Urinal etiquette explained
The Single-Occupant Gradient and Its Avoidable Misinterpretation
QUESTION 2/20
One occupied fixture is sufficient to establish a meaningful spatial reference. The task is to respond to that reference without converting an otherwise spacious room into an unsolicited social encounter.
The situation
The Office · Entrance: Lower right.
| Position | State |
|---|---|
| 1 | Ordinary visitor |
| 2 | Available |
| 3 | Available |
| 4 | Available |
Recommended position: 4
A usable point of departure
The existing visitor occupies position one. Moving successively towards positions two, three and four increases separation. No partition, wet floor or competing visitor interrupts that progression. The available positions are consequently not equivalent merely because all three are empty.
An end justified by distance
Position four offers the largest separation and is also terminal. Its proximity to the right-hand entrance does not cancel those primary advantages: entrance distance is a later criterion, not permission to stand beside the sole occupant.
Conclusion
Position four is the defensible allocation. A person wishing to demonstrate sociability should select an institution better equipped to receive it.
In plain language
One bloke is on the left. Go to the far right. Standing beside him will not make either of you finish faster.