A right to privacy in public restrooms?

I was working at a resteraunt, where they have a TV that often shows the news. The latest news on TV was about police officers checking in on people going to the restroom if they heard anything unusual.

Apparently there are people having sex or whatever in restrooms, and some people are raising a fuss about the cops spying in public restrooms. So the question is "Should people have a right to privacy in a public restroom?".

I say NO. It's a public restroom. Now I can see both sides of this story because I went to public as well as private schools. Even though I was picked on in private school, I was left alone in the restroom. Whereas in public school, there were people peeking over the stall at me, and throwing bottles of water on me.

So I know what it feels like to just want to be left alone. However, doing anything other than #1 or #2 carries risks when doing it at a public place. However, I don't want to go into a restroom and listen to guys humping it, or have to breathe in a lot of smoke from ciggerettes.

I've never actually seen anyone doing anything strange or wrong in a restroom besides smoke, but I think the cops have every right to check in on someone in a public restroom.

>.>

I believe there should be some level of privacy in a public toilet, minimal closed door if possible as I wouldn't like any other person coming in and being impudent by watching me take a plop or a pee. People should behave in public bathrooms, as they are on public land and subject to the laws of the country/building they're in. It's not their home to do as they wish, and if they want to make a mess or indulge in illegal public activities, then they should do it in their own home where they might be a little more compelled to clean up afterwards and where it's legal. Last time I checked, public sex for ALL was off limits, not just gays or straights.

The thing that most annoys me is people who don't clean up after themselves. That's awful, wherever you go.

And as for policemen, they should have the right to check up on suspicious individuals or if they notice/hear anything odd. It's their duty to catch criminals, to protect the people and enforce the law, so if they need to do, by all means they should.

It depends. If it sounds like someone's just having a little trouble, but it could be sex; no. If you here two voices or someone screaming for help, then yes the cops should act upon it. If their wrong, a sincere apology is due. If one may be in danger it must be acted upon. Sex in a public bathrooms is bad but should only be acted upon if it can be easily identified as such.

Originally Posted by Divine Dragoon

Cameras in the toilet are a disgrace to privacy. I see no difference between them and people who take voyeur upskirt photos with their camera.

The thing is, it's a public restroom. Not a private restroom. The difference being that security should be allowed to watch what goes on in every room.

Originally Posted by Daphnes

The thing is, it's a public restroom. Not a private restroom. The difference being that security should be allowed to watch what goes on in every room.

But can you trust the security? I mean, if you put a camera in a restroom how do you know what happens with the footage?

Originally Posted by Guy Westcott

But can you trust the security? I mean, if you put a camera in a restroom how do you know what happens with the footage?

Yeah. What if girls watch the men's bathroom, or a man watches the ladies' room? Thats a big invasion of privacy.

I'd understand out of stall but inside is just an abomination against privacy. I'd rather have sex in a stall then cameras watching.

Originally Posted by Guy Westcott

But can you trust the security? I mean, if you put a camera in a restroom how do you know what happens with the footage?

That's a risk I'd be willing to take. Of course, security would be risking their jobs doing bad stuff with the footage.

Originally Posted by Gravemind

Yeah. What if girls watch the men's bathroom, or a man watches the ladies' room? Thats a big invasion of privacy.

What if they don't. What if the bosses make sure only guys watch those cameras, just like they try to keep guys from walking into the girl's bathroom.

Originally Posted by DarKnite92

I'd understand out of stall but inside is just an abomination against privacy. I'd rather have sex in a stall then cameras watching.

Well, that's you.

Originally Posted by Daphnes

That's a risk I'd be willing to take. Of course, security would be risking their jobs doing bad stuff with the footage.

I'm sure some wouldn't really care about losing their jobs. Some of them may have other jobs and anyway, how would they get caught?

Originally Posted by Guy Westcott

I'm sure some wouldn't really care about losing their jobs. Some of them may have other jobs and anyway, how would they get caught?

You think no one watches the security team to make sure they do thier jobs? I doubt they'd be able to hold many other jobs after the media tore them apart when they found out.

Have you ever heard stories about people sneaking into a public bathroom, and taking pictures?

Having cameras in a public toilet is really despicable. People might as well just pee outside.

Originally Posted by Daphnes

You think no one watches the security team to make sure they do thier jobs? I doubt they'd be able to hold many other jobs after the media tore them apart when they found out.

Have you ever heard stories about people sneaking into a public bathroom, and taking pictures?

yes.

and i think people are supposed to watch security teams but then a lot of people already dont do their jobs, so again it makes little difference i would think

If your in a public area you do not have the right of privacy. Because it is after all PUBLIC bathroom and not your personal place.

if cops want to check public bathrooms be my guess.

I belive there should be SOME privacy like the doors not being peekable ect. but ... NO and I mean that NO person in there right mind should be having sex in a rest room. *imitates scotish accent* It's not right.

I really have not had any problems going to the bathroom in a public restroom. If the cops do think there is something suspicious going on, I think they have the right to check things out. But then there is the question of what happens if the cops are just saying they think something is going on just to have an excuse to get to places they should not go.

About the sex in the bathrooms. I know that in San Francisco, they have these bathroom things were you pay a quarter to go. Then if you don't get out in about 25 minutes, the door will open on you. They say this is supposed to solve the problem of people having sex in places like that.

If people can't keep it in their god-damn pants until they get home, they deserve to be watched by cameras. I think it should be assumed that if someone wants to have sex in public, they are forfeiting their right to privacy anyway.

Originally Posted by Fire Bird

About the sex in the bathrooms. I know that in San Francisco, they have these bathroom things were you pay a quarter to go. Then if you don't get out in about 25 minutes, the door will open on you. They say this is supposed to solve the problem of people having sex in places like that.

Twenty five minutes? That's way too long. That's enough time to have sex, make an unruly mess, and clean it all up with time to spare. If I spend more than five or ten minutes in a bathroom, my mom would call out to see if I was ok.

I do realise that some of the older adults can't just walk in, go, then get out. That's the whole thing behind bringing a newspaper/magazine.

Originally Posted by Daphnes

Twenty five minutes? That's way too long. That's enough time to have sex, make an unruly mess, and clean it all up with time to spare. If I spend more than five or ten minutes in a bathroom, my mom would call out to see if I was ok.

Yeah, thats what I though. But they seem to think that it would work. I though the whole idea of that kind of toilet was funny though.

Originally Posted by Holic

If people can't keep it in their god-damn pants until they get home, they deserve to be watched by cameras. I think it should be assumed that if someone wants to have sex in public, they are forfeiting their right to privacy anyway.

I agree, but the lack of privacy would have to come first or nobody would know they were having sex, so everybody would have to be punished for what some people do

As long as there are stalls, I am satisfied. Police can do whatever they wish. I sure wouldn't want to walk into a restroom where bad things have happened.