I understand why people do it in their houses if they have small children or cats or something. I also kind of understand why you’d do it if you left a big stinky mess in a public toilet that wouldn’t flush away. But why, when a public toilet is functioning perfectly, do so many people (well, so many women I suppose, I don’t know what goes on in men’s toilets) put the lid down anyway when they’re finished? They must know that the next person who comes along will have to lift it right back up again.
Can anyone explain this, I see it all the time and it makes no sense whatsoever to me
Habit? If there is a lid I close it when I’m done. I don’t even notice I’ve done it most of the time even at home. It is an automatic pilot kind of thing.
I’m a guy. . .the only thing I can think of is what fishcheer said. Many public toilets, to make sure that stinky messes aren’t left that “wouldn’t flush away,” have very sudden and violent flushes. I have seen at least a couple splash water out of the bowl and onto the walls, floor, door, etc. during a flush. Also, I don’t know about you ladies’ restrooms, but most I’ve been in don’t even have a lid.
I tend to put the lid down when I’m in the bathroom (whether I’ve used the toilet or not) for fear of whatever I’m using falling into the water. Like makeup, a toothbrush, etc.
Most toilets in public and semi-public locations have a split front seat and NO lid. Many patron insist on covering the seat with much toilet paper or the raise the seat and squat over the bowl
At home the lid is kept down except when in use to prevent the dogs from drinking therefrom and the biscuit sanatcher from playing and or drowning in the bowl.
My grannie moved to town into a newly built modern. She use the lid for a dough board to make pies, cakes, bread, and biscuits. She framed grandpa’s picture with the seat!
Most toilets in public and semi-public locations have a split front seat and NO lid. Many patron insist on covering the seat with much toilet paper or the raise the seat and squat over the bowl
In most homes the lid is kept down except when in use to prevent the dogs from drinking therefrom and the biscuit sanatchers from playing and/or drowning in the bowl. If it’s just the two of you who cares? Whatever suits your fancy and is OK with your spouse.
My granny moved to town into a newly built modern home when grandpa died. She used the lid for a dough board to make pies, cakes, bread, and biscuits. She framed grandpa’s picture with the seat! She used the outhouse with a splintery seat cut out in warm weather but preferred the “White Owl” beside the bed even if the porcelain or china was colder than whiz in the wintertime. The kitchen being the only room with heat!
In homes, some folks choose to all always close the lid as an alternative to endless “Why do I have to put the seat down – why don’t YOU put the seat UP?” debates.
I know you aren’t asking about toilets in homes but I have to add this anecdote:
A friend was telling me about how in Zimbabwe (where he’s from) everyone’s toilet lids have crocheted (is that how you spell that word?) toilet-lid covers, with a ball or a head or something on top, whose design seems to be intended to knock the lid back down when bidness is finished. Women make them and sell them at church bazaars. On the theme of those barbie-dress toilet roll covers that everyone’s grandmother has where I come from.
The thought of a crocheted head perpetually sitting on the top of a toilet seat lid kept me laughing for hours, I tell you.
