# Coronavirus--I don't get it.\[hoarding toilet paper\] **URL:** \ **Category:** The Quarantine Zone\ **Tags:** covid-quarantine\ **Created:** [March 8, 2020, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-i-dont-get-it-hoarding-toilet-paper/849107 "2020-03-08T16:25:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Kovitlac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/2bfe46/32.png) [@Kovitlac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kovitlac)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2020, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-i-dont-get-it-hoarding-toilet-paper/849107/21 "2020-03-09T14:37:46Z")
I don’t really get it either. I just assume it’s sort of a mild mass hysteria. I haven’t had to buy a single item (toilet paper, paper towels, cleaning products etc) since the panic started, but now I’m starting to get low on toilet paper and am wondering if I’m seriously going to have a problem getting it because idiots are idiots. Probably not, though - I don’t personally know anyone panic buying in my medium-sized Midwest town, although I’m sure some people are. I don’t think it’s a widespread here as larger cities. ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2020, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-i-dont-get-it-hoarding-toilet-paper/849107/22 "2020-03-09T14:49:08Z")
OR… We could be like the lady who stopped using TP! She has a gigantic pile of, ahem, “toilet rags,” and a hamper next the potty. Family members and guests do their business in the toilet, wipe themselves with a toilet rag, then dump (heh) the used rag in the hamper. When the hamper is full, she does a load of TP rag wash. Sure, she saves money buying no toilet paper. HOWEVER, I’m betting those savings are miniscule compared to her outlay for detergent and bleach. I saw this story on “Extreme Cheapskates” years ago, and it still squicks me out. ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2020, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-i-dont-get-it-hoarding-toilet-paper/849107/23 "2020-03-09T15:06:21Z")
> [@Kovitlac](#): > > I don’t really get it either. I just assume it’s sort of a mild mass hysteria. I haven’t had to buy a single item (toilet paper, paper towels, cleaning products etc) since the panic started, but now I’m starting to get low on toilet paper and am wondering if I’m seriously going to have a problem getting it because idiots are idiots. Probably not, though - I don’t personally know anyone panic buying in my medium-sized Midwest town, although I’m sure some people are. I don’t think it’s a widespread here as larger cities. If it helps, I work for a big-box mostly-grocery store company (no, not Wal-Mart) here in the Chicago area and while the toilet paper is flying off the shelves we are, in fact, keeping up with demand. You many not get your first choice of size of package or particular brand but there very much is toilet paper on the shelves. TP shortage seems more of an Australia or Europe problem right now, not a North American problem. It’s hand sanitizers and wipes we can’t keep up with. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2020, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-i-dont-get-it-hoarding-toilet-paper/849107/24 "2020-03-09T15:19:11Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > yes. > > And grass, moss, leaves … [To be done cautiously in Australia](https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/topics/science-environment/2009/06/gympie-gympie-once-stung,-never-forgotten/). ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2020, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-i-dont-get-it-hoarding-toilet-paper/849107/25 "2020-03-09T17:26:52Z")
I’ve always wondered how the Aborigines dealt with things like gympie-gympie. I mean, sure, the older folks would have passed on knowledge of what to avoid to the younger folks, but surely they got stung from time to time. Must have been miserable to deal with. ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2020, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-i-dont-get-it-hoarding-toilet-paper/849107/26 "2020-03-09T18:40:29Z")
03/09/2020: Down to but 10 rolls of toilet paper; therefore, this could be my last transmission. If that is the case, tell my gf I love her and please inform my next of kin. How could I have been so blind as to not stock up? Oh, the regret, the regret! It is like a hot coal. Forgive me, Jesus… But seriously, I Have stocked up on canned goods and also put together a strategic vodka reserve, and that’s about it. I like those canned seltzer waters, so I will likely pick up some at Costco today to cut the vodka if I am to shelter in place. Uh, yeah, I guess I will also grab some tp now that you mention it… ---
**Author:** ![Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/regallag_the_axe/32/445_2.png) [@Regallag\_The\_Axe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Regallag_The_Axe)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2020, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-i-dont-get-it-hoarding-toilet-paper/849107/27 "2020-03-09T19:25:45Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > If it helps, I work for a big-box mostly-grocery store company (no, not Wal-Mart) here in the Chicago area and while the toilet paper is flying off the shelves we are, in fact, keeping up with demand. You many not get your first choice of size of package or particular brand but there very much is toilet paper on the shelves. TP shortage seems more of an Australia or Europe problem right now, not a North American problem. > > It’s hand sanitizers and wipes we can’t keep up with. I also work at a big box store and we’re _not_ keeping up with demand for TP. We were sold out less than an hour and a half after opening on Saturday and within two hours on Sunday. We can’t keep up sanitizers and wipes either. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2020, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-i-dont-get-it-hoarding-toilet-paper/849107/28 "2020-03-09T19:29:11Z")
To paraphrase a comedian I once heard: “Why buy just one roll? Are you trying to quit?” ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2020, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-i-dont-get-it-hoarding-toilet-paper/849107/29 "2020-03-09T19:50:50Z")
> [@Kovitlac](#): > > I don’t really get it either. I just assume it’s sort of a **mild mass hysteria.** I haven’t had to buy a single item (toilet paper, paper towels, cleaning products etc) since the panic started, but now I’m starting to get low on toilet paper and am wondering if I’m seriously going to have a problem getting it because idiots are idiots. Probably not, though - I don’t personally know anyone panic buying in my medium-sized Midwest town, although I’m sure some people are. I don’t think it’s a widespread here as larger cities. (Bolding emphasis mine) or maybe “Bile Ass Hysteria” ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2020, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-i-dont-get-it-hoarding-toilet-paper/849107/30 "2020-03-09T20:46:47Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Ever try to wipe your ass with newsprint? A newspaper in Australia just published eight blank pages so you can use it if you don’t have toilet paper. ---
**Author:** ![Esprise\_Me](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprise_me/32/2947_2.png) [@Esprise\_Me](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprise_Me)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2020, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-i-dont-get-it-hoarding-toilet-paper/849107/31 "2020-03-09T20:56:46Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > Toilet paper is one of those weird things that people seem to panic buy whenever there is a perceived crisis on the horizon. For some reason, TP is also susceptible to panics over perceived shortages. > > I have been pondering this as well over the past few days. > > Some ideas: > > - TP is a large, bulky item. When shoppers are in a store, they are unlikely to notice if there are no canned refried beans on the shelf. They are likely to notice a shopping aisle with a big gap where the TP used to be. Even if there are 10,000 rolls out back, the lack of TP in aisle 5 gives them a start. So if they see some being brought out from the back, they grab some. > > - Likewise, if you see 10 shoppers going out of the store with big packs of TP, you’ll wonder what the heck is going on. This is noticeable. (The other day, I saw every single shopper at Costco going out with a 48 pack of TP. Or two. Or on one case, 4. The dude had a HUUUUGE pile of TP. It was noticeable) When you get in the store, you wonder why everyone was stocking up. So you think you’d better stock up too. > > Essentially, shoppers are like lemmings, and big packs of TP are very noticeable on the store shelves and in the carts. Also, if people are cleaning out the shelves and are likely to continue doing so for a while, stocking up might actually be a reasonable thing for a person to do. There are certain products I buy regularly (mostly esoteric personal care and food items) that are often out of stock. When a new shipment comes in, I’ll buy a bunch so that I don’t have to deal with the store being out when I need more, at least for a while. I realize I may be contributing to the problem by doing this, but in this instance I’m going to be selfish and buy extra to ensure I have enough. (I have not been doing this with toilet paper or anything else that’s currently flying off the shelves due to the current panic, but I’m not ruling it out.) ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2020, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-i-dont-get-it-hoarding-toilet-paper/849107/32 "2020-03-09T21:00:14Z")
I was able to obtain alcohol wipes for my resident diabetic’s insulin shots at a hospital pharmacy’s OTC section today. Bought 2 100ct boxes, figuring that either supply will normalize by the time we run out or there will be MUCH bigger problems. They seemed well-stocked, but the tech who took my payment said they were totally out of rubbing alcohol. I did also see a few bottles of aloe vera gel (didn’t bother buying that at this point, I’ve got a good supply of sanitizer, purchased well before the panic. We just normally keep it on hand anyway). Hmm, I do still have some blank newsprint left over from our last move… OK, I do also have a decent stock of toilet paper. Again, just something I stay stocked up on anyway. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2020, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-i-dont-get-it-hoarding-toilet-paper/849107/33 "2020-03-09T21:04:09Z")
[CNN addresses the OPs question.](https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/09/health/toilet-paper-shortages-novel-coronavirus-trnd/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2020, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-i-dont-get-it-hoarding-toilet-paper/849107/34 "2020-03-09T21:06:55Z")
For some reason, there was a semi-official warning from a Responsible Person in Aus that you should stock up for a self-quarantine with a couple of weeks supplies of essentials like **toilet paper**. From there it just went ballistic. People doing their next years toilet paper shopping. Women fighting over new stock. Whole aisle completely empty, day after day, week after week. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2020, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-i-dont-get-it-hoarding-toilet-paper/849107/35 "2020-03-09T21:23:23Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Ever try to wipe your ass with newsprint? As a matter of fact I have. You have to crinkle it to get if softer. When I was growing up, we couldn’t afford to buy ahead on anything and were occasionally reduced to using newspaper. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2020, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-i-dont-get-it-hoarding-toilet-paper/849107/36 "2020-03-09T22:30:50Z")
DILs buying toilet paper like a mad woman. She said she doesn’t wanna live in a world w/o TP. I have hoarder tendencies, I asked her to get me some at Sam’s club and take it to my house. I feel left out of the hysterics. Dang, I never get to have fun. 😌 ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2020, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-i-dont-get-it-hoarding-toilet-paper/849107/37 "2020-03-09T22:52:45Z")
Is Australia’s TP locally produced, or imported? I see price gouging for TP on Amazon.com.au, whereas the US prices still look about right. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2020, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-i-dont-get-it-hoarding-toilet-paper/849107/38 "2020-03-09T23:40:09Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > As a matter of fact I have. You have to crinkle it to get if softer. When I was growing up, we couldn’t afford to buy ahead on anything and were occasionally reduced to using newspaper. Hey, that reminds me of my school days–crumble and uncrumble a piece of notebook paper enough times and it becomes as soft as any toilet paper. At the time I just did it out of boredom–now, maybe it can be called a “life hack.” ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2020, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-i-dont-get-it-hoarding-toilet-paper/849107/39 "2020-03-10T00:18:32Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > As a matter of fact I have. You have to crinkle it to get if softer. When I was growing up, we couldn’t afford to buy ahead on anything and were occasionally reduced to using newspaper. I’ve heard (sorry, no cite) that if you use silly putty you get a perfect representation of your derriere. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2020, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-i-dont-get-it-hoarding-toilet-paper/849107/40 "2020-03-10T01:51:44Z")
I wish I lived by the beach. Seashell collecting is a great hobby. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-i-dont-get-it-hoarding-toilet-paper/849107.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronavirus-i-dont-get-it-hoarding-toilet-paper/849107.md?page=3)