Was REM prophesizing when they produced the album (CD) Automatic for the People? A recent visit to a movie theater’s restrooms reminded me of this album, not so much the songs, but the conveniences we now take for granted. Do you know what I’m referring to? I bet you do, they can be found in many public buildings especially where many people use them and probably require little maintenance and require much less (wo)man power to clean.
I’m referring to toilets, sinks and hand dryers or paper towel dispensers and sometimes even soap dispensers – they are all AUTOMATIC. Have we become so lazy that we cannot turn a knob or crank out paper towels to dry our hands? No, wait, I know the answer to this question – it’s more sanitary to not touch the stainless steel and risk getting someone else’s germs or risk picking up an infection. I’m still fascinated by pushing buttons and a pink or green liquid oozes from a dispenser, or turning a faucet and Voila! the water turns on.
Sometimes it’s too iffy with those infrared sensors for the water to turn on for 3 seconds, which is not quite enough time to wash the bubbles away and then I can’t get it to turn on again. I’m not sure the department of health would approve of washing our hands, after using the toilet, for 3-6 seconds without soap. Because frankly, that is about all the time the faucet is on in some movie theater restrooms.
