What Does Your Toilet Paper Roll Say About You?

By Daniel Miessler on October 16th, 2005: Tagged as Musings | Psychology

So I’ve had a theory for many years now. It’s not particularly poignant or anything, but I figured it’s my blog so I might as well indulge.

I think it may be possible to determine the degree of masculinity/assertiveness a person has by observing how they prefer to place a roll of toilet paper on the spool. I find that most women like to have it come off from behind, i.e. push it “away from you” in order to take some off the roll. The opposite preference seems to exist with the few guys I’ve asked.

What comes to mind is the balance between being passive and being assertive. Those who are more passive are more likely to have it in the back, and those who are more assertive would like the the appearance of the roll facing “toward” them and rolling in their direction when extracted.

I’ve seen women freak out when seeing it face forward — like it’s some sort of affront to their personality. This could be a simple matter of learning it one way and not liking it any other way, but I’m a student of the school that says the subconscious steers much of our behavior. As such, I think this personality issue may be driving people’s preference on the issue in the way I describe above.

I’m quite sure I’m reading too much into this, but I wonder if there’s anything at all to it. I submit the idea for your review. Thoughts?

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Viewing 9 Comments

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    I don't think you're reading any more into it than anyone else does at some point in their life.

    I personally prefer the hangy-downy bit to be in the front (It's easier to get to that way), and I freak out when it's the other way -- and usually change it.

    Having lived with Brad for 2 years, I had to change it around quite a bit, but now that I have my own house I get to hang the toilet paper however the hell I want and no one can screw with it.

    YOU HEAR ME OUT THERE, FREAKS?? DON'T MESS WITH MY TOILET PAPER ROLL!!
    • ^
    • v
    Try this little experiment. With the roll in each orientation, pull out a length of paper and give it a yank (perhaps with a small quantity in the grasping hand ... and the hand about a foot or so from the roll). The intent of the quick yank is the separate the quantity in the hand from the roll. Which orientation yields the best results? For me there is a clear difference (one orientation yields a clean break while the other orientation often results in the roll spinning freely with excess paper spooling off of the roll). I use the orientation that yields a clean break. Of course it's possible that different people have different styles of breaking off the tissue. And it's possible that THIS (more than anything else) is why they have chosen their preferred orientation.

    Those with cats have an entirely different reason for choosing an orientation. I have never had a cat, but I know that they can paw at the roll ... and if the tissue is in one orentation, this pawing will result in a pile of paper on the floor.
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    PS You might perform the experiment from a seated position to better simulate actual usage.
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    Carl: s/cat/toddler/g as well.
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    Carl,

    I think the angle issue with tearing toilet paper off the roll is incorrect. If you think about it, the angle that you come off of the circle is always going to be the same, i.e. if you pull in any direction, you will always end up with equal friction on the spool.

    I think it's an illusion of sorts. Imagine a ball bearing rolling around a circle, or a discus being thrown by an olympian. When the release takes place, it's always going to come off at a tangent to the circle.

    So here's my point. There isn't a "tighter tangent" when pulling off toilet paper. If you pull from a different angle (trying to generate more friction somehow), all you're going to do is change the release point on the roll -- hence giving you the same exact amount of friction as if you had just torn it straight down while it was facing forward.

    If I'm way off, feel free to pummel me.
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    I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess that you didn't do the experiment.

    I understand your logic ... and you're right ... there is a certain symmetry to the situation ... and one could argue that there OUGHT to be no difference to the separation dynamics. HOWEVER ... there is. REALLY!

    Well ... there is for me. I'll hypothesize that it depends on the direction of the yank (upwards, downwards, outwards) and perhaps even the grip (whether the paper comes out of the top of your hand or the bottom of your hand as it heads back to the roll might be an issue ... maybe even the choice of using your right or left hand makes a difference). I haven't checked anything other than this: With MY grip and MY particular directional yank of the paper there is a clear and significant difference in the results for the two orientations of the paper. (All of this assumes a roll that can rotate freely ... don't even get me started on the solidly-in-place rolls in some public restrooms.)

    So ... has ANYONE tried the experiment? Report in! (And ... notice that I have not yet said which orientation I use ... only that I chose mine for a specific reason.)
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    It occurs to me that I should mention that I use DIFFERENT orientations for toilet paper and for paper towels. Anyone else fall into THAT category? And ... while we're discussing these VERY important issues ... is there anyone who just puts the roll on without regard for the orientation (just lets it be one way or the other more or less randomly)?
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    It's all about dust on the roll. Pull the paper towards you from the top and the dust stays on the paper until you deposit it on your rear. Roll the paper away from you and the dust will be on the underside of the paper and more likely to fall.

    -Dave.. A male with no dust on his ass.
    • ^
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    If you have had a problem with dust on your TP, I might suggest a new diet. :)
 

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    This site is an avatar for my own self-assigned life purpose--an attempt to model the world in the most accurate way possible, and to do so without bias or fear of unpleasant truth. I desire to develop, articulate, and perpetually improve models of how things work, and then to use that understanding to increase happiness and reduce suffering. I seek those on similar paths and thrive on sharing an appreciation of the interesting and beautiful with others.



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