Cal Gaunt
The world is full of interesting cultural nuances, and language often plays a role in shaping them.
The Sapir-Whorf hypothesis suggests that language influences culture, and there’s an unusual piece of evidence supporting this claim – the term ‘Sitzpinkler’.
In German, this word refers to a man who chooses to pee while sitting down.
Surprisingly, not only do the Germans have a word for it, but they are also surprisingly more inclined to sit down for the act compared to most other nationalities.
YouGov, a UK-based pollster, conducted a survey across 13 countries to gauge men’s urinating preferences.
The survey revealed some intriguing results about the peeing habits of men in Europe, Canada, the US, Mexico, Singapore and Australia.
Germany took the lead, with a staggering 40% of men stating that they sit down ‘every time’ they urinate.
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Adding those who do so ‘most times’ brings the total of Sitzpinklers to almost two-thirds of German men.
Sweden’s men came in second place, with 22% sitting down ‘every time’, and an additional 28% doing so ‘most times’.
Danish men secured the third position (44%), followed by Australians (39%) and Canadians (35%).
On the lower end of the scale were Poland (27%) and the UK (24%), with only 10% of Polish men and 9% of British men choosing to sit down ‘every time’.
In comparison, the US had only 10% of men sitting down to pee ‘every time’ and 13% doing so ‘most times’.
Mexico and Singapore fared even lower, with only 6% and 5% of men respectively opting to sit down for the task.
So, how did German men become so proficient in the art of sitting down when nature calls?
The change in attitude appears to have occurred in the early 2000s, with the introduction of a device called the ‘Spuk’ or ‘toilet ghost’.
This device, marketed in Germany in 2004, issues a polite message when a man lifts the toilet seat, encouraging him to return it to its horizontal position and do his business while sitting down.
Some versions even feature famous voices like Angela Merkel or Helmut Kohl.
Before this shift in attitude, being labelled a Sitzpinkler carried a negative connotation, implying weakness or femininity in men.
However, with an increased emphasis on hygiene and health, sitting down to pee gained popularity.
It minimises mess and allows for more complete bladder emptying, which is beneficial for men with prostate or urinary tract issues.
Although Germany has predominantly embraced the Sitzpinkler trend, there are still a few ‘Stehpinklers’ (men who always pee standing up) who hold their ground.
In a famous 2015 court case in Düsseldorf, a landlady refused to refund a deposit due to ‘spillover’ damage around the toilet caused by her tenant’s standing technique.
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The judge ruled in favour of the tenant, acknowledging that peeing while standing is still a common practice, despite the increasing popularity of sitting down.
Interestingly, other European countries, like the Nordics, the Netherlands, and France are also transitioning from standing to sitting.
Even in countries with lower Sitzpinkler rates like the US and UK, the younger generation is showing more interest in the idea than the older generation.
Japan, on the other hand, surpasses Germany when it comes to sitzpinkeln.
The term ‘suwari-shon’ refers to men who prefer to pee while sitting, and its popularity has soared in recent decades.
High-tech toilet technology, with heated seats and various jet streams, has likely contributed to this trend.
Overall, cultural practices and preferences are continuously evolving.
While language may indeed influence culture, various factors including technology and hygiene considerations can significantly impact habits and traditions.
The bottom line is that whether you sit or stand, the choice is yours.
Just remember to be considerate of others – and aim well!
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