# What's up with the toilet seat thing? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 4, 2003, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-the-toilet-seat-thing/186286 "2003-07-04T20:37:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sivalensis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@Sivalensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sivalensis)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-the-toilet-seat-thing/186286/1 "2003-07-04T20:37:01Z")
Ok, so maybe you all can help me with this, cuz I just don’t get it. What’s the big damn deal with women getting upset when men leave the toilet seat up? I mean, women don’t put the toilet seat up from men to use, so why should men have to put it down for women? How do you know who’d going to go next and thus which position the seat should be in? I know, I know. I’ve heard people say that it’s polite and all that for men to leave the seat down, in case she has to get up in the middle of the night to go or something (and you know, it is possible to go when the seat’s not down - I know, I’ve had to do it at night when I didn’t check the seat). But what about women being polite to men? Frankly, it seems to me it’s all a control issue and women just want the men to leave it the way they (the women) want it, rather than just dealing with it, and getting in the habit of changing the seat as you go. This may seem like a trivial issue, but I’ve heard women complain about this all the time and it seems really stupid to me (as a woman) that this is such an issue. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-the-toilet-seat-thing/186286/2 "2003-07-04T21:00:39Z")
Seat _and_ lid, **Sivalensis** , seat _and_ lid. 😃 Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-the-toilet-seat-thing/186286/3 "2003-07-04T21:05:07Z")
If it’s not cleaned often enough that rim can get pretty ugly looking. I put mine down when people are coming over. That’s just in case the walk in for something. If they actually have to go I direct them to the other (gf’s) bathroom. ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-the-toilet-seat-thing/186286/4 "2003-07-04T21:22:45Z")
Who cares if somebody’s just _walking_ in. It’s a freakin’ bowl with water in it. There’s no lid for sinks is there? ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-the-toilet-seat-thing/186286/5 "2003-07-04T21:30:48Z")
It’e because if you get up in the middle of the night to use the toilet, and the seat is up, you risk falling into the toilet. There is no risk from sitting down when the seat is down (or closed). ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-the-toilet-seat-thing/186286/6 "2003-07-04T21:32:41Z")
I think this is more a matter of opinion than fact, so I’ll move this thread to IMHO. bibliophage moderator GQ ---
**Author:** ![Kalt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Kalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalt)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-the-toilet-seat-thing/186286/7 "2003-07-04T21:35:34Z")
the OP is based on the presumption that relations between men and women are two-way streets. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Sivalensis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@Sivalensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sivalensis)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-the-toilet-seat-thing/186286/8 "2003-07-04T21:41:23Z")
lmao, that’s exactly it Kalt!!! ratatoskk, if you get up in the middle of the night, you’re not going to fall in. You might end up balancing a little precariously on the thin lip, but most of the time I have enough presence of mind to check if it’s down (though sometimes I’m too asleep to do so). ---
**Author:** ![Sivalensis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@Sivalensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sivalensis)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-the-toilet-seat-thing/186286/9 "2003-07-04T21:42:37Z")
And men manage quite successfully to put the seat down from the up position when they have to sit down. ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-the-toilet-seat-thing/186286/10 "2003-07-04T21:46:34Z")
Who sits down without looking? :dubious: Sleepy, drunk, stoned, etc… I _always_ look. You never know what could be down there waiting to bite you in the ass. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Headcoat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6bbea6/32.png) [@Headcoat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Headcoat)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-the-toilet-seat-thing/186286/11 "2003-07-04T21:48:58Z")
How could someone accidentally sit on a toilet with the seat up? The toilet is in your line of sight when you approach it for use. The status of the toilet seat should be obvious to anyone with eyes. ---
**Author:** ![Blonde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Blonde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blonde)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-the-toilet-seat-thing/186286/12 "2003-07-04T21:52:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Headcoat \* > \*\*How could someone accidentally sit on a toilet with the seat up? The toilet is in your line of sight when you approach it for use. The status of the toilet seat should be obvious to anyone with eyes. \*\* No way! It’s the middle of night - I don’t want to fall into the toilet and bruise everything. I’m one of those who drink gallons of water and have a weak bladder, so I make at least one trip to the commode each night. And that seat better be down. ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-the-toilet-seat-thing/186286/13 "2003-07-04T21:52:52Z")
Doesn’t anyone here go to the toilet in the middle of the night in the dark, or am I the only one? ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-the-toilet-seat-thing/186286/14 "2003-07-04T21:54:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ParentalAdvisory \* > \*\*Who sits down without looking? :dubious: Sleepy, drunk, stoned, etc… I _always_ look. You never know what could be down there waiting to bite you in the ass. :eek: \*\* One can only hope. 😉 Peace, mangeorge (likes surprises) ---
**Author:** ![samarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4da419/32.png) [@samarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samarm)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-the-toilet-seat-thing/186286/15 "2003-07-04T22:02:20Z")
How can you not see if the toilet seat is down? Its right in front of you! I’ve never been to the toilet in complete darkness, btw. Maybe girls just like suprises and divert their eyes from the seat for “will I fall in or won’t I” fun? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Tradnor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cab0a1/32.png) [@Tradnor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tradnor)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-the-toilet-seat-thing/186286/16 "2003-07-04T22:08:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ratatoskK \* > \*\*It’e because if you get up in the middle of the night to use the toilet, and the seat is up, you risk falling into the toilet. \*\* And if it’s down for a man, you risk pissing all over the seat. I wonder if women would be so quick to accept the “it was the middle of the night and it was dark” argument as an excuse for that. FTR, I’ve never gone to the bathroom without enough light to see the toilet. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-the-toilet-seat-thing/186286/17 "2003-07-04T22:17:27Z")
The toilet ought to be closed. Lid down. Fair and sanitary. That’s all. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-the-toilet-seat-thing/186286/18 "2003-07-04T22:20:56Z")
It wouldn’t be a problem if you’d just wear your underwear to bed. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![doctordoowop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecc23a/32.png) [@doctordoowop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doctordoowop)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-the-toilet-seat-thing/186286/19 "2003-07-04T22:28:02Z")
Simple solution-put it back the way you found it. Still more work for men;for reasons unknown to me, women pee more often than men. No,smaller bladder is not the correct reason, because fluid intake is proportionately less too. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2003, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-the-toilet-seat-thing/186286/20 "2003-07-04T22:31:11Z")
Men don’t pee, men piss. Women pee. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-up-with-the-toilet-seat-thing/186286.md?page=2)