# Mortal sin: leaving the toilet seat up: why? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 25, 2013, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mortal-sin-leaving-the-toilet-seat-up-why/661900 "2013-06-25T18:43:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2013, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mortal-sin-leaving-the-toilet-seat-up-why/661900/61 "2013-06-27T04:51:02Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > (And what a surprise, you’re one of those who refers to women as “females” but men as men.) Is it okay to refer to females as “females” if one also, you know, always refers to males as “males”? ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2013, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mortal-sin-leaving-the-toilet-seat-up-why/661900/62 "2013-06-27T05:53:24Z")
This was another problem we didn’t know we had until this thread. But, although seat movement must cost much less than a single calorie, if efficiency is the goal shouldn’t one maintain a schedule of future events? We’ve instituted one on a blackboard here, but it’s turned into a running joke: ```auto 10:43 -- Mrs. -- Down 10:55 -- Kid#2 -- Up 2:45 -- Kid#1 -- Down 3:43 -- Mrs. -- Up (??? What??? -- Septi) 5:15 -- Septi Up [del]9:15 -- Septi Up[/del] 6:00 -- Septi Up -- George is stopping by, with a 12-pack of beer 6:20 -- Septi Up 6:40 -- Septi Up [del]7:00 -- Septi Up[/del] -- George, drunk, wants a pissing contest in the orchard [del]7:20 -- Septi Up[/del] 7:03 -- Kid#1 -- Down -- Mom's dinner was too spicy. ``` > [@tralfamidor](#): > > Apparently, toilet seat malfeasance is a worse sin than accidentally setting fire to the cat. Aren’t such accidents an argument against the full-down position? Household pets may have sudden needs to be quenched. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2013, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mortal-sin-leaving-the-toilet-seat-up-why/661900/63 "2013-06-27T06:11:06Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > Is it okay to refer to females as “females” if one also, you know, always refers to males as “males”? Yes. The fact that he _didn’t_ was my point. Which you would know since you quoted me saying > [@](#): > > (And what a surprise, you’re one of those who refers to women as “females” but men as men.) ---
**Author:** ![Doggo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/87869e/32.png) [@Doggo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doggo)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2013, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mortal-sin-leaving-the-toilet-seat-up-why/661900/64 "2013-06-27T10:20:59Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > The toilet has a lid. Just as we don’t leave canisters unlidded when not in use or cabinet doors open, we don’t leave the toilet lid up. That doesn’t apply in many ( ? most ) parts of the world. Millions ( ? billions ) of people use squat toilets without seats or lids. Perhaps if madame doesn’t like to put the seat down, she could install a squat loo. As for myself, I’ll put the seat down when women start to put it up after use. ---
**Author:** ![Doggo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/87869e/32.png) [@Doggo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doggo)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2013, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mortal-sin-leaving-the-toilet-seat-up-why/661900/65 "2013-06-27T10:22:45Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > My wife is a lovely, hard working person who does a lot for me; if putting the seat down makes her life a little easier, I’d be a douche not to do it. Or a handbag. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2013, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mortal-sin-leaving-the-toilet-seat-up-why/661900/66 "2013-06-27T12:35:21Z")
I’m female. When I go to the bathroom in the darkness, (at least when I’m not puking), I touch the top of the tank to discover the position of the lid. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2013, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mortal-sin-leaving-the-toilet-seat-up-why/661900/67 "2013-06-27T12:39:17Z")
> [@Doggo](#): > > That doesn’t apply in many ( ? most ) parts of the world. Millions ( ? billions ) of people use squat toilets without seats or lids. Perhaps if madame doesn’t like to put the seat down, she could install a squat loo. How many quatloos would it cost to install a squatloo? ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2013, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mortal-sin-leaving-the-toilet-seat-up-why/661900/68 "2013-06-27T13:01:37Z")
Question, do the women who fall in in the dark also pee on the lid when it’s down? This whole thing is a non-issue in our space because there are two bathrooms however when I pee at night I feel, if it’s down I lift and sit. In fact I sit down about 50% of the time I pee (always have) and have also never fallen in. All that said I’ll close the lid out of consideration… I’ve just never understood the arguments either. > [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > (And what a surprise, you’re one of those who refers to women as “females” but men as men.) Wait, is this somewhat of a sexist slur now? WTF? ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2013, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mortal-sin-leaving-the-toilet-seat-up-why/661900/69 "2013-06-27T13:09:09Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > I’m female. When I go to the bathroom in the darkness, (at least when I’m not puking), I touch the top of the tank to discover the position of the lid. I keep a night light in the bathroom that I turn on when I go to bed. That way I’m not tripping over anything or stumling blind in the middle of the night. Just enough for sleep addled eyes to be able to see without being blinded by turning on the regular lights. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2013, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mortal-sin-leaving-the-toilet-seat-up-why/661900/70 "2013-06-27T15:24:19Z")
> [@White SIFL](#): > > Wait, is this somewhat of a sexist slur now? WTF? [Do men who call women “females” come off as insulting?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=396413&page=2) ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2013, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mortal-sin-leaving-the-toilet-seat-up-why/661900/71 "2013-06-27T22:15:36Z")
This is what’s wrong with same-sex marriage. It isn’t a _real_ marriage if the partners don’t argue over the proper position for the toilet seat. ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2013, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mortal-sin-leaving-the-toilet-seat-up-why/661900/72 "2013-06-28T02:39:50Z")
Christ, I didn’t realize incontinence was a requirement for SDMB registration. Apparently, not only do your bowels and eyes not work right, but also your hands fall off at night. Obviously, you can’t be expected to swipe your hand over the toilet tank to see if it hits anything seat-shaped. I want you all to know I’m laughing hysterically at the notion of all you old bats telling your husbands “Of course I can’t turn on the light. I’m a split second from shitting all over everything, but you can’t expect me to _wake up_!” > [@pullin](#): > > To me it’s just another data-point in the constant refrain: “We females can handle anything you men can!” (except changing the oil, replacing the filters, fixing the brakes, backing the RV, launching the boat, starting the weed-eater, fixing the deck, patching the roof, wiring the new hot-tub, fixing the stair railing, replacing the disposal, putting in a sink, filling the freezer with fresh game meat, re-hanging the broken garage door, replacing the opener, and of course… raising toilet lids) that I’ve been hearing my whole damned life. :rolleyes: And lightbulbs. You forgot lightbulbs. ---
**Author:** ![Doggo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/87869e/32.png) [@Doggo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doggo)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2013, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mortal-sin-leaving-the-toilet-seat-up-why/661900/73 "2013-06-29T13:42:24Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > I keep a night light in the bathroom that I turn on when I go to bed. That way I’m not tripping over anything or stumling blind in the middle of the night. Just enough for sleep addled eyes to be able to see without being blinded by turning on the regular lights. I have a low watt nightlight in the hall, which is just outside the bathroom, so there is never a problem. Of course, as I pointed out before, we have a squat loo, so up or down is never an issue, LOL. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2013, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mortal-sin-leaving-the-toilet-seat-up-why/661900/74 "2013-06-29T14:17:18Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > I don’t get the complaints about peeing in the dark, or complaints about turning on the blinding light in the night. > > Just get a little night light in the throne room. Is there a problem with that? > > Myself, I keep the lid down. Not because I’m evolved or anything like that, mind you. It all has to do with fear of ghosts and/or earthquakes. See, ghosts and earthquakes commonly cause an up-lid to fall into the down position, which always happens with a great big\*\*BANG!\*\*that resounds throughout the whole above, rattling the timbers, waking one up in the middle of the night and whitening one’s hair. I should have mentioned this in that other nearby thread (where we are asked to divulge our greatest fears). Maybe I’ll copy this post there too. Any rationale that involves ghosts works for me. I’ve now completely converted to seat down. Thank you for that. ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2013, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mortal-sin-leaving-the-toilet-seat-up-why/661900/75 "2013-06-29T14:22:38Z")
But how do people with nightlights [sleep](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=693044)? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mortal-sin-leaving-the-toilet-seat-up-why/661900.md?page=3)