Anyone speak French?

[prv]

Many central European rules and laws that appear wacky are to protect apartment dwellers, who constitute the majority, from noisy neighbours. For that reason, I understand that under a Swiss ordinance, a man is forbidden to take a pee standing up after 10:00 p.m.

I live on a road predominantly of student houses, so I'm very familiar with inconsiderate noise. But if people are regularly being disturbed by their neighbours' tinkling noises, the solution is surely better building regs rather than mandatory sitzenpinkeln

Pete

 

[prv]

Clearly the U.S. residents of Bum****, Nowhere, haven't cornered the international market for moronic statements.

Apparently not

Pete

 

[BrianH]

Many central European rules and laws that appear wacky are to protect apartment dwellers, who constitute the majority, from noisy neighbours. For that reason, I understand that under a Swiss ordinance, a man is forbidden to take a pee standing up after 10:00 p.m. Not that I've ever heard of a prosecution.

I live on a road predominantly of student houses, so I'm very familiar with inconsiderate noise. But if people are regularly being disturbed by their neighbours' tinkling noises, the solution is surely better building regs rather than mandatory sitzenpinkeln
Pete

I have rented apartments in many countries on many continents. I have owned property in the UK and here in Switzerland. I can assure you there is no comparison in building standards - there is no need to improve the regulations here. That still applies even since the recent relaxation of the regulation that every building, including every individual house, must have an integrated A-bomb-proof shelter, as the foundations and walls of new buildings are still very solid.

I can only assume that the absurd rule about not standing to pee is a relic from the distant past when so many Swiss properties were wooden. Having stayed in many an old, traditional chalet and farmhouse in the mountains during my skiing years and hearing every creak from trodden-on timbers and every toilet being flushed, I can somehow understand it. But only one of the German-speaking countries would legislate for it.