# Toilet lid down - why?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-lid-down-why/197489>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [August 25, 2003, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-lid-down-why/197489 "2003-08-25T10:59:40Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![emmaliminal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@emmaliminal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emmaliminal)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-lid-down-why/197489/21 "2003-08-26T14:58:53Z")

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> [@](#):
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> \*Originally posted by ruadh \*  
> \*\*… note, I specifically said I was NOT asking about toilets at homes. \*\*

Um, no disrespect intended, but no, you didn’t specifically say that. You said you understood why people with small children or cats or something did it at home. See?

> [@](#):
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> \*Originally posted by ruadh \*  
> \*\*…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. \*\*

In all seriousness, bathroom habits are often on auto-pilot, so to speak. Your habits at home have a lot to do with your habits elsewhere.

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**Author:** ![Ender\_Will](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Ender\_Will](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ender_Will)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-lid-down-why/197489/22 "2003-08-26T17:11:53Z")

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I try to avoid using public toilets as much as possible, but I’ve never seen one with a lid.

> [@](#):
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> 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.

That’s exactly why I close the lid. I’m a guy, and have actually had women comment on “how considerate it is that you put the seat down”…little do they know I am actually striking a blow for male equality! BWAHHAHAHHAHAHA

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**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\
**Post date:** [August 26, 2003, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/toilet-lid-down-why/197489/23 "2003-08-26T17:18:44Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by emilyforce \*  
> **Um, no disrespect intended, but no, you didn’t specifically say that. You said you understood why people with small children or cats or something did it at home.**

I said “why, when a **public** toilet is functioning perfectly…” I don’t know many people who have public toilets in their own homes.

I accept that the auto-pilot reason is the most likely answer. So auto-pilot folks, a request please? DON’T DO IT. Don’t make the rest of us touch the toilet any more than we absolutely have to.

Thank you.

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