Toilet Seat Up or Down?

Tuesday, January 24, 2006

I'm with Sam on this one... leave the seat however you need it, and let the other person rearrange it for their needs. Statistically speaking though, I can understand the woman's argument for the toilet seat down. After all, women have to sit for #1 and #2, while men also sit for #2 (at least I hope you do). So... 75% of toilet operations require sitting, so the toilet seat should be down. Here is the post that started it all if you'd like to add your two cents to the discussion.

What is totally unacceptable however, is to have those fluffy, fuzzy, toilet seat covers. I don't think women understand the danger they represent. When you have those covering the seat, they almost always interfere with the toilet seat's ability to stay up. There's nothing scarier than trying to relieve yourself, only to have the toilet seat slam down like a guillotine when you least expect it. It's almost criminal.

Of course, it's also important to always flush the toilet when you're done. God bless my sister Karen, for trying to instill that habit in her sons early on. I'm surprised she didn't add, "Put the seat down" at the bottom of the sign.

Update: Had to fix a link.

Posted at 12:25 PM by Nick | | |

Post to del.icio.us | Digg this Post | Save to Furl

Comments:

I have strong feelings on this one:
Put the toilet seat AND the lid down. That way when you flush, toilet water and its fresh contents don't spray all over you when you flush. Don't believe me? Dr. Charles Gerba has devoted his life to bathroom science. Check it out.

Posted at January 24, 2006 12:41 PM by

amy

What is totally unacceptable however, is to have those fluffy, fuzzy, toilet seat covers.

I couldn't agree more! I've always despised those things.

Thanks for the link.

Posted at January 24, 2006 12:50 PM by

Difster

Have you ever watched Myth Busters on the Discovery Channel? It's a great show, where they go to great lengths to test classic myths and urband legends to see how true any are.

One of the ones they tested, was fecal bacteria on tooth brushes. They placed a couple dozen all around the bathroom, and then regularly used the bathroom every day. They also brushed with some of the toothbrushes. Finally, they had a control toothbrush outside the bathroom.

After a couple weeks, they tested each toothbush around the bathroom, and the control toothbrush for fecal bacteria. What was interesting is that distance didn't matter with the amount of bacteria, and even the control toothbrush had fecal bacteria on it.

On a different episode, they also tested the myth of the 5 second rule, that food won't get bacteria on it if you pick it up before five seconds. As part of that myth, they tested the toilet seat in the studio and found it to have 10 times less bacteria than any other surface or floor they tested as part of the myth... not that I'd eat off my toilet seat.

Posted at January 24, 2006 12:53 PM by

Nick

Fecal matter is delicious; I apply it liberally to my eggs and toast for breakfast. I also like to take my toast and run it along the inside of the toilet bowel for extra fiber. MMmmm Good!

Posted at January 24, 2006 3:58 PM by

Anonymous

I can handle either the seat up or the cover down. It's easier to bring the seat down as one sits and back up as one gets up than to move the seat around while standing.

Posted at January 24, 2006 4:43 PM by

steveegg

i hate those fuzzy toilet seat covers too. i mentioned that at my friend's house once because the seat started to fall mid stream. his wife (that no one seems to like) nearly ripped my head off for mentioning it. and none of my spineless friends backed me up.

Posted at January 27, 2006 9:59 AM by

Anonymous

Look, when we men pee standing up, inevitably there is some splashback. If the seat is down some lands on the seat. Now some of us try and wipe the seat to be good citizens but judging from the condition of most men's rooms we are in the minority. So if you ladies insist on seat down just remember what you are sitting in. Yes, your man is a pig too don't kid yourself. BTW most of the world does #2 while standing.. well sqauting anyway. Ever seen an asian go in to a stall and stand on the seat? It is freakin hilarious (cultural bigotry aside) when someone checks for feet, sees none and opens the door.

Posted at February 01, 2006 3:25 PM by

Anonymous