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11 October 2009

MeCha Poll: Toilet Paper. Roll installed with loose end hanging to the front or the back? And, if you have a reason, why?
Me, front 'cause it's easier to unroll and tear that way.

But, at home mine is on it's side.
posted by eekacat 11 October | 12:56
Front, so I don't have to try and figure out where the loose end is if I want to use it, because it's right there.
Same goes for paper towels.
posted by CitrusFreak12 11 October | 13:13
Front for the reasons given above, EXCEPT when you I have cats who like to unroll it. Oliver and Fanty like to unroll it, so we've flipped it and it hangs from the back - no more wasted toilet paper.
posted by deborah 11 October | 13:21
Front. easier to tear.
posted by special-k 11 October | 13:35
I really don't care in the slightest, but mr. gaspode likes it hanging to the front so that is how it is.
posted by gaspode 11 October | 13:54
Front, but I live with two guys so I'm lucky if there's any on the roll at all.
posted by desjardins 11 October | 14:14
Gaspode, I am gonna go ahead and call you out as 'not caring' about which direction the toilet paper roll lies, because of your obviously deviant antipodean proclivities. The toilet paper ALWAYS goes over the front, but I find it maddening when I go to the homes of friends (Aussies and Kiwis), and to the last man, they hang their toilet paper the wrong way. I am so offended by their disappointingly savage behavior, so I always do them the favor of flipping it over. They never seem to learn their lesson, though. People who allow the toilet paper roll to be put on backwards obviously have sociopathic tendencies.
posted by msali 11 October | 14:26
It seems I always put it to the front. I have no idea why.
posted by arse_hat 11 October | 14:44
Another vote for hanging in front. It just looks so WRONG the other way.

However, people with pets or toddlers do have a good reason to hang it in back to prevent total toilet paper unrollings. Even adults probably use less paper if it's hanging in back. So this might also be the more environmental option. But it still LOOKS WRONG.
posted by marsha56 11 October | 14:44
Ha! That's interesting, msali. I must say, I saw plenty of toilet paper hanging either way in peoples' places, when I was growing up. I have no recollection of how we had it. It wasn't a thing.
posted by gaspode 11 October | 15:01
I don't think I have a certain way I do it.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero 11 October | 15:12
The bog roll sits on top of the cistern. It faces in no particular direction. I am a heathen.
posted by dodgygeezer 11 October | 15:44
The lack of controversy is stunning. Have we all learned to get along?

Excellent reason to hang it backwards though. I'll have to remember that trick (if I ever get cats, that is).
posted by DarkForest 11 October | 15:45
Roll to the front, because I spent my youth in Texas. Where there are roaches. Where there are roaches everywhere oh sweet mercy roaches everywhere I hate roaches oh my.

And when you wake up in the night, stumble to the bathroom, and flick on the light, if* there's a roach in there, and hide somewhere. And once in a million times, it will hide behind the toilet paper roll, and when you put your hand back there to pull down some paper, the roach will scurry onto your hand and right up your arm while you sit there on the toilet, thinking --- hoping --- that you are having a nightmare.

*IF. Don't tell me there definitely is a roach in there, or I will never sleep again, even thought I live two thousand miles away now.

I, uh, is that a good enough reason?

Why are you scootching away?
posted by Elsa 11 October | 16:04
Excellent reason to hang it backwards though. I'll have to remember that trick (if I ever get cats, that is).

Or try this trick: before putting the new roll on the spindle, smush it a tiny bit between your hands, just enough to barely flatten the cardboard core. Then you can hang it any way you want, and it will roll on the spindle, but not twirl or spin fast enough to unwind tons of paper at a time.
posted by Elsa 11 October | 16:06
My SO hangs it to the back. At one point it almost caused a rift between us (oh yeah, no fighting over uncapped toothpaste or lids on the loo, we argued about the toilet paper!!) - I hang it to the front, he corrects me, and the cat can't unroll he loo-paper when he's in that mood. The cat made sure that SO won the argument, but I can't change my habit.
posted by dabitch 11 October | 16:24
Front. (Friends of mine like to fuck with me though and will flip it to the back for fun. It started as some big joke at a party and so now whenever anyone uses the bathroom at someone else's house, they flip the direction of the tp.)
posted by sperose 11 October | 16:39
Front. It's the only way that makes sense. If I'm somewhere that has it incorrect, I will fix it for them. This included learning how to work the security roll at my last place of work.

Any pet or person that would contravene this does not stay under my roof.
posted by Eideteker 11 October | 17:02
I don't pay attention either way.
posted by Stewriffic 11 October | 17:15
Front, and yes, when I'm either co-habiting with people or am at a place where the toilet paper's out and I need to replace it, I make it go to the front.

However, I don't have a toilet roll holder at my apartment, so the roll's on the side. But the side with the end of the roll is facing the sitter, so it's still "front."
posted by TrishaLynn 11 October | 19:11
I used to not care. Then, I lived with someone who insisted it be in the back, so now, to celebrate that I no longer live with her, I always put it in the front.
posted by Obscure Reference 11 October | 20:01
Aaaand on inspection, I see that my preference is only a preference, not a habit: the roll (almost finished) is facing backwards, and I never noticed.
posted by Elsa 11 October | 20:11
On the counter top.
posted by Ardiril 11 October | 21:11
Am I the only one who remembers the weeks ... months ... years that this issue, er, spun out in Ann Landers? Even she couldn't stand it in the end.

Friends of mine with cats got a vertical spindle and put it there. I guess that accomplishes with gravity and friction the same trick as Elsa.
posted by dhartung 11 October | 21:53
Back. Because of the Simpsons.
posted by mullacc 11 October | 21:55
Back in Australia, front here in Japan.

But really the bigger question is - why am I *always* the one who has to replace the damn roll????
posted by gomichild 11 October | 22:00
You can't get away with just shaking it off.
posted by Ardiril 11 October | 22:15
Back in the 1970s, you'd sometimes see toilet paper printed with a pattern, like paper towels are now (sometimes). And for the pattern to be visible, it had to roll off the front.

Therefore, I claim the wisdom of the ancients and always have it roll off the front.
posted by BoringPostcards 11 October | 22:19
Blahrgl, Elsa! That happened to me in a movie theater stall with an industrial roll. When I remodel my bathrooms, I'm getting open-ended holders.
posted by brujita 11 October | 23:43
No. No no no. You don't understand. Oliver will stand on his hind legs and spin that roll with both paws going *pawpawpawpawpaw* as fast as he can. Smushing the roll isn't gonna slow him down. I'm sure Oliver shared his technique with Fanty because Fanty does the same damn thing.

I had another cat, Diego, who'd lay on the toilet lid and just lazily reach over and slowly spin the whole roll of paper onto the floor. Smushing might work for that.
posted by deborah 12 October | 04:01
You know who else liked the toilet roll hanging over the top?

Izzat good controversy?
posted by theora55 12 October | 10:34
Happy Sunday, folks! || Have you done any home canning this year?

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