I freely admit to being ambivalent about the man. I never listened to Prarie Home Companion and it's folksy North Woods /Minnesota days. My guess is plenty of the Neppls and Amiots love him.
I do, however, enjoy his weekly articles in Salon - as a rule. I must admit he is a bit of a male chauvinist, but I always took that as kind of a put on. But today's article makes me wonder if he is being funny (and went one line to far) or is just a little odd?
In the article, he bemoans the fact that architects build men's and women's bathrooms the same size in public places. However human plumbing and gender dress codes mean that women's lines are always longer and this isn't fair. To this point I hardly agree! I, like probably ever male that reads this, have escorted my fair share of women into the men's room stalls in public events when this inequity shows itself. And, trust me, all men experience it when going to an outdoor concert with porta potties and we all wait together.
What made me say, "whoa?", is his reasoning and wrap up. It appears that the reason he thinks this should happen is that he doesn't want to run into an ex-girlfriend in the men's room and be unable to escape. He wants the men's room for men only! And the only way to get that is to make much bigger women's rooms.
That would be, like, reason 38 for me.
Reason 1 should be fairness, but let's be honest boys... Reason 1) It would greatly reduced female crankiness when attending a public event together.
Reason 2) You wouldn't have to stand around the lobby and wait.. and wait... and wait..
Reason 3) Fairness (there it is)
And, can I say, having actually had to be stuck at a urinal next to somebody you went out with, slept with and never called back (Garisson's big fear). It's no big deal - you don't look at your neighbor anyway, so the person is easy to ignore. And if anyone causes a scene in a restroom, they are the one that is thrown off the island.
Postscript... Many many New York public spaces (restaurants, bars, nightclubs and some galleries) have multiple uni-sex bathrooms - as do quite a few LA places. I think this is an elegant solution as long as men remember to lift the seat as they pee, and put it down as they exit.