.

The shrink's idea is pretty decent. I worked on the same thing, drinking a lot, and stopping in rest areas just to "practice". I also was fortunate in that I had/have a job where I can whiz outside. I also practiced at finding a safe distance where I could whiz and have someone see me, and not get freaked out.

I'm still not perfect, but getting better. Funny thing is, if there is loud noise, I don't have much of a problem. Hand dryers are a big help. Also if I go while wearing headphones, and cranking some tunes, tis not a problem.

The mind does some freaky things. It is illogical, but that is what happens. But it certainly is no homo thing for me. Subconciously, I must be afraid some 4th grader is going to sneak up and push me into the urinal, still some 20 years later! Happy leaking everyone!

[Aracelis]

Hmmm...not exactly certain why you think this is my kind of thread. I did spend many years working as a paramedic, thus I've seen pretty much everything (and not much impresses me anymore).