Monday, September 27, 2010

a pictorial explanation for our friends across the pond

under and least likely to stay this way at my house
over and the correct way to dispense toilet paper
yes, it's true. there are a few things that do manage to ignite serious conversation here on the plantation! i hope this explains our uniquely american obsession with toilet paper directionality.
Posted by at

32 comments:

  1. hopeSeptember 27, 2010 at 4:16:00 PM PDT

    Thank you! This points out why it is easier for the vertically challenged to REACH the danged roll to begin with.

    You are truly a Southern Ambassador of Charm. ;)

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  2. LẌSeptember 27, 2010 at 4:23:00 PM PDT

    My kitty Lola will shred it either way.

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  3. Kim AyresSeptember 27, 2010 at 4:25:00 PM PDT

    When we moved to this house 5 years ago, the holder fell off the wall on the first day. It's never been put back, so the issue doesn't arise...

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  4. PrincessSeptember 27, 2010 at 4:29:00 PM PDT

    It's an over Down Under at the Palais too...
    XXX

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  5. Bill LislemanSeptember 27, 2010 at 4:40:00 PM PDT

    funny that this needs explaining since most of the world uses TP now and I believe it always comes on a roll.
    Maybe a French citizen could explain the advantage of the bidet.
    Oh it over for the TP here - it's more efficient that way.

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  6. Verdant EarlSeptember 27, 2010 at 5:29:00 PM PDT

    I can rock it either way. When it comes to toilet paper, I'm clearly bi. ;)

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  7. daisyfaeSeptember 27, 2010 at 5:31:00 PM PDT

    i thought "Dear Abby" resolved this debate DECADES ago? it is "OVER" in my world.

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  8. anthonySeptember 27, 2010 at 5:35:00 PM PDT

    You wipe your bum with it...does it really matter?

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  9. The Unbearable BanishmentSeptember 27, 2010 at 6:10:00 PM PDT

    If it's UNDER, the lose end can hide from you. No such problem with over. Case closed.

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  10. JennySeptember 27, 2010 at 7:56:00 PM PDT

    *cough*

    *er*

    Over! Always.

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  11. Skippy-sanSeptember 27, 2010 at 8:50:00 PM PDT

    So long as it rolls, tears and is pretty soft-what difference does it make?

    Unless you fold a nice triangle in it every day as they do in fine hotels-and if you do, there are better things to do with your time

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  12. JayneSeptember 27, 2010 at 11:46:00 PM PDT

    It's just gotta be 'over' darlin'! I totally agree with you :-)
    I also have the sneaky habit of changing the direction of other rolls. Are we weird or what? LoL

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  13. PatSeptember 28, 2010 at 1:57:00 AM PDT

    I'm not fussed and in the upstairs loo there are two rolls one over and one under. Just for interest I am now3 going to go and examinde the downstairs loos which are changed without thought or prejudice.
    'Arf a mo'!

    Excuse my panting - only the twentieth time this morning.
    Both are over. Do I pass?

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  14. The MistressSeptember 28, 2010 at 5:13:00 AM PDT

    I just use one of my houseboy's sleeves.

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  15. diveSeptember 28, 2010 at 5:55:00 AM PDT

    Hee hee, Savannah. Ever since my own experience of having an American in the house I deliberately hang my toilet paper the wrong way around just to annoy.
    xoxox

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  16. Ms ScarletSeptember 28, 2010 at 7:30:00 AM PDT

    I'm just grateful that it's there... but aesthetically, I think I prefer it under.
    Sx

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  17. captain chaosSeptember 28, 2010 at 8:29:00 AM PDT

    Over results in less, ahem, waste in regards to overall paper use.

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  18. Lulu LaBonneSeptember 28, 2010 at 1:19:00 PM PDT

    Ok now I see where the misunderstanding lies - We just tear the daily newspaper into little squares ;)
    xxxxxx

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  19. AnonymousSeptember 28, 2010 at 1:24:00 PM PDT

    Oh.
    Life and learn.

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  20. Madame DeFargeSeptember 28, 2010 at 2:38:00 PM PDT

    I am with you on the over. There can be only one way.

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  21. ErylSeptember 28, 2010 at 2:39:00 PM PDT

    I'm so pleased to see this is something other people bother about, because I'm always stopped in my tracks when I go into a loo and it's under, and have always thought I should 'get a life' as they say. It looks untidy when it's under, to me.

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  22. ManuelSeptember 28, 2010 at 2:45:00 PM PDT

    [runs downstairs to switch loo roll round]

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  23. ZSeptember 29, 2010 at 1:04:00 AM PDT

    I know the majority prefer over, but I can't tear it one-handed that way, so I hang it facing under. And it's neater as one doesn't leave that dangly bit, as it tears where the roll is against the wall.

    Have you an opinion regarding fold versus scrunch?

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  24. RosesSeptember 29, 2010 at 1:05:00 AM PDT

    I have been known to correct other peoples' TP mistakes.

    Of course it's over!

    I'm beginning to realise I'm actually quite analy retentive. Obviously not spending enough time in therapy....or with the red wine.

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  25. ZSeptember 29, 2010 at 1:22:00 AM PDT

    If you're anally retentive enough, Roses, the question will rarely arise.

    And you'd be all right in my downstairs loo anyway. The roll is stood on the windowsill as there isn't a holder. We've only lived here 24 years and we still can't be arsed to put one up.

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  26. CiCiSeptember 29, 2010 at 2:28:00 PM PDT

    Excellent illustration and this is a subject that could cause quite a disturbance. It must be OVER. What kind of person would put the toilet paper under. Dang.

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  27. TitusSeptember 29, 2010 at 6:19:00 PM PDT

    Oh yes savannah, you are so, so right.

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  28. Brother TobiasOctober 1, 2010 at 1:17:00 AM PDT

    Over. Somehow one just knows these things. But it took me 40 years to realise that if the perforations weren't lining up on two-ply, it wasn't a faulty roll; you just had to unwind the outer ply one turn to put things right. Now there's a way to wind people up...

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  29. TCOctober 1, 2010 at 8:46:00 PM PDT

    Good post.

    It *must* be over for me. I will change it if it's not.

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  30. ScoutOctober 2, 2010 at 6:55:00 AM PDT

    Over is always best. Confession: when I am in a restaurant bathroom, one with an accessible roll, and the roll is installed incorrectly, I change it.

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  31. MerisiOctober 6, 2010 at 2:50:00 PM PDT

    I am an "over" person (5 years this side of the Pond have not changed that), and I have no idea how my fellow neighbors hang theirs! Shall I go and ask? ;-)

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  32. Claudya MartinezOctober 18, 2010 at 5:05:00 PM PDT

    I love that the pictures have a hand model in them.

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tell me something good, sugar

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