Should the Toilet Lid Remain Up or Down After 'Business' Is Finished?

[#HBC | Acrostic]

Consider this, you have spent hours in front of your computer screen debating a diversity of topics concerning the existence of -od, the erection of a religious community center, and the issue of homosexual marriage. As you wrap up your last post of the day, you realize you have to go to the bathroom, now. As you run to the closest relief station accessible, you cross your fingers hoping that Dre. doesn't ruin the post-glow joy that comes from waste excretion by offering yet another refutation to the points you have spent many a brain cells conjuring. Before you leave, you stare at the toilet which graciously accepted and deposited your leftovers. You stare at the toilet at think, "Toilet Lid up or toilet down?" Sure. You normally procrastinate and tell yourself, I'm going to reach a conclusive answer to this problem next week. But the issue remains unresolved. Right here, right now. Should the Toilet Lid Remain Up or Down After 'Business' Is Finished?

 

[AltF4]

Wait, are we talking about the lid or the seat?

I almost never put the lid down. Not unless the cat's around and I'm afraid he's going to fall in or something.

The seat, however? Well, having a wife, I have a habitual instinct to put it down. So I never really have the luxury of choice.

 

[Dre89]

I was surprised to get a mention in the OP.

Seat and lid down. Looks neater, and you'll be well trained for marriage.

 

[ballin4life]

Lid down always during flush for sanitation reasons.

Seriously when a toilet flushes it can shoot stuff like 5 feet in the air (or so I've heard).

 

[DoH]

Down because I'm classy

 

[Bob Jane T-Mart]

Lid down always during flush for sanitation reasons.

Seriously when a toilet flushes it can shoot stuff like 5 feet in the air (or so I've heard).

Down. For exactly that reason. Besides, it also looks neater.

 

[Evil Eye]

I actually did not know that. I will start doing that, I really didn't know that at all.

Speaking on a level that is strictly "seat up or down", I think it's interesting that there's a demand for mild chivalry. The argument for leaving the seat down is convenience for a female partner, friend, or family member -- the additional argument is that it doesn't take much energy on the part of the hypothetical male.

However, it doesn't take much energy to drop a seat, either. In fact, I would presume that it takes slightly less effort. You need only nudge it lightly from a standing position before gravity takes it the rest of the way, while lifting the seat requires a slight amount of hunching and reaching and a full lift.

Assuming something like a husband-and-wife combination, and looking at it in regards to which party has to expend more work to do their meager bathroom choor, it's the male that is slightly more inconvenienced here. Contextually, of course, this could change, such as men living with older women/entertaining older female guests. Vice versa would only enhance my point.

However there could be biological rationale here as well that I'm not aware of, such as the ability of one party to "hold it" better than the other. I have nothing empirical to offer here. There's also the potential counter-argument that males do need to sit down for 50% of their lavatorial affairs, while women must sit down for a full 100%. This is a point that bears consideration.

It would make my day if there was some kind of actual study dedicated to this, haha.


EDIT: I wonder if gay spouses and partners mention this ancient dilemma with any frequence. If I was homosexual and lived with a man I'd probably have a mandatory high-five quota every day to celebrate this escape.

 

[Dre89]

It doesn't take much effort to open a door, or pull a chair out, but it's still chivalrous none the less.

It looks neater as well. The lid up is like a crooked painting.

 

[Evil Eye]

I don't mind chivalry, and I actually do agree it looks a bit neater. I was, however, making a practical argument.

 

[Dre89]

It'd be amazing if the entire DH was unified on this issue.

I actually think light-hearted topics like this shouldn't be done here. Not because I don't like them, but I think we could save them for a hypothetical debate knock-out tournament. Where we have quick one on one debates. We'd use light hearted topics like this, so knowledge in particular fields woldn't advantage or disadvantage anyone, and there wouldn't be any serious judging bias.

 

[Reaver197]

Japanese toilets automatically open and close.

Problem avoided.

 

[Bob Jane T-Mart]

It'd be amazing if the entire DH was unified on this issue.

I actually think light-hearted topics like this shouldn't be done here. Not because I don't like them, but I think we could save them for a hypothetical debate knock-out tournament. Where we have quick one on one debates. We'd use light hearted topics like this, so knowledge in particular fields woldn't advantage or disadvantage anyone, and there wouldn't be any serious judging bias.

The problem is that with debates like this, there aren't any really strong arguments either way, apart from ones that deal with hygiene. So in effect, you wouldn't be able to actually debate it.

And I don't mind light hearted topics like this. Without them we look like a bunch of uber serious weirdos.

 

[El Nino]

Looks neater, and you'll be well trained for marriage.

Depends on your definition of marriage.

Oh wait, there is only one definition. My bad.

Lid down always during flush for sanitation reasons.

Seriously when a toilet flushes it can shoot stuff like 5 feet in the air (or so I've heard).

I guess that means you shouldn't lean back against the lid when you're sitting down.

it's the male that is slightly more inconvenienced here.

Yeah, but isn't that the definition of chivalry?

 

[Lythium]

I figure that the lid exists for a reason. Why not use it? Makes everything look neat and tidy. Also, if you have pets, it keeps them from falling in or drinking from the toilet.

Lid down always during flush for sanitation reasons.

Seriously when a toilet flushes it can shoot stuff like 5 feet in the air (or so I've heard).

I've also heard this. I think there was a Mythbusters episode about it.

 

[vVv Rapture]

Leave it how it is when you're finished. Women complain about leaving it up, but we don't complain when it is left down.

Equal rights!

 

[Lythium]

I don't mind if my boyfriend doesn't put the lid down. But if he doesn't put the toilet seat down, that kinda bothers me.

Have you ever got up in the middle of the night to pee and fallen in the toilet? I have. It's unpleasant and probably unsanitary.

 

[A Pimp Named Slickback]

The only reason a toilet seat is necessary is because men like peeing standing up

IMO this whole issue could be avoided if we just pissed sitting down

but then it would be hard to piss with an erection but that's a sacrifice I'm willing to make.

 

[Reaver197]

I don't know about you, but I always have an erection when I go to the bathroom.

Sitting down is no option.

 

[th3kuzinator]

If I wake up during the night or have just woken up in the morning and have to piss --> boner city.

Other than those times, its usually not a problem.

My house is very lax about the position of the toilet seat, but when I sleep over this one friend's house, his mom always chews me out for leaving the seat up.

I would say put the seat down just to be safe, plus, like someone said, you'll get into the habit for marriage.

 

[#HBC | Dark Horse]

Keep it up.

Anarchy

 

[Dragoon Fighter]

The only reason a toilet seat is necessary is because men like peeing standing up

IMO this whole issue could be avoided if we just pissed sitting down

but then it would be hard to piss with an erection but that's a sacrifice I'm willing to make.

Source?, because I have to say that I am male and standing up just does not do it for me, I prefer setting down myself.

 

[Sucumbio]

wait, really? I hate sitting down to pee. It's so much quicker to just whip it out and go :D

I leave it in the state it was in before I got there. It stems from a greater axiom in my life to leave things as they're found. So if it's up when I get there, it's up after I'm done. Same if it's down to begin with.

 

[A Pimp Named Slickback]

Source?, because I have to say that I am male and standing up just does not do it for me, I prefer setting down myself.

Source: my ****

Also this should be the real DH social thread

the other does not seem so social

 

[Dragoon Fighter]

Source: my ****

Also this should be the real DH social thread

the other does not seem so social

I wish you to show me what you saying is valid.

wait, really? I hate sitting down to pee. It's so much quicker to just whip it out and go :D

I prefer to sit down, read, and take my time.

 

[Sucumbio]

READ? I can understand when taking a ****, but to pee? I have to... ya know... aim it down in the bowl if I'm sitting, otherwise it'd go everywhere >.> I can't read with one hand. Well I can, but it makes turning pages a challenge. Plus it's over in 20 seconds at most. How do you "take your time" peeing? Isn't that kinda unhealthy? Or do you sit... get the book, read some, pee a little, read some more... or like, pee all at once and sit on the throne reading after you've pee'd... ... ?

 

[Dragoon Fighter]

READ? I can understand when taking a ****, but to pee? I have to... ya know... aim it down in the bowl if I'm sitting, otherwise it'd go everywhere >.> I can't read with one hand. Well I can, but it makes turning pages a challenge. Plus it's over in 20 seconds at most.

I set on the seat in reverse.

How do you "take your time" peeing? Isn't that kinda unhealthy? Or do you sit... get the book, read some, pee a little, read some more... or like, pee all at once and sit on the throne reading after you've pee'd... ... ?

I read/write on the back of the seat, and if I get done peeing first I will finish the page I am on and then pack up, and go.

 

[A Pimp Named Slickback]

I set on the seat in reverse.

what the **** LOL

 

[Sucumbio]

hahahaha that's hilarious. I am not one to judge, of course, you wanna pee sitting down, go for it. It actually seems a good way to capitalize on your time, loosing not a moment to that bothersome biological break time we humans take every few hours a day. Imagine! All the time we could save if we didn't have to pee, poo, shower, sleep, eat. We could do all these other things. Sadly I live for showers, sleeping and eating.

 

[Bob Jane T-Mart]

hahahaha that's hilarious. I am not one to judge, of course, you wanna pee sitting down, go for it. It actually seems a good way to capitalize on your time, loosing not a moment to that bothersome biological break time we humans take every few hours a day. Imagine! All the time we could save if we didn't have to pee, poo, shower, sleep, eat. We could do all these other things. Sadly I live for showers, sleeping and eating.

It seems very funny. I wouldn't consider it good use of my time, because I can't most things while I'm on the toilet; the less time I spend there, the more time I have "free". So, yeah if we didn't have bodily functions to answer to, humanity would be a lot better off. All the man-hours wasted sitting on the toilet instead of working, playing or doing whatever...

 

[ballin4life]

Sleep is much more of a waste.

At least using the restroom has a pretty clear purpose (getting rid of waste).

Scientists still aren't really sure what sleep does for the body iirc.

 

[Sucumbio]

That's correct, it's still one of the greatest mysteries in science...

http://blogs.nationalgeographic.com/blogs/news/chiefeditor/2009/08/why-we-sleep-is-a-mystery.html

 

[A Pimp Named Slickback]

I shudder at the thought that 1/3 of my life is spent doing nothing

then I realize the other 2/3 is also spent doing nothing

 

[Budget Player Cadet_]

Here's a legitimate argument for leaving it up. It's easier to flip it down than the other way around. Considering that we don't piss with the seat down...

 

[Sucumbio]

of course by leaving it down you avoid the issue of things dropping into it like, the cell phone, toothbrush, glasses, butts and/or lighter, etc.

 

[Bob Jane T-Mart]

of course by leaving it down you avoid the issue of things dropping into it like, the cell phone, toothbrush, glasses, butts and/or lighter, etc.

That's never been an issue with me. I do leave it down, but the other members of my household leave it up.

 

[Dre89]

This thread reminds me of the time at my high school retreat when I got up in the middle of the night and went to the toilet in pitch black because I couldn't find the light, and didn't miss the bowl at all. Absolutely nailed it.

That was my moment.