Much has been written on the elaborate etiquette of using a gents public toilet. However, it's all been written from a 'Western perspective', and is based on the paramountcy of concepts like: a) having a respect for 'personal space'; b) paying attention to other people; c) routinely applying forethought to your actions; and d) being hopelessly homophobic. None of which applies in China.
Choosing your position for taking a pee is a sensitive issue (for a Westerner): tricky enough when you have urinals (check out this fun interactive 'primer' to test yourself on the basic rules), but even more vital when you're having to use a shared trench.
So, I was really quite appalled when I went into a bar loo with a trench urinal (a fairly narrow one - barely room for four guys elbow to elbow) a couple of weeks back and found a Chinese guy on his own in there but standing right in the middle to have his slash. (I waited until he had finished before stepping forward to relieve myself.)
That, for me, sums up what is wrong with this country - most people here (a very high proportion of them, anyway) just never give a thought to anyone but themselves.
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