Urinal etiquette explained
False Refuge and the Visual Attraction of the Vacant End
QUESTION 13/20
The eye readily identifies an unused terminal fixture. It is somewhat less reliable at noticing the occupied fixture immediately beside it. The present case separates those two observations.
The situation
The Pub · Entrance: Lower right.
| Position | State |
|---|---|
| 1 | Available |
| 2 | Ordinary visitor |
| 3 | Available |
| 4 | Available |
| 5 | Available |
| 6 | Large visitor |
Recommended position: 4
The misleading left edge
Position one is empty and terminal. Position two is occupied, so taking one creates an avoidable immediate neighbour. The opposite end is itself occupied by the substantial visitor at six. Neither end supplies the refuge that a glance at the row might suggest.
The interior answer
Position four leaves three unused before the ordinary visitor at two and five unused before the substantial visitor at six. Positions three and five each surrender one of these intervals. Four therefore wins by bilateral separation, not by an exception invented to favour the centre.
Conclusion
Position four is preferred. An empty end is evidence of availability; the Committee remains unable to establish why this is so frequently mistaken for evidence of suitability.
In plain language
One is a trap: there is a bloke right beside it. Four leaves a gap before both visitors. Look past the empty end.