# Official Straight Dope Poll: Women, do you Sit or Hover? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 14, 2012, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/official-straight-dope-poll-women-do-you-sit-or-hover/644002 "2012-12-14T05:16:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/official-straight-dope-poll-women-do-you-sit-or-hover/644002/81 "2012-12-17T15:48:27Z")
My wife apparently uses the toilet paper _cordon sanitaire_. She sometimes tells me to do the same, but I prefer to take my chances at getting bum leprosy. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/official-straight-dope-poll-women-do-you-sit-or-hover/644002/82 "2012-12-17T17:10:52Z")
> [@Agent\_Foxtrot](#): > > Women… defecate?:eek: Sit down. I have something to tell you, and I don’t want you falling over when you faint. Not only do we shit, but we fart as well. ---
**Author:** ![Kaio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c68b51/32.png) [@Kaio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaio)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/official-straight-dope-poll-women-do-you-sit-or-hover/644002/83 "2012-12-17T17:19:44Z")
Depends entirely on the state of cleanliness of the toilet (and to some extent, the bathroom facilities in general). Most places have clean toilets, so I’ll sit without getting fussed about papering the seat. I’ve seen toilets in the aftermath of such papering, and been pretty grossed out, actually. If someone has hover-sprayed all over the toilet, I’ll find another stall, if possible. If not, I’ll hover myself because I’m not touching someone else’s pee. If I hover, I’ll clean up after myself, short of the aforementioned touching someone else’s pee. There are some places that have those automated plastic sheaths over the toilet seat. Obviously they’re not removable so I’ll use them, but it feels weird. And kinda pointless. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Tyger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/fbc32d/32.png) [@Silver\_Tyger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Tyger)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/official-straight-dope-poll-women-do-you-sit-or-hover/644002/84 "2012-12-17T17:37:56Z")
I’m another that sits and doesn’t wipe the seat. If I can see stuff I use a different toilet. I have yet to die. I hate pooping in public restrooms and generally try to either not do it or not do it while anyone else is in the restroom. I know it’s stupid. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Like\_Pie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9f8e36/32.png) [@I\_Like\_Pie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Like_Pie)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/official-straight-dope-poll-women-do-you-sit-or-hover/644002/85 "2012-12-19T03:10:55Z")
> [@Surly\_Chick](#): > > I’m a sitter. I find that I can’t empty my bladder completely if I hover. Don’t normally worry about covers but I always wipe the seat first. This is what I was going to say. I’ve tried hovering when there was no way to sit on the seat without getting poo on myself (the only port-o-potty while camping) and I just couldn’t go. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Plastic\_Ninja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f07891/32.png) [@Little\_Plastic\_Ninja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Plastic_Ninja)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2012, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/official-straight-dope-poll-women-do-you-sit-or-hover/644002/86 "2012-12-19T08:46:49Z")
> [@Agent\_Foxtrot](#): > > Women… defecate?:eek: Celia shits. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2012, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/official-straight-dope-poll-women-do-you-sit-or-hover/644002/87 "2012-12-20T01:07:24Z")
> [@Kaio](#): > > There are some places that have those automated plastic sheaths over the toilet seat. Obviously they’re not removable so I’ll use them, but it feels weird. And kinda pointless. What is this now? Non-removable automatic plastic sheaths? ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/official-straight-dope-poll-women-do-you-sit-or-hover/644002/88 "2013-01-03T17:29:45Z")
I just want to say that I was reading our local alternative rag last night (the one that gets The Straight Dope) and was delighted to see that this poll was mentioned in this week’s column (including the fact that the SDMBers contributed!) I felt so proud of myself for having been part of Science! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/official-straight-dope-poll-women-do-you-sit-or-hover/644002/89 "2013-01-03T18:01:35Z")
> [@ZenBeam](#): > > What is this now? Non-removable automatic plastic sheaths? I forgot to respond to this before. I think I’ve seen them in the New Orleans’s airport. ---
**Author:** ![Cinnamon\_Imp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@Cinnamon\_Imp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Imp)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/official-straight-dope-poll-women-do-you-sit-or-hover/644002/90 "2013-01-03T18:15:30Z")
> [@Infovore](#): > > I just want to say that I was reading our local alternative rag last night (the one that gets The Straight Dope) and was delighted to see that this poll was mentioned in this week’s column (including the fact that the SDMBers contributed!) I felt so proud of myself for having been part of Science! 😃 Just found it at - [http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/articles/43709/straight-dope-do-most-women-hover-over-public-toilets/](http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/articles/43709/straight-dope-do-most-women-hover-over-public-toilets/) I was slightly irritated as a British woman who’d contributed to the poll, that the column presumed that all SDMB female respondents were US-based 😛 ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/official-straight-dope-poll-women-do-you-sit-or-hover/644002/91 "2013-01-04T01:57:32Z")
> [@KarlGrenze](#): > > I forgot to respond to this before. I think I’ve seen them in the New Orleans’s airport. But what are they? I guess it’s especially the “automated” adjective I’m unable to wrap my head around. All I can think is a continuous tube of plastic that slides out onto the toilet seat somehow, but then it would have to be reeled in somewhere, or else it would just pile up on the floor. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/official-straight-dope-poll-women-do-you-sit-or-hover/644002/92 "2013-01-04T02:44:26Z")
> [@ZenBeam](#): > > But what are they? I guess it’s especially the “automated” adjective I’m unable to wrap my head around. All I can think is a continuous tube of plastic that slides out onto the toilet seat somehow, but then it would have to be reeled in somewhere, or else it would just pile up on the floor. You tear it off and take it with you, like a little party favor. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGrenze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dbc845/32.png) [@KarlGrenze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGrenze)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/official-straight-dope-poll-women-do-you-sit-or-hover/644002/93 "2013-01-04T02:46:34Z")
[Here is a blog with a description of it.](http://morethanstuff.com/least-green-thing-this-week-plastic-toilet-seat-covers/) I saw other images with similar types, the picture it shows is the one I saw at the airport, it seems some public restrooms in NYC have them too. I found it a bit weird. > [@ZenBeam](#): > > But what are they? I guess it’s especially the “automated” adjective I’m unable to wrap my head around. All I can think is a continuous tube of plastic that slides out onto the toilet seat somehow, but then it would have to be reeled in somewhere, or else it would just pile up on the floor. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/official-straight-dope-poll-women-do-you-sit-or-hover/644002/94 "2013-01-04T03:23:01Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Male here, but this reminds me of an old girlfriend, a nurse who could probably have been certified insane, who insisted that I hover when taking a dump in public toilets. Just to shut her up, I lied and said okay I would. Actually, she wasn’t even a real nurse. She’d had some minor training of some sort and always tried to claim she was a bona fide nurse because of that. A real flake. And a hoverer. There’s a connection there, I’m sure. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/official-straight-dope-poll-women-do-you-sit-or-hover/644002/95 "2013-01-04T13:46:13Z")
Well, ladies, the poll has made it into Cecil’s column for today (4-Jan-2013): [Do 98% of women hover over public toilet seats? - The Straight Dope](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/3087/do-98-of-women-hover-over-public-toilet-seats) Thanks for your contributions (posts, I mean.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/official-straight-dope-poll-women-do-you-sit-or-hover/644002.md?page=4)