# TP: Over or under and why? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 30, 2008, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tp-over-or-under-and-why/470318 "2008-10-30T20:59:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2008, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tp-over-or-under-and-why/470318/21 "2008-10-31T06:07:10Z")
Over, in spite of having two cats. I haven’t had a problem yet with these particular cats, but one of my former ones unrolled an entire roll once, then dragged it around from room to room. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2008, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tp-over-or-under-and-why/470318/22 "2008-10-31T11:39:24Z")
Over. It’s more visible and one side isn’t stuck against the wall and behind a big fat cylinder. Plus it’s easier to spin it towards me than away from me. ---
**Author:** ![EpicNonsense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c37758/32.png) [@EpicNonsense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EpicNonsense)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2008, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tp-over-or-under-and-why/470318/23 "2008-10-31T12:12:33Z")
What’s with all of the restroom polls? I think I’m going to start one now in relation to this one. Anyhoo… I install it going over. I despise people going under (all of my roommates) WHY? Because I’m so used to it going in one direction… so what get’s me is when I can’t find the end and I continue to roll it… but unknowingly in the wrong direction! ---
**Author:** ![chromaticity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@chromaticity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chromaticity)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2008, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tp-over-or-under-and-why/470318/24 "2008-10-31T12:19:03Z")
Over. That way, I know why the damn edge is not visible, instead of turning around the roll looking for the edge. Also it sort of looks neater to me, as the paper sits on the roll, instead of hanging about. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2008, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tp-over-or-under-and-why/470318/25 "2008-10-31T13:20:43Z")
> [@InterestedObserver](#): > > And I don’t think my topic is anymore random than a lot of what I’ve seen here. (not that there’s anything WRONG with random, of course:)) It’s not random, but it’s one of those universal debates that will never be settled, like abortion or the existence of God. The answer is clearly “over” but everyone can’t be convinced. ---
**Author:** ![Foxy40](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a9a28c/32.png) [@Foxy40](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foxy40)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2008, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tp-over-or-under-and-why/470318/26 "2008-10-31T13:23:54Z")
Whichever way I took it out of the cabinet to put it on the roll. Don’t care, don’t notice. Since my kid’s bathroom has it random too, I guess they don’t care or notice either. That is when they bother putting it on the roll at all. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2008, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tp-over-or-under-and-why/470318/27 "2008-10-31T13:44:31Z")
Over the top. In part because the design of our holder means that if you do it the other way you’ll scrape your knuckles raw on the z-brick behind it if you do it the other way. It also hangs so close to the z-brick that you can’t grab it. But I preferred it that way even before then. ---
**Author:** ![maladroit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@maladroit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maladroit)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2008, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tp-over-or-under-and-why/470318/28 "2008-10-31T17:56:31Z")
I’m an over, my husband’s an under but neither of us cares enough to get cross about it. We have an open bar holder so it’s simple enough to slide off the roll and turn it around if ya feel ya must. I don’t have a big reason for my preference, it just seems easier to me. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2008, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tp-over-or-under-and-why/470318/29 "2008-10-31T18:34:21Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Random. Now that’s just plain _WEIRD_! I’m an over, my wife’s an under, and while I know I’m right, I can accept that there may be reasons why the under brigade might misguidedly believe they are. But _not caring_ which way round it is? That’s just crazy talk! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![gurujulp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ba9def/32.png) [@gurujulp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gurujulp)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2008, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tp-over-or-under-and-why/470318/30 "2008-10-31T18:42:30Z")
> [@InterestedObserver](#): > > Is there a rationale behind this or is it just habit or personal preference with no thought put into it? I’ve noticed that many seem to have a preference/habit, but never really gotten into the discussion with anyone. > > Me, I always install the roll with the paper flowing out on the bottom. Why? Partly habit, but when I was recently questioning myself on the issue (hey, I didn’t have anything to read handy, what else are you gonna do?) I realized that the reason I prefer this is that it is much easier to manipulate that way. You have the leverage of the roll to pull up against when tearing off, and don’t have to use two hands or do weird angles to get a fast, clean tear going. > > Also, you have gravity working for you…the edge tends to fall down for easy future access, as opposed to sitting on the top of the roll or behind it. > —snip Everything you just said is a vote for over the top, IMO. I have had hella passive agressive freezeouts from roommates who disagree… I hate under- it always ends up in the back, and you can never get a clean rip- it just unrolls all the way to the floor if you jerk on it… ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2008, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tp-over-or-under-and-why/470318/31 "2008-10-31T18:50:06Z")
Over the top is the only way. Under gets up against the wall and why do you need to be fumbling around back behind the roll anyway? ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2008, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tp-over-or-under-and-why/470318/32 "2008-10-31T18:54:18Z")
> [@control-z](#): > > Over the top is the only way. Under gets up against the wall and why do you need to be fumbling around back behind the roll anyway? I know. Behind the roll is where the spiders always hide. ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2008, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tp-over-or-under-and-why/470318/33 "2008-10-31T19:06:59Z")
Over. Roll looks nicer without a tail when the end is sitting on top (and visible) instead of paper hanging down the wall. If you keep the roll neat the other way then you have to search around for the end in the back. Why bother? ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2008, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tp-over-or-under-and-why/470318/34 "2008-10-31T19:09:28Z")
Over the top. Then again, I wipe standing up, so I’m probably just a freak. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2008, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tp-over-or-under-and-why/470318/35 "2008-10-31T19:53:16Z")
Over. Under causes the loose end that you’re supposed to grab to stick to the wall or vanity when there’s humidity from a long hot shower or bath. Nobody wants to peel wet toilet paper off the wall to use it on themselves. All other aesthetic considerations take a back seat to this, unless you don’t have any hot water. In terms of practical considerations, an exception can be made for mischievous pets. ---
**Author:** ![Wygtya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f08c70/32.png) [@Wygtya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wygtya)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2008, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tp-over-or-under-and-why/470318/36 "2008-10-31T19:57:26Z")
I worked in a hospital once and a guy came in with a huge splinter under his fingernail. It squicked me out to no end. He did this by reaching behind the bed and a sliver of paneling from the wall got under his fingernail. I do not have paneling in my bathroom, but I do have this thing about my fingernails scraping against walls now, so - over, every time and I’ll take the roll off and fix it if someone puts it on otherwise. Ugh, I’m squicked out all over again. ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2008, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tp-over-or-under-and-why/470318/37 "2008-10-31T20:15:29Z")
> [@Autolycus](#): > > Over the top. Then again, I wipe standing up, so I’m probably just a freak. You don’t find it easier to wipe when you’re cheeks are already separated in the sitting position? I guess you’d have to manually spread your own cheeks when standing? We really \*are \*getting to the meat of the question, aren’t we? ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2008, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tp-over-or-under-and-why/470318/38 "2008-10-31T21:05:37Z")
> [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](#): > > You don’t find it easier to wipe when you’re cheeks are already separated in the sitting position? I guess you’d have to manually spread your own cheeks when standing? > > We really \*are \*getting to the meat of the question, aren’t we? Nice username for this thread. No, I don’t have to manually spread my cheeks. It’s almost exactly the same as wiping while sitting 😕 I don’t like doing it while sitting b/c one time I did that and my hand went into the water. Never again after that. Now it’s just habit. ---
**Author:** ![Azhure](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/71c47a/32.png) [@Azhure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Azhure)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2008, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tp-over-or-under-and-why/470318/39 "2008-11-01T05:09:59Z")
Over the top. If it hangs the other way it ends up sitting against the wall, meaning I scrape the wall with my fingernails trying to get hold of the end. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tp-over-or-under-and-why/470318.md?page=1)