An immodest proposal > Solving the issue of bathrooms in transition Adam Tatelman Arts Editor pparently, we have attacked the social issues of our time with such enthusiasm that the only thing unresolved is the proper gendered washroom protocol. Riveting. Normally I’m the last person to care about where anyone pisses. It’s a non- issue. You gotta go when you gotta go, and anybody who wants to give you shit for whizzing ona tree because the lineup at the Jiffy John was too long should feel free to offer their tonsils in place of a urinal. Target has become the focus of some truly uninspiring controversy for declaring that transgendered people on the premises are permitted to use their preferred washrooms, as opposed to those representing their biological sex. The resulting outcry from religious fundamentalists was the predictable “think of the children” fare, suggesting that perverts will pretend to be transgendered in order to fondle children in the stalls. Obviously, this argument is an appeal to fear. Any police officer will tell you that roving pedophiles typically choose areas without public traffic to better isolate their targets. But the kicker is, members of the transgendered community have tried to use the exact same argument—that bathrooms are apparently also wretched havens for public violence against the transgendered— to argue for segregated transgendered-only bathrooms. Though the pedo argument is clearly a load, it is strange that people fail to see the ethically dubious nature of segregation. There was a time when “coloured” bathrooms existed. According to the state, this was for everyone’s protection—more obvious fearmongering. But nobody had a Do what the robots can't > If robots can replace your job, it’s not the robots’ fault Elliot Chan Opinions Editor Revs are here to make our lives easier, and in the process, they are eliminating a lot of menial work. We see it everywhere from the banking to the food industry, and all areas of retail and trade. These industries employ people all across the globe. The idea of all of these jobs becoming obsolete is a bit concerning since there has yet to be a real replacement. When a worker is made redundant, replaced bya machine or an algorithm, the situation is met with pessimism. The notion is that if you don’t know how to code, you might as well starve. However, the rise of the automated, robotic workforce is something we have been experiencing since our youth. We grew up with computers and machines, so why is it so shocking when a new system replaces us on the assembly line? In tech, there is a lot of talk about disruption. Is this J) software or hardware capable of changing the way we accomplish a task? Can the iPhone change the way we pay our bills? Will streaming services make video rental stores relics? How can virtual reality change the way we shop online? Not only do innovators consider how a product can disrupt an industry, they consider the industries ripe WE DON’T CARE “coloured” bathroom in his or her home. Just plain old bathrooms. Therein is the solution that will satisfy everyone. It’s not to build separate bathrooms. It’s not even to label bathrooms “gender neutral.” It’s to put up a sign that says “bathroom” and call it a day. Each bathroom would require urinals, baby change stations, and wheelchair access stalls to accommodate the urinating public at large, but those expenses will be covered by reduced plumbing, electrical, and construction costs. Anyone of any gender, biological or otherwise, — i for disruption. They find the problem before the solution. A controversial disruption at the moment is with driverless cars. The technology is there, but regulations and lobbyists are preventing it from reaching the next phase. The transportation network Uber has openly announced that as soon as driverless cars Image via Jonathan Drake may then use the facilities without complaint. It will even balance out the underutilization of men’s washrooms and the overutilization of women’s washrooms. Though some unisex facilities exist, it is baffling that more facilities have not adopted this more cost-effective model. But what about the evil rapey men? We can’t allow them varmints to share the washrooms with the womenfolk, surely. Well, here’s the best part: men are not rapists. Some rapists are men, and if rapists want to rape, they'll do it regardless of what the Image via thinkstock are available, clients will be able to select that as an option when hailing a ride. Who’s angry with this? Taxi drivers, chauffeurs, transit people, and anybody else that makes a living working in transportation. Only time will tell if driverless cars will become a fixture in our daily society. But if I was a taxi driver, ’m not sign on the door says. Consider again the historical example of “coloured” bathrooms, which supposedly existed to protect the poor innocent white folks from sexual violence by blacks. This fear-based thinking may not be excused by the blanket accusation of a gender as opposed to a race. Even if the fear of pedophiles, trans-bashers, and rapey men had any logical foundation, unisex bathrooms would provide a natural solution to the problem. Being higher traffic areas compared to single- sex facilities, getting away with this kind of lewd behaviour would become even more difficult. Hell, we could even create some jobs! Bathroom security attendants should allay all fears of assault, provided all applicants submit to a background check and have no criminal or sexual offence record. We don’t have men’s or women’s washrooms in our own homes, so why bother supporting them as a needless public expense? Better to do away with this ridiculous idea of sacred urinary segregation— and by extension, the idea that all washrooms are sex-crime central. Maybe then we can all get back to the business of using bathrooms for their intended purpose, instead of arguing over petty, meaningless labels. going to bank on my driving skills to sustain me for the next 40 years, I’m going to start developing some other set of skills just in case. Learning how to fix cars can be another skill to add on. That’s just a thought. So often we are pessimistic when it comes to new technology stealing our jobs. But these technologies didn’t sneak up on us. These technologies took years and years of development. They are all over the news and they gave us every opportunity to be more relevant. Like a rival, it is pushing us to improve. You cannot and should not fight against it, as it has been shown all through history, humans will veer to the side of convenience, profitability, and security. Turn the lens onto yourself and ask: “How will a robot disrupt my career?” Then, either build that robot, or be better than it. The question is not how robots can replace you, but how can you replace the robots when they come? I’m confident that you will figure it out.