Cultural differences w/ living in Portland (house, school, restaurant)

[Juxtaposition109]

I moved to Portland about a year ago and I've had to do some major adjusting. I moved here from Las Vegas and to say the least Portland is almost the complete opposite. So I've gotten used to the no gas pumping thing, slow drivers, Subaru's, constant protesting, and the Portland Proudness. But the newest thing that I'm having a hard time with is this not flushing to toilet when your done with you business. At my new job I'm one of the few people who didn't grow up in Oregon and the native Oregonians are hardcore about not flushing the toilet often to as they say, "Save water and save the environment," There were two times today that I went into the employee restroom and there was a nice big brown present sitting in the toilet. Once was right before I went to lunch and that didn't really help. Seeing a big bowl full of pee also doesn't help much as the smell gets stagnant after awhile. Anyway I guess my question would be, "Is this a common practice taught to Oregonians growing up?" Is this also a trend that is big in Portland right now?

[iamcims]

thats sick. flushing a toilet will have no impact. especially when you compare that to things like hydrolic fracking. or the industry practices in general.

[backdrifter]

Originally Posted by Juxtaposition109

I moved to Portland about a year ago and I've had to do some major adjusting. I moved here from Las Vegas and to say the least Portland is almost the complete opposite. So I've gotten used to the no gas pumping thing, slow drivers, Subaru's, constant protesting, and the Portland Proudness. But the newest thing that I'm having a hard time with is this not flushing to toilet when your done with you business. At my new job I'm one of the few people who didn't grow up in Oregon and the native Oregonians are hardcore about not flushing the toilet often to as they say, "Save water and save the environment," There were two times today that I went into the employee restroom and there was a nice big brown present sitting in the toilet. Once was right before I went to lunch and that didn't really help. Seeing a big bowl full of pee also doesn't help much as the smell gets stagnant after awhile. Anyway I guess my question would be, "Is this a common practice taught to Oregonians growing up?" Is this also a trend that is big in Portland right now?

Ooh, that's not okay. It it's yellow, let it mellow; if it's brown, flush it down!

I always flushed growing up until I started becoming an independent and critical thinker and my environmental consciousness/resource conservation bent kicked in. I feel that it's totally unnecessary to flush if it's just pee. No one at my house flushes until it gets a little too aromatic, or until someone has to do number 2. In public restrooms however, I'll usually flush after peeing. I always will flush at someone else's house (other than close friends who follow the limited-flush guidelines as well).

So basically, what I'm getting at, is that it's just rude that people at your work aren't flushing after taking a big poo! Shame on them!

[philwithbeard]

IMO, Portland is not lacking water. This is not SoCal.

As an old-school liberal, I agree, for once, totally with Backdrifter on this issue.

If these eco-do-gooders want an issue: disconnect house's downspouts (roof gutters) from the sewer lines. Storm water must not go into sewage treatment plants.

[Sarcastic_Twit]

What's worse? Not flushing, or the great many people that I see leaving the bathroom without washing their hands, even after a #2.

[iamcims]

Originally Posted by Sarcastic_Twit

What's worse? Not flushing, or the great many people that I see leaving the bathroom without washing their hands, even after a #2.

That would be much worse to me. That's something a very young child would do, which is innocent. Not so with an adult. I guess it's always been one of those things that bothered me. If I catch a friend over here who's in the bathroom for awhile and walks right out after flushing... , you bet I'll say something!

[aroseinrain]

If it's brown, flush it down!

I do not tend to flush pee down at home until there seems too much toilet paper involved to go easily. My California husband has generally become accepting of it but needs a "clean slate" when he enters with a book in hand.

At a restaurant I'll add to any yellow pot, but do tend to flush if I'm in a classier joint. I knew of quite a few ladies in my home town who refused to use the toilet paper (I supposed they used their hand and then washed) but I could never seem to be comfortable with that.

But you always flush brown down. That's just gross.

[HoustontoPortland]

I hadn't realized that Oregon was, like New Jersey, a state where you cannot pump your own gas. (Those are the only two)
I know all the arguments for that, but it really is just amazingly stupid. Glad I'll be selling my car when I get there, that would drive me nuts. Of course, I am gonna feel really stupid having someone fill up my one-gallon scooter tank...

[aroseinrain]

From my experience they tend to let people on two wheeled vehicles pump their own. Not supposed to, but they do.

[iamscott]

I sometimes pump my own gas when I get tired of waiting for the attendants. lol. Actually I used to work a job where I drove a lot and there where times where I would pull up to the pumps and nobody would come out so I would pump my own gas, pay with my debit card on the pump and leave with nobody ever coming out. lol. But I remember the first time I drove to California I pulled up to a pump and sat there for a while before I realized that I had to pump my own gas, lol.