How were the signs for "men" and "women" designed for public toilets? When did they first appear?
96514
They first appeared when a guy walked into the women's toilet, and then used the facilities there. On the way out, he came across a woman and the both of them screamed the heck out everything they had.\n\nSuffice to say, people started creating the signs to be put on doors.\n\n----------Kiddin~!------------\n\nSigns have always been around us for so long that we can't really tell when was the first sign on the planet. However signs were created for one purpose, to indicate differences and to present information to a person, helping the person in making his or her decision about something. In the case of the women/men toilet - it's to help people figure out which toilet they should go in to. Saves everyone a whole lot of public embarassment and humiliation...
49000
in the early 1960s, the homosexual subculture started using the word to describe themselves.  The term "homosexual" was too "clinical" (it was in the DSM III as a "mental disorder") and queer was too derogatory, so the word gay (happy) was coined.  By about 1963, mainstream america had started to adopt it too (hetrosexual america I mean...)\n\n"waterhead" is an appropos name for the idiot that posted first.  Must have nothing but water in his head.
357986
the male symbol is the ancient symbol for mars, and women are venus.\n"Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus."
442364
In Rome, a public restroom at the Roman Forum infromation booth was just a hole in the ground.  You have to squat over it to go.  And what a wonderful smell coming up from it!!!
1085876
A london sewer flusher apparently said it according to this article. \nhttp://www.slate.com/id/2139945/entry/2139950/
1026431
At my workplace, I finally posted a sign ...\n\n"Ladies, if you piss like a man, then raise the seat like a man, dammit!"\n\n... and it actually worked.\n\nIn public restrooms, I try to use the handicapped stall with the handrails, so that I can "hover" more easily -- after raising the seat of course! -- or to use my "urinette". A urinette is a kind of contoured funnel with a long tube that allows a women to urinate standing without making a mess of her clothing. Many camping supply stores sell them for hikers.\n\nBut to answer your question: Because they are filthy swine with no consideration for others. It is unspeakably vile to leave urine, feces, sputum, nose matter, and other bodily effusions lying about where others are sure to come into contact with them. These are probably the same people who resist cleaning up after their dogs.
502563
We could trace human genealogy along with the history of billboards and outdoor advertisement. Egypt's Stone Obelisk: Man's First Outdoor Advertisement Thousands of years ago, the Egyptians used a tall stone obelisk to publicize laws and treaties. This is the early form of outdoor advertising. With the advent of publication through the obelisk, people have their first advertisement. Political and more it may seem, but still advertising nonetheless. Early Stages When Johannes Gutenberg invented the movable type printing in 1450, modern advertising was introduced through the handbill. And in 1796, the first illustrated poster was made when the lithographic process was perfected.\nAs time goes by, people are looking for more desirable locations to ensure constant exposure of their message for a fixed period of time. Thus, bill posters began to erect their own structures in locations where there is heavy traffic. U.S. billboard was erected when the circus came to town… In the beginning, Americans used roadside advertising for local purposes. Businessmen and merchants painted signs or glued posters on walls and fences to advertise their establishments and what they have to offer.It was in New York where the first large American outdoor poster (more than 50 square feet) was posted. Jared Bell's office printed posters for the circus in 1835.\nIn 1850, exterior advertising was first used on street railways. Public Service is a Billboard Thrust… In the 1900s, there was a boom in national billboard campaigns. Big advertisers began mass production of billboards for the national market. From toothpaste and soaps, to breakfast cereals and sodas, billboards were made to advertise in big bold pictures and images.\nAnd in 1913, the practice of filling "open boards" with public service advertising has continued to this day. During the war, there was a concerted effort from the industry to help in the mobilization. While in peacetime, the concern was focused on efforts to generally improve the way of life. 1990's to the present… With the advent of digital technology, hand-painted boards were replaced by computer-painted outdoor advertising formats. Outdoor companies offered a diverse range of advertising formats--- bus shelters, transit and kiosks, airport advertising, mall displays, and taxis.\nFrom the early civilization until the present time, man has used the billboard to advertise, to market, to share their feelings, and generally, to uplift the lives of many. Whether it's to provide information on gas prices or the arrival of the best sausage in town, knowledge is one important element that billboards have imparted. They have become a very popular medium to address current issues and information.\nAs BPS Outdoor Advertising wrote in one of their articles: "Perhaps it's because they reach more people for cheaper prices than any other type of media. Or perhaps it's because people are spending much more time in their vehicles now than ever before." Whatever it is, billboards are here to stay. Billboards are here to help us and be tangible reminders of what we have become and what we have achieved. Not only do they improve the visual quality of the area where they are placed, they also serve as beautiful reminders of our past and the future. Wonderful snapshots of history.
299570
Women take longer to go as they can't just unzip their pants and they are also the ones taking young children to the bathroom. They also go more often because they get periods. They have extra stalls because otherwise the line is much longer. People who inspect restrooms for cleanliness as a job are people who formerly cleaned it and got promoted. If no one inspects then people will do a bad job of cleaning it. Most women don't like to use a filthy bathroom so we are concerned with it being clean
1169336
If you're asking when the word "gay" came to be associated with homosexuals, particularly males, it emerged from Britain in the late 19th century as a sort of "codeword" for being able to identify each other.\n\nThose were in the days when we didn't have a strong identity in the culture and wouldn't say that "fruit" is a bigoted word to use in connection with homosexual people.
580949
here's a site that has the most basic symbols:  http://www.csgnorth.com/lowes/archsym.htm\n\nADDED: Plumbing and electrical are also on there (additional links on the top).  This site is also useful, although it has pop-up's:   http://www.bhg.com/bhg/story.jhtml?storyid=%2Ftemplatedata%2Fbhg%2Fstory%2Fdata%2F15233.xml
675319
While there are fewer symbols of chivalry used today, I think this indicates more respect for women, not less.\n\nA lot of the things men were supposed to do for women were not gestures of love, they showed that men thought women were dainty, useless creatures that can't cross the street by themselves.  The last time I offered an able-bodied, not-pregnant twentysomething female my seat on the subway she wanted to know why I thought she should sit while I stand.  When she put it like that, I quit offering women any favors I wouldn't offer to men.  (I'll hold a door open for a man though--that's just courtesy.)  And remember that these guys from the forties also wanted you to be the best housekeeper on the block, rear the kids and to let them do all your thinking for you.  \n\nA wise man once said (Heinlein, I think)--a lady has doors opened for her because she believes they should be opened for her.  If you demand good behavior from your men, you will find they treat you well.  If you let them act disrespectfully, you won't get respect.  Find better men if the ones you are seeing don't respect you.
671669
It came from England, bobby.  When women first started getting jobs on sailing ships, the sailors needed a polite way to say "I have to urinate". Since the bathroom cost two cents ( two pennies, or 2P), in those days sailors politely informed each other "I have 2P".
447673
No idea. I've been a woman my entire life, but I've never figured out why I must bring along a pal whenever I need to use a public restroom. I have a few theories, though.\n\n-To talk about whomever else we're with; especially guys.\n-Because WE don't want to be talked about! If all the girls are in the restroom with you, who's going to talk bad about you?\n-For tampons. This might just be my friends and I, but when I'm with my girfriends, I know that I'm never without protection. We'll be in two adjacent stalls and I'll yell, "Damnit! Throw me a tampon!" And two seconds later, a little tube slides under the door. I don't think I could do that with a stranger.\n-Because we've been doing it since we were potty-trained and don't know any better.\n\nJust my theories. I don't really think there's a real explanation.
89080
The urinals (the stand-up toilets you pee in) in mens restrooms have little blue or pink 'cakes' they put in them. I think they are to keep it clean and/or smelling clean.
1009484
Something you'd find in a toilet in a public bathroom
136854
Using Gay for Homosexual has been traced as early as the 1920s, possibly earlier. Some of the sites below give these summaries:\n\nLighter also indirectly cites an 1868 song by female impersonator Will S. Hays titled, Gay Young Clerk in the Dry Goods Store. The lyrics do not explicitly link the word with homosexuality, but they can be interpreted that way, especially if sung by a man in drag. \n\nThe most likely explanation [for the usage meaning homosexual] is that it derives from gaycat or geycat, a slang term for a tramp or hobo who is new to the road. Gaycats were commonly in the company of older tramps, implying a homosexual relationship. The term, according to Lighter, dates to at least the 1890s. Gaycats were employed as lookouts while other hoboes committed crimes. The OED2 cites the 1935 Underworld & Prison Slang by N. Ersine as defining geycat as a homosexual boy. The origin of gaycat is unknown. Green, however, says a gay cat was a tramp who offered sexual services to women.\n\nRawson ["Wicked Words"] notes a male prostitute using gay in reference to male homosexuals (but also to female prostitutes) in London's notorious Cleveland Street Scandal of 1889.\n\n\nThe term Gay did not cross over into usage by the general heterosexual population until the 1960's/early 70's.
231149
its a code that every public business has to abide by for sanitary reasons. if they do not have the open front toilet seats they will have points taken off of their heath inspection i believe it is called. might be able to find out more from city hall in your town.