Toilet Paper: Liberal or Conservative?

[Agritum]

Toilet paper when used with a toilet roll holder with a horizontal axle parallel to the wall has two possible orientations: the toilet paper may hang over (in front of) or under (behind) the roll. The choice is largely a matter of personal preference, dictated by habit. In surveys of American consumers and of bath and kitchen specialists, 60–70% of respondents prefer over.
Despite it being an apparently trivial topic, some people hold strong opinions on the matter. Advice columnist Ann Landers said that the subject was the most controversial issue in her column's history. Defenders of either position cite advantages ranging from aesthetics, hospitality, and cleanliness to paper conservation, the ease of detaching individual squares, and compatibility with a recreational vehicle or a cat. Celebrities and experts are found on both sides. Some writers have proposed connections to age, sex, or political philosophy; and survey evidence has shown a correlation with socioeconomic status.
Solutions range from compromise, to using separate dispensers or separate bathrooms entirely, or simply ignoring the issue altogether. One man advocates a plan under which his country will standardize on a single forced orientation, and at least one inventor hopes to popularize a new kind of toilet roll holder which swivels from one orientation to the other.

Sinrod observed of his survey, "60 percent of those who earn $50,000 or more prefer it to be over and 73 percent of those who earn less than $20,000 prefer under". On what that proves: "I don't know, but it's sure interesting."
In one local election in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, new voting machines were given a trial run by asking the question, "Are you in favor of toilet paper in all public washrooms being installed with the loose end coming up and over the front of the roll?" The answer was yes: 768 to 196, or 80% over. It was thought to be a question "which carried no political association".[68] Yet one teenager's science project at the Southern Appalachian Science and Engineering Fair, and a favorite of the fair's coordinator, was a survey concluding that liberals roll over while conservatives roll under.

Source.


I personally roll my toilet paper over, just because I find it practical. And what say ye, NSG?

[Zavea]

fucking what

[Glasgia]

As an egalitarian, I maintain two bog rolls of which both stem from the middle. I condemn all bourgeoisie class traitors who discriminate against the proletariat bog roll.

[Regnum Dominae]

As soon as LC mentioned the toilet paper debate in that other thread I knew someone was going to make this.

Anyway: over. Or sometimes just on top of the sink next to the toilet.

[HappyShark]

As long as there is toilet paper, I am happy, how it is dispensed is immaterial. Although from a purely aesthetics point of view I must go with over

[Greater Vayland]

So apparently I'm a conservative.

Wonder what Tea Party toilet paper would be like.

[Tiltjuice]

I hate it when people hang it under. It makes it harder to separate off. Though in discussions with people (don't ask) they've said hanging it under makes it easier to rip off one-handed, while hanging it over requires two hands apparently?

Meh. Possible deeper symbolism there.

[Vitaphone Racing]

My toilet paper rolls over. This is the correct way to roll toilet paper for any normal toilet rack. If you don't roll over, you're doing it wrong.

[Vitaphone Racing]

Also where's the "I use my hand" option, surely that's what anarchists would do.

[Maklohi Vai]

Over, and I'm liberal. Diagnostic checks out.

So apparently I'm a conservative.

Wonder what Tea Party toilet paper would be like.

So far under that you pull it up from the floor.

[Cameroi]

toward or away are equally fine. a true conservative and a true conservationist, would use a rag and wash and reuse it each time.
the conservative out of emotional attachment to something familiar, and a conservationist to save trees.

[Hetalian Indie Rio de Janeiro]

Libertarian. e_e

Prefer liberal when have to use the roller, though.

[Herskerstad]

Hope there will be no anarchists here.

[Hetalian Indie Rio de Janeiro]

Hope there will be no anarchists here.

I prefer to use soap and water when I can.

[Imperial Sentara]

Whut. I'm a pretty hard liberal (little "l" mind you) and I roll mine under because I find that it looks nicer. This really seems to be a matter of personal preference.

[Cameroi]

"over" is easier to get ahold of. "under" is more likely to unravel more then you intended.

[Greater Vayland]

Hope there will be no anarchists here.

I prefer to use soap and water when I can.

Your hand?

[Hetalian Indie Rio de Janeiro]

I prefer to use soap and water when I can.

Your hand?

First a pressurized water outpour, then a soapy hand, then water, then the actual soap, then more water, then once again the soapy hand, then more water, then a bare hand, then water on butt and then on hand.

The feeling is much better, actually it feels very nice and kinda erotic.

[The Parkus Empire]

I give a shit, but I don't really care either way so long as it's soft.

[Estruia]

It's toilet paper... Who the hell cares as long as you're getting clean?


I swear, if our ancestors saw what we argued over these days, they would all kill themselves before they even had children, just to keep us from ever existing.

[The Parkus Empire]

It's toilet paper... Who the hell cares as long as you're getting clean?


I swear, if our ancestors saw what we argued over these days, they would all kill themselves before they even had children, just to keep us from ever existing.

They argued over shit like how many angels could fit on the head of a pin, so I really don't think they could in good conscience judge us too harshly.

[Reploid Productions]

.... This might be a top contender for "Most Hilariously WTF Topic I've Ever Seen in NSG"

While we're making insane statistical correlations involving toilet paper rolls, maybe we should try to tackle it in terms of NS! There could be a correlation! Are NSG users more likely to go over or under? Maybe WA players are too busy arguing over the specifics of what type of toilet paper to be bothered with over/under? (Or likely are trying to enforce one as the standard, and it quickly devolving along the lines of NatSov vs IntFed?) Maybe raiders are more likely to go under because it annoys everyone else, while defenders tend to prefer over because it's more orderly?

C'mon NSG, I'm half asleep and braindead from 13 hours of classes today, surely the rest of you can come up with some good shit!

[Tiltjuice]

.... This might be a top contender for "Most Hilariously WTF Topic I've Ever Seen in NSG"

While we're making insane statistical correlations involving toilet paper rolls, maybe we should try to tackle it in terms of NS! There could be a correlation! Are NSG users more likely to go over or under? Maybe WA players are too busy arguing over the specifics of what type of toilet paper to be bothered with over/under? (Or likely are trying to enforce one as the standard, and it quickly devolving along the lines of NatSov vs IntFed?) Maybe raiders are more likely to go under because it annoys everyone else, while defenders tend to prefer over because it's more orderly?

C'mon NSG, I'm half asleep and braindead from 13 hours of classes today, surely the rest of you can come up with some good shit!

*prods Rep Prod* Research methods and stats was one of my least favorite classes in undergrad as a psych major. >_>

NSG/P2TM, over. I rip from right to left or straight down, and I can fold either way. High degree of randomness.

Which kinda sums up my RP style.

[Disserbia]

Over. Apparently I'm a liberal when it comes to toilet paper. No wonder I buy extra soft.

[Big Jim P]

Toilet paper cleans up shit, it doesn't create it, therefore, toilet paper is apolitical.