Pay to Pee

November 29, 2006 - 10:08 PM by

OK, Benji’s freaking out a bit, and all because of — the horror — Israeli establishments that charge a fee to answer Mother Nature’s call:

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What’s the deal with THAT?! This seems to be fairly common at bathrooms at bus stations in major cities in this country. Who decided it was ok to charge people to take care of business? That just doesn’t seem right to me. What’s next? A fee to respirate? Sometimes the security system is a revolving door requiring a shekel coin (G-d help you if you don’t have change), and sometimes, it’s a woman like the one shown above. At least she was nice enough to hand me some squares of toilet paper during my grand entrance. I’ll have to remember that when Hanukkah begins next month…..

What kind of benefits could a job like that offer someone? Do you think she gets to use the bathroom for free across the country (ech omrim “professional courtesy”?) That could certainly come in handy when traveling (especially after a few cups of Nescafe). What happens when she calls in sick? Does a temp show up? Management can’t be losing their 2 shekels! I asked Mrs. Dr. Evil why they charge and she explained that management has to raise money for upkeep and whatnot. It’s a BATHROOM! What, are they installing some French windows in there??? This is one of those annoying situations where management passes on their expenses to the customers (like how tenants in New York City have to pay exhorbitant amounts of money to their doormen for Christmas. For Christ’s sakes, that’s what EMPLOYERS are for! I never understood why they relied on our Christmas tips to put food on the table. I hate Christmas tipping in New York-it’s as if certain businesses arbitrarily decided,

“You know what, Bill, I have a crazy idea but it just might work. Let’s pay our employee less than minimum wage, create a culture that says that the CUSTOMERS have to pay for his/her salary, and you and I spend our winters in Bermuda!”

“Jack, you crazy rat bastard! It’s crazy but it just might work!”

In the end, of course, Benji took a deep breath, paid his two shekels, and did his business.

Tags: • Category: General 

Comments

2 Comments on Pay to Pee

  1. Benji on Wed, Nov 29th 2006 10:59 PM

    2. Actually, it was much more stressful figuring out what to say to this woman after taking her picture.

  2. Lady-Light on Thu, Feb 1st 2007 4:41 AM

    3. If you think about it, Israel is about thiry years behind the US, culturally. I don’t know if you are old enough to know or remember this, but there were places in the US of A that charged a fee for the use of public toilets. I remember this from my childhood, growing up in New York City. Just give Israel a bit of time…and it will ‘catch up!’
    There is one incident, however, that I want to relate: It was at the tachanah ha-mercazit in Yerushalayim, I think. The woman was so nasty to me, that I actually calmly asked her why; she mumbled under her breath that I was crazy, and I told her I am not paying, because she was SO not nice.

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