2006-11-14 10:54:35 · 15 answers · asked by ed g 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
I ran into the same problem at a place where I worked.
I was told…..in many places in Mexico they have poorly constructed sewage systems and they NEED to throw away their TP rather than flush it or their sewer will back up.
The company explained to the employees that this was unnecessary and that flushing your TP would not cause problems. HR started telling new hires the same thing as part of their orientation and the problem went away in a couple of months (time for them to develop new habits I guess).
Be understanding and remember they are in a new country and have no idea in which ways ours differs from theirs yet. They are actually trying to be considerate and not clog the toilet.
For those of you screaming foul, this is not racist, this is a cultural misunderstanding. It is this type of problem that needs dealt with in order for everyone to get along.
2006-11-14 11:28:01 · answer #1 · answered by thewolfskoll 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
When I first went to Mexico City, I studied books. It was only in a very small sidebar in a guidebook that I learned that inhabitants of Mexico City put toilet paper in the garbage instead of in the toilet because the sewage system couldn't handle all the paper.
I thought that sounded really gross until I went there and found that all the places that leave out a little garbage can for the toilet paper also pick up the garbage regularly; it seemed like it was multiple times a day. The places were clean and not gross at all.
I was fortunate to have been informed about the difference in customs by a guidebook. It seems to me that a tastefully placed sign in the stall (written in Spanish, of course) could inform your friends of the custom here.
"Favor de poner el papel de baño en el inodoro" would be fine, I would think. ("Please put your toilet paper in the toilet.")
2006-11-15 00:57:04 · answer #2 · answered by drshorty 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Like many others who have posted, I can't tell if you're just making a racial slur or if this is an honest, if misguided, question.
When I traveled to Greece, Puerto Rico, and Thailand, there were some places that requested for us to throw our toilet paper in the garbage, so as not to clog the toilets. It was because of problems with the sewage systems there. Please note that this was not only in Latin countries...this was in several places that had problems with the septic systems. To flush your TP would have been rude, because it would have made their toilets inoperable.
2006-11-14 20:58:15 · answer #3 · answered by Jen A 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
In Mexico, the sewage systems are not great and if you put toilet paper in the toilet it would clog the pipes. Much like many people who have septic tanks do not flush paper. There are other parts of the world that use water bidets instead of toilet paper for the same reason.
2006-11-14 19:29:24 · answer #4 · answered by De 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
We, too, had the same problem at work. Not in the girls bathroom, but in the guys. He solved it by putting a sign up on the door to the John. It seemed to take care of the problem. We have some Latinos, but we didn't know if it was them or not. Either way, the problem stopped.
2006-11-14 19:31:38 · answer #5 · answered by Momma Jo 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I'm troubled that you suspect "Latinos" in general. Whoever owns the facility should make it clear through bilingual signage that the sewage/septic system will accept toilet paper, and it should be flushed down with their waste. People do what they're used to doing; sad to note that what passes for public sanitation in some parts of the world will still not tolerate t.p.
2006-11-14 19:09:22 · answer #6 · answered by knoodelhed 4 · 0⤊ 4⤋
Maybe they have problems with their septic tank so they don't put the tp in there as for throwing it on the floor that's just vile.
2006-11-15 04:44:05 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
That has nothing to do with a person's nationality. It has more to do with their teaching. But I suspect that your question is really a message of your bigotry. Better question is how do we stop bigots?
2006-11-14 18:58:06 · answer #8 · answered by ? 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
How can we teach white people to wash their hands after taking a shitt instead of walking right out of the bathroom?
Oh yeah and how can we teach them to COOK their food properly?
P.S. Doesn't feel so good does it?
2006-11-14 18:58:46 · answer #9 · answered by Trini-HaitianGrl81 5 · 8⤊ 2⤋
I can't believe you are actually asking this?!?! I'm Latina, and I am offended by this. You must be an ignorant redneck!
2006-11-14 21:18:18 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋