Men who stand while peeing have a few good reasons for it. For example, it’s faster. It also saves them the effort of squatting.
However, an economist from Michigan State has suggested that it’s better for everyone to leave the toilet seat up. This is based on the fact that women and men live together under the same roof.
1. They don’t want to make a mess
Men who prefer to stand while peeing may have a few good reasons for doing so. For one, they claim that sitting down to pee creates a mess that isn’t worth the extra cleanup. They also note that sitting down can make it more difficult to empty the bladder completely.
However, there are a few problems with this logic. First, standing to pee can actually cause more splashback than sitting down. This is because as fluids stream through the air, they break into droplets that can spray all over the toilet bowl and surrounding surfaces, including the seat, floor, and walls. And if you’re not careful, these can even reach the flush handle, toilet paper roll, sink handles, and toothbrushes.
The good news is that there are ways to minimize the amount of unseen sprayback while peeing. For example, standing close to the urinal can help reduce the amount of splashback by forcing you to aim directly at the wall behind the toilet bowl. This method also helps you empty the bladder more quickly and completely. And if you’re not sure if your aim is up to snuff, try peeing while looking into a mirror. This trick will help you spot the problem areas and improve your peeing technique while not needing to use toilet bowl cleaners all the time.
If you want to eliminate the unseen sprayback completely, sit down while peeing. This will not only help you avoid the mess but also prevent unnecessary urination and save you some energy and effort. This is even more important if you’re sharing a bathroom with a woman. As Michigan State economist Jay Pil Choi has pointed out, it takes twice as much energy for women to move the toilet seat back and forth after each use than it does for men.
Some men will urinate while standing, while others will urinate while sitting down, and still others will flit between the two depending on their mood. No matter which way you go, there’s no denying that your urination habits can greatly impact the cleanliness of your home or office. That’s why it’s important to develop proper urination habits to keep your space clean and hygienic.
2. They’re afraid of germs
Men who are prone to germaphobia are especially likely to keep the toilet seat up. The fear stems from the knowledge that someone else has used the toilet before them and that they might have left behind a witch’s brew of bacteria, viruses, and other disease-causing organisms. Some of these critters are known to cause STDs such as chlamydia and gonorrhea, while others can lead to infections like the common cold and gastrointestinal distress.
Men also worry that splashback from the urinal will dirty the toilet seat and the floor. Despite the fact that this splashback is minimal (as evidenced by the fact that it goes unnoticed unless you’re standing in front of a bucket of water and using UV light to reveal every drop and drip), many guys don’t want to chance it.
The truth is that the toilet seat is probably no more contaminated than any other surface in the restroom. And although there can be a witch’s brew of germs on public toilet seats, these bugs are unlikely to get you sick if you’re healthy and have a good immune system. In addition, most disease-causing organisms die fairly quickly on surfaces.
It’s no secret that most men don’t like sitting to pee. In Germany, for example, a man who sits to pee is called a sitzpinkler, which sounds like an unmasculine wimp or wuss. But a man should be willing to accept that he can pee in a more comfortable and efficient manner by sitting down.
If he doesn’t, he may be making his roommate/girlfriend/wife work harder than necessary. And that’s not fair.
The bottom line is that there aren’t any valid reasons to leave the toilet seat up, whether it’s an issue of efficiency, courtesy, or equality. So, put the toilet seat back down next time you use the bathroom. And be sure to wash your hands afterward, too!
3. They’re afraid of getting hurt
It’s a small thing, but among the perennial philosophic debates about toilet etiquette, the question of whether men should leave the seat up or down has the potential to get ugly. The Leave-Uppers cite logic and efficiency, while the Put-Downers point to bathroom aesthetics and being considerate of women. Arguments degenerate into gender scripts and stories of men falling into the toilet bowl.
Men who insist on leaving the toilet seat up have a good point: If you leave the seat down, you’re touching a surface that has been touched by multiple people’s bare rear ends. This might make you susceptible to catching a germ, such as a cold, the flu, or even a stomach virus like strep or staph infection.
Some experts claim that a man who leaves the seat up is more likely to injure himself by slipping while peeing and hitting his head on the toilet frame or wall. This is especially true in a public toilet, where the floor and wall are often wet from previous users’ urine. In one case, a guy who fell into the toilet was hospitalized for a broken hip and arm.
There’s also the issue of splashback. Unless you’re using an ultraviolet light or have a trained eye, splashback may go unnoticed, but some men are still worried about it. That’s why some companies sell urinals with a “target fly” painted on them at the best spot to aim for, which can reduce splashback by 70%.
Finally, some men simply prefer to sit down when they pee. This lets them use their abdominal muscles more and gives them a better sense of having emptied their bladder. Plus, sitting can be easier on strained knees and backs.
If you’re one of the guys who prefers to sit, don’t worry. Most women don’t think it’s unmanly to do so, and if you’re sharing a bathroom with a woman, it will probably save both of you time and effort if you both do the same. Just don’t forget to wash your hands. This is a very important step.
4. They’re embarrassed
As anyone who has used a public toilet knows, urinal etiquette can be a bit of a nightmare. Not only are they often unisex, but many men have a difficult time aiming correctly. This can lead to urine spillage all over the floor and – worse still – on the toilet seat. This is a huge source of frustration for women, who can be left covered in their own or other people’s urine splatter.
One way to prevent this is to sit down while peeing, but many men don’t like doing this. In fact, a recent poll found that only 20 percent of men worldwide sit down while they pee. However, Germany is the clear leader when it comes to sitting down while you pee, with more than half of all men surveyed saying they sit down every time or most of the time. The trend is even more pronounced in Japan, with nearly 60 percent of men saying they sit down when they pee.
Why do some men prefer to sit down? It might have something to do with the fact that sitting down can help you empty your bladder more effectively. This can be especially important if you have a medical condition, such as an enlarged prostate or urinary tract problems, which can cause you to pee more frequently and in larger quantities than normal.
Another reason why some men prefer to sit down is that it can be more comfortable. Many men say that sitting down is more relaxing and allows them to concentrate better on their aim, which can make a difference in how much urine they spray. In addition, some men feel that sitting down is more hygienic than standing up, as you’re less likely to get urine on the floor or the toilet seat.
Finally, some men say that it’s simply a matter of convenience. Many men think that it’s easier to just sit down and pee when they have to go than it is to stand up and walk around while they pee. It also saves time, as you don’t have to spend time lowering and raising the toilet seat with each use.