So I've heard ...

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Wouldn't it make more sense to wait for your very own hologram style lookalike to be released? Then you can “beam” over your holographic self whilst you do that thing you do in that place we will not mention. By the way, if mainstream news is anything to go by, holograms are on the way. Or at least computerized video projections that are conveniently being passed off as holograms. The point is, this might be a more viable idea than the homely flushing sound device.

Some background information is in order. I was referring to Otohime, a sound device that plays out close to 25 seconds worth of flushing noises. Apparently many Japanese women were mortified with the idea of, er, tinkling noises and such filtering through the bathroom door as they went about their, er, daily motions. So they used to flush toilet repeatedly so as to mask these noises. And the story goes that it was not long before an enterprising inventor/company captured a niche market by introducing the flushing sound box a.k.a Otohime. (Click here if you are really curious to see it work).

It must be one of those cultural differences where women of this society are so self-conscious about these noises. On the other hand, explicit sounds of this nature is never the way forward when making friends in any culture, is it? But my point was not about whether they should be embarrassed or not. It was more about the solution to this worry. For, while this device can drown out the telling splashing sounds from the loo, it still reminds everyone that someone is in there, going about their business, doesn't it?

Well, so what are my suggestions? My first idea was along the lines of soundproof doors which was quickly dismissed as too creepy in this Fritzl-focused year. Second idea was to play thrash metal in the toilet but that is not feasible for the wee hours of morning (ahem). And of course, the best way to scare off a dinner guest is the angry chant of Cradle of Filth coming from your bathroom. So I suppose, if you were socially conscious about fluid noises, the Otohime is the best solution. That is, until the hologram double is introduced worldwide.