Toilets as Cultural Forms: Killer Toilets (by Alina Solovieva) - Туалеты как культурная форма: туалеты-убийцы (А.Соловьева)

Алина Соловьева, студентка AUBG, вносит вклад в нашу тему туалетов, рассказывая в своей статье о новых хай-тек туалетах в Японии и Китае.

Have you ever thought that a toilet can ruin your life?
Technological progress is the root of all evil! Many Japanese citizens have felt its scorching hands on their bottoms this year. To be more precise, 180 thousand of toilets blew up this year in Japan. This had a strong influence on the country’s hi-tech toilet industry. The evil machines that work on electricity and attract people with their glowing welcoming lights burst right after the user who is not expecting such a surprise pushes the flush button.
The outrageous behavior of the electronic toilets produced by the huge Japanese company Toto has raised panic in Japan and in the neighboring China. The Toto Company however blames Chinese producers of the incidents. The directors of the surprise toilets company had to move the production to China. This happened about 7 years ago and the company’s press-secretary says that all incidents took place after the moving of the production. As you can see the hi-tech toilet can actually ruin not only the life of a single person but also can threat the relations between countries.
As the panic grew among the users of the electronic devices in Japan, the company had to make an official statement that a series of incidents was hidden from the public.
That was actually a true story!
People always try to invent something that will make their lives easier. But does it necessary have to be electronic toilets with a seat which has an auto warmer planted in it? The human has become so lazy with the development of technology that even an act of defecating has to be as much comfortable as possible. Of course technology plays a very important part in our everyday lives already. But why bother investing in the lavatory? Doesn’t it sound strange too? Investing in the toilet so you could experience more comfort while doing the thing you are used to do every day of your life. To say, people actually don’t even think about comfort when they are stuck on the idea of a toilet.
I propose to leave the stupid ideas such as this one and proceed with technology development in other spheres of life. Billions and billions of dollars each year go down the drain or in the pockets of the company directors as such of Toto’s. And though many people are happy with the new devices they can actually do you real harm. And I’m not only talking about adults. Imagine what a little child can do with a device like this?
Comfort stands on the one side of the issue. Security stands on the other. People have a choice to make. What will it be? You have to decide.