[strebler]

This article speaks the truth. I was traveling in China last year and was averse to pooping in the squat toilets there (they're generally quite filthy). In any case, eventually push came to shove and I had to bite the bullet.

It was like an awakening, I had not realized how uncomfortable are our western toilets until this experience.

[dpritchett]

See the award-winning "How to do the Asian Squat" documentary from 2002: http://vimeo.com/12977039

[eru]

I'd say mockumentary. Highly enjoyable, but if you actually want to learn how to squat properly, then Craig Weller has some advice in "The Third-World Squat" (http://www.t-nation.com/portal_includes/articles/2007/07-210...).

[euccastro]

Another advantage of a squat toilet is your buttocks don't touch any of that filth.

[jyothi]

Here in Asia, you most always find both western and squat toilet in houses, hotels and public toilets.

In public toilets squat toilets are still more hygienic to use than sitting on the western toilet seats.

Moreover if the flush doesn't work, which usually would be the case, you can always pour a bucket of water.

[jackvalentine]

At the risk of sounding quite childish - I've never used a squat toilet, is there much chance of you accidently soiling your pants when using one?

[eru]

I spent a few month in Turkey, and I never did spoil anything.

For public toilets, I actually preferred the squatting version: You do not have to touch them. Just remember to bring your own toilet paper.

[elai]

Pouring a bucket of water also works with western toilets. Try it one day. You'll probably have to do a few buckets but it works.

[henrikschroder]

You would only need to use a few buckets on an American toilet. European ones use a lot less water.

[elai]

The bucket size is a small one, about 1L

[jyothi]

yep. However no suction is necessary like in western toilets and everything works perfectly just with gravity. Thus, the squat ones do save lot of water, 1 ltr is sufficient for flush. Of course, the plumbing particularly the inclination & depth of column below, has to be done right.

[strebler]

Yes, there were lots of western toilets in the more populated areas (Shanghai, Xian, Beijing, etc), but less once we got away from the cities. Squat toilets definitely seem more hygenic :)

[HiroshiSan]

What if I can't properly squat? How can I overcome this? I've tried doing different squat stretch's but I just can't seem to squat..I'm always on my tippy toes.

[eru]

I just submitted an article that deals with the matter (http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1652595). The short version: Practice. Hold onto something at first, if you can't keep your balance.

(I do recommend dry practice.)

[khafra]

Take a look at your shins. Mine have a significant negative camber, curving out to about 10-15 degrees. Because this puts my feet a few inches forward of a normal person's, I can't rest in a squat; I have to actively lean way forward.

If your shins are normal, though, just work on the leg strength to control your descent, and the ankle forward flexibility required to shift your center of gravity the inch or so foward to compensate for going from the balls of your feet to the whole foot.