The great Cecil Adams, in his Straight Dope column, once offered an aside on an entirely different topic, saying (paraphrase) "I know this the same way I know the toilet paper goes over the roll towards you. Don't ask me how I know. I just know."
Strange. I'm currently writing an article about whether and how you can feel at home somewhere by paying attention to which direction you intuitively reach for the toilet paper in the bathroom. I'm researching toilet paper and toilet paper holders, and then your post pops up in my feed. Sometimes I'm not quite sure if it's all coincidence or some form of destiny. Anyway, thank you. I no longer have any doubts.
I have to say that the patent you're mentioning is a patent to improve toilet paper. Here's a separate earlier patent with a better illustration than makes an even better point and is likely the original patent: patents.google.com/patent/US45โฆ
Have you ever seen the original patents for the Wright Brothers flying machine, or Logie-Bairds television? Things get improved over time, and eventually do things in a completely different way. In this case, loo roll has been improved by mounting it in a more aesthetically pleasing configuration... ๐
Intended is not the same as correct. This is just an appeal to authority. I have NEVER heard a single reason why this is the correct way to do this. What benefit is there?
This entry was edited (Friday, September 12, 2025, 10:15โฏAM)
I never had any doubt. When I was a child my parents had a toilet roll holder which would automatically grip the roll so you could easily tear it off with one hand.
The gripping mechanism only worked the right way around, so I've always been used to the right way being the only way.
I m sorry, but it's a patent drawing, and needs to clearly show function. Drawing it with the paper out the back would have been harder to comprehend. But go ahead and hang it how you want. I assume you don't have cats, or don't mind periodic piles of TP under the dispenser...
I hear some people voluntarily reverse it to see who will mansplain them the fine art of replacing a toilet paper roll, or just sneakily reverse it ๐
Also whoever wrote this patent doesn't have cats!
This entry was edited (Friday, September 12, 2025, 2:26โฏPM)
Have they cleverly avoided the issue by placing the axis vertically, or have they just opened another rift in society by unrolling from the right ๐ฑ when "everyone" knows that it MUST be unrolled from the left?
Which is why you should always put it on with the paper to the wall! The last thing you want is to have some patent troll come into your bathroom and sue you for infringement! Right ?!?
There are two ways to orient the toilet paper: "over" (left image), "under" (right image).
Each has it's pros and cons. For some reason, it's always easier to tear off the pape...
GeePawHill
in reply to Natasha ๐ช๐บ๐ฎ๐ช • • •The great Cecil Adams, in his Straight Dope column, once offered an aside on an entirely different topic, saying (paraphrase) "I know this the same way I know the toilet paper goes over the roll towards you. Don't ask me how I know. I just know."
Words to live by.
Su_G
in reply to Natasha ๐ช๐บ๐ฎ๐ช • • •Toni M.
in reply to Natasha ๐ช๐บ๐ฎ๐ช • • •It does not indicate on which side the wall is, is it?
๐
Toni M.
in reply to Natasha ๐ช๐บ๐ฎ๐ช • • •But definitely a milestone in the history of civilization.
๐คฃ
Zekovski ๐ผ
in reply to Natasha ๐ช๐บ๐ฎ๐ช • • •Syralist drop table toots
in reply to Natasha ๐ช๐บ๐ฎ๐ช • • •Abu Daniyal
in reply to Natasha ๐ช๐บ๐ฎ๐ช • • •Sepia Fan
in reply to Natasha ๐ช๐บ๐ฎ๐ช • • •Sebastian
in reply to Natasha ๐ช๐บ๐ฎ๐ช • • •Nina Kalinina
in reply to Natasha ๐ช๐บ๐ฎ๐ช • • •Wrapping or tolier paper roll
patents.google.comReindeR Rustema
in reply to Nina Kalinina • • •Supermoosie
in reply to Natasha ๐ช๐บ๐ฎ๐ช • • •Patent Expired.
So does not apply.
Doing it my own way.
raptor
in reply to Natasha ๐ช๐บ๐ฎ๐ช • • •asTra
in reply to Natasha ๐ช๐บ๐ฎ๐ช • • •distincte&clare
in reply to Natasha ๐ช๐บ๐ฎ๐ช • • •Markus Werle
in reply to Natasha ๐ช๐บ๐ฎ๐ช • • •Sir Toootenstein
in reply to Natasha ๐ช๐บ๐ฎ๐ช • • •xs4me2
in reply to Natasha ๐ช๐บ๐ฎ๐ช • • •Sรฉrgio Machado
in reply to Natasha ๐ช๐บ๐ฎ๐ช • • •Lupino
in reply to Natasha ๐ช๐บ๐ฎ๐ช • • •John "John Davies" Davies โ๏ธ
in reply to Natasha ๐ช๐บ๐ฎ๐ช • • •Anja
in reply to Natasha ๐ช๐บ๐ฎ๐ช • • •Now @stuartb@stuartb.uk
in reply to Natasha ๐ช๐บ๐ฎ๐ช • • •Things get improved over time, and eventually do things in a completely different way.
In this case, loo roll has been improved by mounting it in a more aesthetically pleasing configuration... ๐
Johan Diederik
in reply to Natasha ๐ช๐บ๐ฎ๐ช • • •Madness832
in reply to Natasha ๐ช๐บ๐ฎ๐ช • • •C.S.Strowbridge
in reply to Natasha ๐ช๐บ๐ฎ๐ช • • •๏ฟฝ
in reply to C.S.Strowbridge • • •berlin_radler
in reply to Natasha ๐ช๐บ๐ฎ๐ช • • •Ulrich Best
in reply to Natasha ๐ช๐บ๐ฎ๐ช • • •Ellen S.
in reply to Natasha ๐ช๐บ๐ฎ๐ช • • •Checkmate.
Nae King! Nae quin! Nae Laird!
in reply to Ellen S. • •Leeloo
in reply to Natasha ๐ช๐บ๐ฎ๐ช • • •I never had any doubt. When I was a child my parents had a toilet roll holder which would automatically grip the roll so you could easily tear it off with one hand.
The gripping mechanism only worked the right way around, so I've always been used to the right way being the only way.
Nae King! Nae quin! Nae Laird!
Unknown parent • •I hope the paper they're using has got better!
SteveTarter
in reply to Natasha ๐ช๐บ๐ฎ๐ช • • •But go ahead and hang it how you want. I assume you don't have cats, or don't mind periodic piles of TP under the dispenser...
Drey
in reply to Natasha ๐ช๐บ๐ฎ๐ช • • •โำฑแธษฉฤ ๐พโฎโ๐ถโฒโ๐
in reply to Natasha ๐ช๐บ๐ฎ๐ช • • •Tim Ward โญ๐ช๐บ๐ถ #FBPE
in reply to Natasha ๐ช๐บ๐ฎ๐ช • • •Matt
in reply to Natasha ๐ช๐บ๐ฎ๐ช • • •Jugger1511
in reply to Natasha ๐ช๐บ๐ฎ๐ช • • •Lupino
in reply to Natasha ๐ช๐บ๐ฎ๐ช • • •๏ฟฝ
Unknown parent • • •this is how argumentation works :D
edit: when i try hard, only argument against wall side might be bad wall color, so that it could crock. then the paper would paint your ass.
Nic3 ๐ช๐บ
in reply to Natasha ๐ช๐บ๐ฎ๐ช • • •Thomas Guyot-Sionnest
in reply to Natasha ๐ช๐บ๐ฎ๐ช • • •I hear some people voluntarily reverse it to see who will mansplain them the fine art of replacing a toilet paper roll, or just sneakily reverse it ๐
Also whoever wrote this patent doesn't have cats!
Boab
in reply to Natasha ๐ช๐บ๐ฎ๐ช • • •blaue_Fledermaus
in reply to Natasha ๐ช๐บ๐ฎ๐ช • • •๏ฟฝ
Unknown parent • • •Erwan ๐
in reply to Natasha ๐ช๐บ๐ฎ๐ช • • •Gareth Kitchener ๏ฃฟ
in reply to Natasha ๐ช๐บ๐ฎ๐ช • • •Sjaak K. ๐ณ๐ฑ๐ช๐บ๐
in reply to Natasha ๐ช๐บ๐ฎ๐ช • • •๐โs Pace
in reply to Natasha ๐ช๐บ๐ฎ๐ช • • •Being validated feels so good!
Voracious Reader
in reply to Natasha ๐ช๐บ๐ฎ๐ช • • •Now you've got me yelling at this Mastodon post: ๐ก
mastodon.social/@paulrickards/โฆ
paulrickards (@paulrickards@mastodon.social)
MastodonVoracious Reader
in reply to Natasha ๐ช๐บ๐ฎ๐ช • • •What about the toilet paper emoji?
๐งป
Have they cleverly avoided the issue by placing the axis vertically, or have they just opened another rift in society by unrolling from the right ๐ฑ when "everyone" knows that it MUST be unrolled from the left?
E-TARD The LifeCaster
in reply to Natasha ๐ช๐บ๐ฎ๐ช • • •Melroy van den Berg
in reply to Natasha ๐ช๐บ๐ฎ๐ช • • •Bill Reese
in reply to Natasha ๐ช๐บ๐ฎ๐ช • • •Admiral Memo
in reply to Natasha ๐ช๐บ๐ฎ๐ช • • •Chuck
in reply to Natasha ๐ช๐บ๐ฎ๐ช • • •Frank
in reply to Natasha ๐ช๐บ๐ฎ๐ช • • •Georg Bloemen
in reply to Natasha ๐ช๐บ๐ฎ๐ช • • •severino
in reply to Natasha ๐ช๐บ๐ฎ๐ช • • •Jonas
in reply to Natasha ๐ช๐บ๐ฎ๐ช • • •Ethan Black
in reply to Natasha ๐ช๐บ๐ฎ๐ช • • •Toilet paper dilemma
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