# Should men sit or stand to pee? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 27, 2012, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-men-sit-or-stand-to-pee/632828 "2012-08-27T15:14:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-men-sit-or-stand-to-pee/632828/1 "2012-08-27T15:14:26Z")
According to a [Taiwanese minister](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-19390785) it would create a cleaner environment. He also says they should learn from “Japan and Sweden.” Men in Japan and Sweden pee sitting? Girls. ---
**Author:** ![inedible\_knapsack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/49beb7/32.png) [@inedible\_knapsack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/inedible_knapsack)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-men-sit-or-stand-to-pee/632828/2 "2012-08-27T15:31:02Z")
Both. I prefer to sit at night and stand during the day. It has to do with lighting levels and presence of a urinal (I’m mildly annoyed by having to raise and lower the lid, and water splashing out of a toilet onto my feet and slacks is unpleasant). Maxim magazine readers would call me unmanly, but I have nothing to prove to such people. ---
**Author:** ![si\_blakely](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@si\_blakely](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/si_blakely)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-men-sit-or-stand-to-pee/632828/3 "2012-08-27T15:33:47Z")
After 7 years of working in a building mostly populated by men with toilets (no urinals), I concur. A good proportion of men cannot piss for shit. Sadly, the combination of waning bladder pressure and increasing prostate constriction means that I am reaching that point in my life where I have to contemplate that move personally. There is no way I can get two streams at 90[sup]o[/sup] into the bowl at the same time. Either that or I have one directable stream, and risk a dribble on my shoes. ☹ Si\ ---
**Author:** ![tapu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@tapu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tapu)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-men-sit-or-stand-to-pee/632828/4 "2012-08-27T15:34:28Z")
Anyone who cant, without fail, aim and get a bullseye, and thats pretty much all 'a ya’s, should sit to pee. Better for your prostate anyway. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-men-sit-or-stand-to-pee/632828/5 "2012-08-27T15:35:43Z")
> [@tapu](#): > > Better for your prostate anyway. What? ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-men-sit-or-stand-to-pee/632828/6 "2012-08-27T15:36:27Z")
If you clean the bathroom yourself, pee standing up, I don’t care. If someone else cleans the bathroom, sit down. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-men-sit-or-stand-to-pee/632828/7 "2012-08-27T15:50:43Z")
We should all just adopt the Asian style toilet, then the problem would go away. [Asian Toilet Instructional Video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKkryfdtMNQ) ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-men-sit-or-stand-to-pee/632828/8 "2012-08-27T16:01:01Z")
> [@si\_blakely](#): > > Sadly, the combination of waning bladder pressure and increasing prostate constriction means that I am reaching that point in my life where I have to contemplate that move personally. There is no way I can get two streams at 90[sup]o[/sup] into the bowl at the same time. Either that or I have one directable stream, and risk a dribble on my shoes. ☹ > > Si\ Don’t cross the streams! I generally sit. Unless its a quicky at a gas station or the like. Or behind our shed in the back yard. ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-men-sit-or-stand-to-pee/632828/9 "2012-08-27T16:07:58Z")
It depends on how gassy I am. If I’ve got some serious ammunition in the chamber, I usually sit down so I can vent it with my urine. Otherwise I prefer to stand. ---
**Author:** ![VunderBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/839c29/32.png) [@VunderBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VunderBob)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-men-sit-or-stand-to-pee/632828/10 "2012-08-27T16:15:48Z")
> [@StusBlues](#): > > It depends on how gassy I am. If I’ve got some serious ammunition in the chamber, I usually sit down so I can vent it with my urine. Otherwise I prefer to stand. This. I won’t let any Swedish social engineering _sitzpinkler_ dictate to me how I drain my lizard, either. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-men-sit-or-stand-to-pee/632828/11 "2012-08-27T16:19:05Z")
Situational. At 3 am I’m more comfortable not even turning on the light, just sitting. On kayak trips I use a plastic urinal in my boat. In a bar’s men’sroom I stand. ---
**Author:** ![cwthree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de0a6/32.png) [@cwthree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cwthree)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-men-sit-or-stand-to-pee/632828/12 "2012-08-27T16:28:57Z")
For a variety of reasons, my aim and pressure are unreliable. If a toilet is available, I use it. I only stand if I’m outdoors. ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-men-sit-or-stand-to-pee/632828/13 "2012-08-27T16:35:44Z")
Pee however you like but don’t leave the evidence behind. If you dribble clean up after yourself. ---
**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:** [August 27, 2012, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-men-sit-or-stand-to-pee/632828/14 "2012-08-27T16:39:19Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > According to a [Taiwanese minister](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-19390785) **it would create a cleaner environment.** He also says they should learn from “Japan and Sweden.” This guy has _obviously_ never been inside a public toilet for women. It is disgusting how often females of the species can’t seem to master the simple act of urinating into a toilet bowl. I can’t help but think men wouldn’t do any better. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-men-sit-or-stand-to-pee/632828/15 "2012-08-27T16:40:19Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > If you clean the bathroom yourself, pee standing up, I don’t care. If someone else cleans the bathroom, sit down. Pretty much this. Everything else is personal choice, but this isn’t. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-men-sit-or-stand-to-pee/632828/16 "2012-08-27T16:43:19Z")
At most places I stand. At home I almost always sit, because less cleaning is necessary. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-men-sit-or-stand-to-pee/632828/17 "2012-08-27T16:48:17Z")
I almost always stand, and it appears I am not alone in stumbling to the head in the dark and sitting at night, though. As far as mess…I keep a package of Clorox wipes in the cabinet above the toilet. If I see it needs it, I’ll just wipe it down real quick. Takes 30 seconds and makes it safe for company. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-men-sit-or-stand-to-pee/632828/18 "2012-08-27T16:52:20Z")
I just remembered something from my youth. I was seriously considering going into the Navy in a serious way. All kinds of testing…physical…mental…skill wise blah blah blah. One of the test I needed to pass was literally can you pee standing up straight at a urinal. Even then I thought “is this really a problem that needs to be tested for?” There’s a Hank Hill joke in here somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![tapu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@tapu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tapu)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-men-sit-or-stand-to-pee/632828/19 "2012-08-27T17:06:26Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > What? I said, _BETTER FOR YOUR PROSTATE ANYWAY!!_ (sorry, couldn’t resist) 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2012, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-men-sit-or-stand-to-pee/632828/20 "2012-08-27T17:09:04Z")
Urinals use less water and less space, and standing to pee takes less time (unzip, whip-out, pee, tuck-in, zip - instead of unzip, unbelt, drop-trou, sit, pee, pull up pants, tuck in shirt, zip up). If men all sat to pee, the lines outside mens’ rooms would be as long as the lines outside ladies’ rooms. If I wake up in the middle of the night to pee, I don’t want to sit on the toilet; it takes more effort to return from sitting to a standing position than it does to maintain a standing position. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/should-men-sit-or-stand-to-pee/632828.md?page=2)