Leave your shoes at the door please.

The urinals in a typical public toilet for men are a nice little example of a positive feedback phenomenon.  Let’s take the toilet in the morning fresh from the janitor’s grudging mop strokes.  The first patron of the facility will walk boldly up the porcelain receptacle hanging on the tiled wall proceed to relieve himself.  In the process he will drip a single drop of urine on the floor under the urinal.  The next man to use the facilities will see that single drop of piss on the floor and stand a full step back from the urinal to ensure he doesn’t step in another man’s pee.  The result of this precautionary measure on the part of the second man will be more urine on the floor under and around the urinal.

This process will repeat itself throughout the day until patrons of the toilet will be found with their backs against the wall opposite the urinals attempting to reach the target via indirect fire arced over the glistening Urine Sea that now separates them from the equipment on the wall of the facility. 

So, please, take your shoes off at the door.