Map of Hogwarts -Bath Tub or Shower?

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 75392

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "Shaun Hately" <drednort at a...>
wrote:

> 
>>>> Straw poll! Who thinks they'd have privacy partitions in the
bathrooms (NOT THE TOILETS - BRITISH ENGLISH HERE, PEOPLE - besides we
have hard data on the toilets) at Hogwarts? Help me make the decision
for my maps. <<<
> 
> Yours Without Wax, Dreadnought
> Shaun Hately 


bboy_mn:

Let me see if I understand the question. 

You are asking, are there privacy partitions in the bathing area, not
are there privacy partitions in the 'bodily functions' area?

I think it's clear that, at least for the 'sit down' bodily functions
areas, there are privacy stalls. Although, I confess to having been
places that didn't have that luxury. So that questions seems resolved.

Now the actual bathing areas. I can't remember ever being in an
European school, but I have been in public health clubs and baths in
Germany, and they usually have open showers. They seem to be very big
on privacy, the 'bodily functions' stalls go from floor to ceiling and
don't let so much as a crack of light throught the seams. At the same
time, Germans don't seem to be as hung up about nudity as Americans
are, so showers we usually open 'gang' showers.

Another reason, schools typically have open multi-user showers is for
expediency, to get people in and out as fast as possible, and to make
cleaning and maintenace as fast and easy as possible. So every public
bath I've ever been in has open showers; that includes YMCA, college
dorms, college athletic facilities, high school locker room, swimming
pools, and health clubs. I do remember one (out of 10) Bally Swim and
Fitness Clubs, one of the smaller ones, that had curtains between the
showers, but it became too much of a bother, so eventually they were
taken down. 

Now to the question of showers or bathtubs. In my very limited
experience in Europe, I've seen many bathtubs that have a hand held
shower sprayers, and have observed people standing or kneeling in the
tub using the sprayer to wet themselves down, lather, then rinse
themselves off; very water efficient.

One thing I don't think many people are aware of, is that, to a
limited extent, water is rationed in Europe, or at least in Germany
when I was there. Generally, the ration is genereous, sufficient for
your daily needs, but there is a great incentive to conserve water,
and every effort is made in every area; showers, baths, washing
machines, toilets are all very water efficient. If you go beyond the
basic ration, excess water is billed at an extremely high rate. In the
area of Germany I was in, somewhat near Luxembourg, it was very common
to see people pull their cars into a small stream and wash them there
rather than use their water ration.

So my point is, based on admittedly limited experience, I'm going with
open showers, and perhaps, in some cases, tubs with handheld showers.

Just a guess.

bboy_mn