# Ladies, a toilet question (possible TMI) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 21, 2005, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-a-toilet-question-possible-tmi/327323 "2005-10-21T20:09:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Vevila](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc8723/32.png) [@Vevila](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vevila)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2005, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-a-toilet-question-possible-tmi/327323/1 "2005-10-21T20:09:54Z")
When I sit to use the porcelain throne (I’m female, btw), my pants generally get pulled down to maybe mid to lower thigh (meaning the waistband is sitting just above my knees or so). At work, I’ve noticed a few ladies who seem to pull their pants down to their ankles to do their business. (I notice this while sitting in the stall next to them; the partition is sort of high. I can’t believe I now know the color of some of my cow-orkers underwear.) Not wanting to ask my cow-orkers about the positioning of their pants while they do their business, I’m asking here. How far down do you pull your pants when you have to go? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_chao_goes_mu/32/3191_2.png) [@The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Chao_Goes_Mu)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2005, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-a-toilet-question-possible-tmi/327323/2 "2005-10-21T20:25:43Z")
Just to the thigh. Any lower is just unnecessary. Besides, pulling them any lower risks them touching the floor. Ick. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_chao_goes_mu/32/3191_2.png) [@The\_Chao\_Goes\_Mu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Chao_Goes_Mu)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2005, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-a-toilet-question-possible-tmi/327323/3 "2005-10-21T20:30:17Z")
> [@The Chao Goes Mu](#): > > Just to the thigh. Any lower is just unnecessary. Besides, pulling them any lower risks them touching the floor. Ick. Maybe I should clarify. I don’t just pull them to my thigh as that would cause me to piss all over my pants. I actually pull them down to just above the knee. ---
**Author:** ![iluvurmom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iluvurmom/32/7276_2.png) [@iluvurmom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iluvurmom)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2005, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-a-toilet-question-possible-tmi/327323/4 "2005-10-21T20:34:37Z")
> [@The Chao Goes Mu](#): > > Maybe I should clarify. I don’t just pull them to my thigh as that would cause me to piss all over my pants. I actually pull them down to just above the knee. I’m at work just cracking up over this little exchange. “piss all over my pants” so lady-like, its sick and I love it. If only the men knew the way we really spoke. I’m tearing up…“piss all over my pants,” classic. ---
**Author:** ![eveanyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@eveanyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eveanyn)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2005, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-a-toilet-question-possible-tmi/327323/5 "2005-10-21T20:41:42Z")
I pull them down to just above my knee, always careful not to let the pants touch the front of the toilet. ---
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2005, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-a-toilet-question-possible-tmi/327323/6 "2005-10-21T20:46:04Z")
Gross - down to the floor - that is nasty! They would touch the wet ickyness on the floor! I pull them down to just above my knees, however my daughter, who is potty-training pulls them down lower. ---
**Author:** ![Queen\_Tonya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/4491bb/32.png) [@Queen\_Tonya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Tonya)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2005, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-a-toilet-question-possible-tmi/327323/7 "2005-10-21T20:56:23Z")
Right about knee-level, and how many of the rest of you had to pantomime to figure it out? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2005, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-a-toilet-question-possible-tmi/327323/8 "2005-10-21T20:59:07Z")
At home, if they go all the way to the floor, that’s fine by me. In public, or at work (which is in public) it’s only to the knees. ---
**Author:** ![Vevila](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc8723/32.png) [@Vevila](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vevila)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2005, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-a-toilet-question-possible-tmi/327323/9 "2005-10-21T21:07:14Z")
_raises hand for the pantomime question_ Yes, as I was writing out the question I had to pantomime. Heh. I’m feeling a bit more normal now about the pants thing. I was starting to wonder if I was doing it “wrong” somehow or if I just have odd cow-orkers. Of course, giant signs are in the stalls telling us to clean up after ourselves and there’s a limerick asking people to use the air freshener.\* So I probably shouldn’t wonder that much. \*The bathroom can smell really bad So nasty it could make you sad To make it go away Please use the spray And folks after you won’t get mad. (I’m the one who felt compelled to write it and post it in the stalls anonymously. :rolleyes: ) ---
**Author:** ![Kiminy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Kiminy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiminy)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2005, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-a-toilet-question-possible-tmi/327323/10 "2005-10-21T21:54:20Z")
Ya, see??? This is why God meant for women to wear skirts!!! :rolleyes: Actually, I wear skirts most of the time–even in winter. Skirts go up, not down, although you do have to make sure that the back panel is high enough not to fall into the bowl as you sit down. I’m not opposed to pants at all. I just feel more comfortable in skirts. ---
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2005, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-a-toilet-question-possible-tmi/327323/11 "2005-10-21T23:04:22Z")
Knee level for pants and panties. The floor is wet and dirty! ---
**Author:** ![N.Sane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f19dbf/32.png) [@N.Sane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N.Sane)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2005, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-a-toilet-question-possible-tmi/327323/12 "2005-10-21T23:50:38Z")
Knee level, definitely. Although occasionally when I’m wearing pants made out of a silkier material, they slide down to the ankles before I can catch them. gross ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2005, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-a-toilet-question-possible-tmi/327323/13 "2005-10-21T23:52:25Z")
Ok, I have pushed my pants a lot closer to the floor at a certain time of the month…I wear tampons and it just makes it easier to do my business with the pants a little further away. Not really dure why it is, except maybe I can open my knees wider? But other than that, just above the knee. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2005, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-a-toilet-question-possible-tmi/327323/14 "2005-10-22T00:26:11Z")
When I wear pants, they go to knee level. Any higher and there’s the yucky bowl. Any lower and there’s the yucky floor. Knee level is definitely where it’s at. **Kiminy** , you explained quite well why I prefer skirts. I totally agree with you. It probably also explains why I prefer those crinkle cotton skirts that you’re supposed to dry all crinkled up. Because I wear long skirts and to gather them up when I go pee will make them all rumpled if they’re nice dressy ones I just spent 10 minutes ironing. But if they’re already totally crinkled, no worries! ---
**Author:** ![qubed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f07891/32.png) [@qubed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/qubed)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2005, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-a-toilet-question-possible-tmi/327323/15 "2005-10-22T03:52:53Z")
I have a related question that i’ve been meaning to ask (i’m a guy). What do females do when the have long flowing dresses (e.g. prom dress or elegant evening gowns). It seems you can’t go down since it’s one-piece and that you don’t want to bunch it up by hiking the dress up. So what do you do? ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2005, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-a-toilet-question-possible-tmi/327323/16 "2005-10-22T04:40:47Z")
> [@Vevila](#): > > How far down do you pull your pants when you have to go? At home or work (where the floor is always pretty clean), to my ankles. Also in nice restaurants, or anyplace where the bathroom floor seems clean. In most public bathrooms, though, it’s to the knees. > [@Kiminy](#): > > Skirts go up, not down, although you do have to make sure that the back panel is high enough not to fall into the bowl as you sit down. The skirts that I wear tend to be ankle-length with stretch waistbands, so I usually just slip them off and hang them on the back of the door until I’m done. Keeps 'em dry, clean, and unwrinkled. 🙂 > [@alank](#): > > What do females do when the have long flowing dresses (e.g. prom dress or elegant evening gowns). It seems you can’t go down since it’s one-piece and that you don’t want to bunch it up by hiking the dress up. So what do you do? Easy: we hold it! 😃 Actually, I’ve never worn a one-piece formal gown like you describe. My best formal outfit is a two-piecer, and I do like I said above: I just take the skirt completely off. Only if I absolutely _have_ to go, though, because the whole skirt/pantyhose thing is a complete pain in the ass. Basically I try not to drink a lot when I’m all dressed up. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2005, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-a-toilet-question-possible-tmi/327323/17 "2005-10-22T04:44:29Z")
You can gather it up and hold much of it off to one side. Most fabrics are more forgiving and won’t wrinkle unless you compress it for period of time. Oh yeah–right above the knees. And I had to pantomime. Next thread: Men! Do you sleep with your beard above or below the covers? (My pal Archy drove a man to suicide with this one!) ---
**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2005, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-a-toilet-question-possible-tmi/327323/18 "2005-10-22T06:53:07Z")
Jeans around the ankles. Mainly because my jeans are pretty loose and they fall there by themselves. And I wear my jeans 99% of the time. ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2005, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-a-toilet-question-possible-tmi/327323/19 "2005-10-23T05:48:52Z")
> [@alanak](#): > > What do females do when the have long flowing dresses (e.g. prom dress or elegant evening gowns). It seems you can’t go down since it’s one-piece and that you don’t want to bunch it up by hiking the dress up. So what do you do? This is what bridesmaids are for. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2005, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-a-toilet-question-possible-tmi/327323/20 "2005-10-23T09:01:49Z")
> [@InternetLegend](#): > > This is what bridesmaids are for. 😃 They pee for you?? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ladies-a-toilet-question-possible-tmi/327323.md?page=2)