Updated Monday, July 21
Let the record show that the largest percentage of readers polled (42%) agree with me that toilet seat assessment is the way to go when considering the use of paper seat covers. In a close second, 35.5% of people opt never to tempt fate and would cover the seat every time, even at Martha Stewart's house. And bringing up the rear (no pun intended) is the 22.5% of people who were raised by monkeys and think that personal hygiene is merely a fad.
Let the record also show that this post garnered more comments than the one celebrating the birth of my son. I have a very peculiar reader base.
Thanks everyone; this was fun!
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Do you always use the provided toilet seat covers in restrooms?
I discussed this with Cameron today and we have somewhat differing views. He says that he would never think of not using a seat cover and I am all for assessing the restroom's cleanliness level before making a decision either way. If the restroom appears clean, then I have no issues. If I am at the airport in Reno, however, I will always opt for protection.
So what about you? Please take a moment to respond to my official, scientific poll on the right-hand column. If you decide to participate, you are required to be 100% honest -- don't worry, you will remain anonymous.
The poll closes a week from today, so weigh in now [poll closed]
If you simply want to make fun of me and tell me how disgusting I am for selectively using the seat protectors, the comment link is below. Try to be kind.
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20 comments:
I think there needs to be some distinction made. I hardly ever use the thin paper covers that you have to pull out, tear off, and place on the seat. Only in a really bad environment would I go through all that trouble. After all...aren't most microbes small enough to travel through that thin worthless paper that is so pointless that the simple motion of sitting down causes the paper to fly off it its intended location?
The distinction therefore is with the automatic seat cover changer (like those located at the Chicago airport). By simply waving my hand in front of a sensor, the clear plastic seat cover changes from a dirty one, through a cleaning mechanism at the back of the toilet seat, and gives a clean fresh seat as the final product. Those I use every time!
Not only do I always use them, but if there are no more left, I use toilet paper instead.
I'm pretty hardcore about butt-to-seat touching!
Heidi
I'm with Heidi on this one, but I will change the verbiage. I'm pretty hardcore about butt-to-butt touching which essentially what you are doing when you don't use the seat cover. Yeah.. you shake people's hand and there's nothing gross about it... but, when you're rubbing butts with someone, whether you get a disease or not... that's still pretty nazty.
It's not that I'm afraid of butt-borne diseases... I just don't wanna play rub-butt with the rest of the world!
You have forgotten another vital category: for the bathrooms that do not have the paper barriers or if a paper barrier simply can't adequately do the job (i.e. toilets in Thailand, mountain outhouses, the AMC movie theater in Alexandria, VA) the SQUAT can/should be employed. This technique involves no cheek-to-seat contact and eliminates the need for lengthy evaluation of sanitary paper necessity - - - very helpful when your PC muscles are giving out. I highly recommend it.
Awesomeness. I pretty much always use one...unless I have to go realllly bad and can't waste time...but...in such case- if the seat looks nasty- I will move on to the next stall.
I find Cameron's comments interesting. Given that in 2007 CNN reported that 1/3 of American men and 12 percent of American women don't wash their hands after using the bathroom (http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/09/17/dirty.hands.ap/index.html), I think you might want to reconsider the "you shake people's hand and there's nothing gross about it" statement.
When you think about it, those statistics make shaking hands more gross/dangerous than getting toilet seat koodies!
I must confess...never use them...gross maybe but I've never really been that worried about things like that, weird for a girl I know but I'm with you Michael...hahah! my butt's touched many other butts apparently...so far no problems have been encountered because of lack of seat covering usage. ha! Jess
Ah.. but Jared, I don't wash my hands after going to the bathroom either. I'm pretty sure that men don't pee on their hands when they use the facilities, why would they need to wash them? It's my contention that we should be washing our hands BEFORE we use the restroom so as to not contaminate our winkies with the germs that gather on our hands throughout the day.
Cameron, you are out of your ever-loving mind. As a woman, I am utterly and incomprehensibly revolted by your assertion that a man does not have to wash his hands because he "doesn't pee on them". I would rather contend with the urine of a stranger than the alien "winkie" germs that I theoretically encounter every time I have the misfortune of shaking hands with a colleague who shares your view! Ew! EW! and EWWWW! (FYI, that's like touching-another-man's-winkie-by-proxy to a woman). I don't think we've met, but remind me NOT to shake your hand when we do... BLECH! :-D
Since we're all commenting on this subject via keyboards, it is worth point out that recent studies have shown the keyboard and the mouse to be major sources of cross contamination infections, sometimes housing infections that can survive on the hardware for up to six weeks.
In Cameron's case, using his keyboard and mouse might border on foreplay.
Hang on...I'm wiping down my keybord with Clorox Wipes.
awrhgkuikyujrterecwxwqzesxdrcftgvyubhni2-;9o,miyntbgrvfedcsx0943poiwkelvsmx c
That ought to do it!
It's nice to know that, of all my deep and insightful posts, this one is generating the most participation. You people have much stronger feelings about poop 'n' pee than I could ever have imagined.
In defense of Cameron, I happen to agree with him (sort-of) on the washing hands thing. I do, however, think its funny that he holds two seemingly opposite opinions on both issues, but I appreciate his candor.
Regardless of his views, Cameron prefers hugs, so no worries about catching anything from him.
You guys crack me up.
Ok people, think about this logically.
Do you wash your hands after you take off your socks?
Do you wash your hands after you put on deodorant?
What about after you scratch your head?
All of these things are probably far more "germ infested" than my winkie which is covered by 2 layers of clothing all day. And if the stream of urine isn't interrupted by my hands I say I'm pretty much good to go. Besides, most men don't even need to handle the winkie when using a urinal... it pretty much handles itself.
Erin.. we have never met, but if we do.. remind me not to shake your hand, because I'm sure you've probably just scratched your head and not washed your hands. :-)
To me there is no evaluating,,,I ALWAYS use a cover, paper or I squat. I never even thought about diseases, it's urine that grosses me out! Someone who may have "splashed" on the seat and then wiped it off still leaves urine behind and no matter how clean it looks, I am not taking the chance of sitting on someone else's PEE! OOOH!
Ok, Cameron. I'll be the one with the bottle of Purel. Shake away.
:-)
As a man, I have to express dissent with Cameron's perspective... After using the urinal, a guy simply must wash his hands! Even if you aren't directly interrupting your flowage, there is always the over-spray to consider. The fine mist spreads and can get on your "guide hand". So, I always wash my hands after a pit-stop. However, I normally do not use the seat covers. My logic is simple, the "uncleanly" part of the butt is not resting on the seat. OK, that being said, I am going to go wash up...
-Adam
Ok I will be brief...I agree with the quick overview of the cleanliness before making a toilet seat cover decision. However My main concern is using the term "winkie" when referring to the "mascot for manliness". How dare you! where's your pride man?
OK Kiddies!!! I am a mother and am speaking for all of your mothers . . USE THE TOILET SEAT COVER AT ALL TIMES - AND - WASH YOUR HANDS AT ALL TIMES YOU HEATHEN!!!!!!!
Michael's Mom (and yours)
(cont'd - - - ) Oh yes - also, STOP THE POTTY TALK!!!!
Michael's Mom
My post poll thoughts...
I seldom use the seat cover. I do however ensure the seat is, at least, visibly clean. Growing up, I always used the covers but over time I found them to be annoying and, on occasion, creating more of a mess I would've had if I hadn't used it.
For me, it's important that I remain anonymous and invisible in a public restroom. The crackling of a rice paper-like cover doesn't help me maintain my anonymity. Instead, it screams, "Hey, I'm taking a dump. Everybody listen to my business."
Before you judge those of us who pass on the rice paper, how can we be certain that the paper used to protect our bums is clean? I'm not sayin... I'm just sayin.
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