The Eternal War

[andrewducker]

[Poll #356131]

Comments

[sneerpout.livejournal.com]

In some more traditional patriarchal households in the Balkans, the natural state of a toilet seat is up. Women are expected to lower the seat when they use the toilet and then raise it again when they have finished.

[broin.livejournal.com]

Bitchin'. That's my holiday sorted.

[darkoshi]

in a perfect world we wouldn't need to deal with digestive system outputs or toilets at all.

in an imperfect world, it still depends. I prefer the seat down. But at home, the lid should be left down too so that the seat doesn't get splashed with water from the sink when the toilet isn't in use. Then again, if living with someone who's likely to get piss on the seat (or lid) if the seat (or lid) is left down (egadz), I suppose it would be better to leave them both up.

[derumi.livejournal.com]

Toilet seats should be left up, so people can see whether the bottom of the seat and the bowl are clean. And people won't mind cleaning them.

*has had both male and female roomates, military and civilian*

[kashandara.livejournal.com]

Just for the record, when you flush your average toilet the force of the water cascading down onto the liquid already at the bottom creates a fine mist that can go several feet up...

How close to the toilet do -you- keep your toothbrush and do you put the lid down before you flush?

[rainstorm.livejournal.com]

My toothbrush is in a cupboard.. But then I tend to put the lid down before I flush anyway..

[blackmanxy.livejournal.com]

Check the Straight Dope, yo!

[derumi.livejournal.com]

My toothbrush is in the shower, behind the curtain.

If everyone had Asian-style toilets, there wouldn't be this argument. : p

[guyinahat.livejournal.com]

But for the record, I always put the seat back down anyway. I hate conforming to stereotypes.

[andrewducker]

You prefer to always contradict the stereotype, thus being ruled by it anyway?

[guyinahat.livejournal.com]

There is rarely a single alternative to the stereotype, so my I would hardly say I'm being 'ruled' in any sense that implies a lack of options.

[andrewducker]

In this case there are two options, Up and Down. You indicated that you chose Down _because_ Up was the stereotype, thus indicating that avoiding the stereotype was the defining factor in your choice.

Or am I misunderstanding?

[guyinahat.livejournal.com]

Well actually, I primarily put the seat down because I consider it considerate. I just get an extra warm glow from also not following the stereotypical behaviour of men.

Warm glows from toilet seat behaviour - who would have thought...

[snowking.livejournal.com]

You could carry round some small wedges, leaving toilet seats in a neither Up nor Down configuration, thus annoying everyone!

[kellibunny.livejournal.com]

heh were you told to put it down again?

i got in the habit purely for safety reasons... babies can play/drown in them... then there's the kitten that went exploring :)

[cheekbones3.livejournal.com]

You forget the issue of the lid, which should definitely be down, and the seat be damned.

[octopoid-horror.livejournal.com]

Left down and the lid bit CLOSED.

[cruft.livejournal.com]

I thought you and I had settled this one, sir.

[andrewducker]

I don't believe so.

Looks like it'll have to be pistols at noon.

[pisica.livejournal.com]

Toilet brushes at noon would be more appropriate....

Re: toilet seat/lids

[wolfieboy.livejournal.com]

The lid being down is good. Accidently dropping things in toilet is bad. Dog drinking out of toilet is bad...

[opusfluke.livejournal.com]

Fer Gods sakes! Given the time and effort involved open the flamin' thing, use it, close lid, flush!!!!!! Judas H. Priest, it's not like trying to visualise a hypercube! Even I can handle the concept of basic manners and cleanliness!!!!!
*We would like to take this opertunity to apologise for the over reactions of Laird Opus Fluke on the grounds that he has just quit smoking and is suffering from extreme drug withdrawl symptoms. THE MGT*

[andrewducker]

Fer Gods sakes! Given the time and effort involved just lower the lid if it's open when you find it!!! How hard can it be to see a toilet seat up and then lower it when you need it down!!!

[dapperscavenger.livejournal.com]

The toilet seat should be left down because it is more astheatically pleasing. When I have visitors I am quite particular that my bathrooms should be in order, cleaned and bleached and presentable.

The practicalities of lifting or lowering the seat/lid have no influence on my decision. It is a matter judged solely by my eyes and nose.

[andrewducker]

Your nose shouldn't detect anything even with the seat up...

[dapperscavenger.livejournal.com]

Precisely!

[purpletigron.livejournal.com]

I'm in the 'down because the lid is down for reasons of hygiene, practicality and aesthetics' camp.

[ramtops.livejournal.com]

never mind the seats - toilet *lids* should be left down, in case the dere little kittens fall in.

[dougs.livejournal.com]

What about leaving the lid down and the seat up? Wouldn't that be entertaining if issued as an order from a poster on the wall nearby?

[birdofparadox.livejournal.com]

we shut the lid, regardless of whether we use the seat up or down: it's the only equitable arrangement.

It's not the toilet seats, it's the worldview conflict

[catamorphism.livejournal.com]

Toilet seats are a litmus test. A man willing to keep the toilet seat down is one who can understand that other people have strong emotions for reasons that are valid even if he does not share those reasons. A man who insists on leaving them up is one who acknowledges only those emotions he can personally understand, and denies that any others are valid. Unfortunately, my life partner fails the test :P (And neither of these two attitudes is exclusively found in men. It just tends to generally be men who want to leave the seat up.)

Re: It's not the toilet seats, it's the worldview conflict

[andrewducker]

I put the toilet seat down myself.

Well, I try to remember, and manage at least some of the time.

For exactly the reasons you said.