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Prudie has received a flood, you should pardon the expression, of correspondence in response to the handicapped stall letter. The volume of mail was astounding. Following is a fair sampling from the deluge, with Prudie's thoughts at the end.

Dear Prudence,

I am dismayed at your answer to the query about using the handicapped stall in a public bathroom. I use a wheelchair. I cannot begin to tell you how many times I have entered a public facility to find the ONLY stall occupied is the handicapped one--and by a person who did not need it! The large size is not because we are "deserving of such amenities," but because people in wheelchairs need the space to turn around, to clamber onto the toilet, to empty catheters, whatever. People such as myself cannot get up from the seat in a conventional stall without handrails.

I have seen people use them with their kids--waiting until two or three toddlers "make pee-pee." People sometimes use them to change clothes! This means I sometimes soil myself. If there are NO other empty stalls and you gotta go, then, by all means, use them--but never if there are other stalls you can use.

--Ann

How clueless!!! Here we have an able-bodied, selfish caffeine addict, who can't seem to wait for a stall, callously making someone who is handicapped wait. What will it take--seeing a person standing in a puddle--or worse--before you realize that you're a doofus?

--BM98

Dear Prudence,

I felt the need to respond to this. I don't know how many times I have gone to use the handicapped stall and there's always someone in it. If there isn't another stall open, I understand. However, the comment I object to is the one where you say there is never a handicapped person waiting to use it when you are done. There are many conditions that are not visible. I have MS and look just fine. What is not apparent is that I have a bladder problem and a catheter. For me to deal with this is almost impossible in a "standard" stall.