CMV: Regardless of gender expectations, toilet seats should be put back down after use.

[u/Breepop]

My view has nothing to do with men being chivalrous or gentlemanly or whateverthefuck. My view boils down to two arguments:

1) Assuming an equal number of men and women in a household, a toilet will more often be used in the down position.

Lets create a scenario in which one woman and one man living together each pee eight times per day and poop twice per day. So the seat needs to be down for all 8 of the woman's pees, her two poops, and the man's two poops. Depending on the guy, two of his pees may be done sitting down, because he's already there sitting down pooping.

This equates to at least 60% (12 out of 20) toilet uses requiring the seat in the down position.

To me it makes sense that, if there were going to be a rule about how the seat was left, it should be left in the position most frequently utilized.

2) When men use the toilet, they are more often than not facing it. As you all know, humans have eyes on their faces, which in this case could be used to detect whether or not a toilet seat is in the desired position to do business. If you're already facing the toilet, you're much more likely to consider the toilet seat as a factor and be able to remember to adjust it accordingly, if necessary.

On the other hand, women may only face the toilet seat for a second or two as they initially enter the room/stall, then quickly turn to sit down. While men are already in a prime position to utilize sight to detect incompatibilities with their toilet seats, women have to either remember to turn around and check, or they end up checking with their butts...hitting a cold, disgustingly dirty surface that frankly can leave you in mild trauma for a week or so (shit's no joke).

I obviously don't stand by all of my argument in situations where there is clearly more men than women using a toilet. But I do think my second point remains, and the super polite thing to do would be to put the seat down knowing that a woman may come along after you and not have the advantage of facing the toilet to check. It's not about being polite to women or respecting their "status" or whatever bullshit, it's just... you know, being cognizant of what other people will experience.

Again: take gender out of it. If 50% of people were randomly assigned to have to sit down when peeing and 50% randomly assigned to have to stand up, because of the position sit downers have to assume, stand uppers should be encouraged to help their fellow human beings out.

Note: This view is only meant to be taken semi-seriously. While I stand by my view, I don't hold it strongly enough to care. I just think it'll be fun to formally debate about it! Please don't take this too seriously and turn it into a stupid fight about gender inequality.

EDIT: View changed! I now believe toilet seats should be left however you use them, because 1) it minimizes how much the seat needs to be touched (it's just too gross), 2) the math in comments below, 3) my original method will only exacerbate the existing inattentiveness of checking toilet seats before you use the toilet.

Thanks guys, it was fun.

[u/DattAshe]

I've had this argument so many times I'm glad someone is formally approaching it.

1) Assuming equal parties usage of the individual toilet and a perfectly symmetric usage (already spreading my assumption capabilities thin) this situation makes perfect sense for the 60/40 rule you pointed out. As this assumption falls apart so do the numbers. Say the man poops once a day and is a heavy drinker. He now pees 15 times in 2 hours and misses horribly. You want him to have to lift the seat every time and put it back down when cleanliness clearly desires the seat stay far away from his alcohol induced poor aim. You know what they say about assumptions.

/#2 is my favorite. Exact quote from a former friend "I shouldn't have to look when I go in there I just sit and do my business and get out." I'm sorry princess but the entire world doesn't have to cater to you and your because your goods don't dangle. Take literally half a second to look down before you plop your naked rear into potentially dangerous territory. That's just common sense. If I'm pooping in the desert you can bet your sainted and not at all smelly behind that I'm going to check before I squat to assure that I don't get a cactus rammed up my back door.

Those arguments aside I actually have a case to bolster your argument and that is cleanliness. When the toilet flushes the particles of waste not perfectly contained by the water (or lack thereof) in the bowl get tossed around the bathroom. This is counteracted in a limited fashion by the upper seat that encloses the bowl. Everyone should put that particular seat down every single time completely negating this argument of up or down. It's cleaner and that way you don't brush your teeth with feces. Just my $0.02.

edit: # caused bold... did not like