The Toilet Seat Personometer

Let me preface this article by saying, I do not have a college research group that has looked this up and tested it for me. I do not have any facts outside of observation. Sometimes being observant produces better results and they are usually more accurate. I put my thoughts together on this subject by asking myself this question. Why do I always shut the toilet seat when I am finished taking care of my business? What does that say about me?

I am most likely to leave the toilet seat down where ever and when ever I am finished. I am more familiar with this type because this is the category that I would fall under. So, why do I shut the toilet seat.? I would have to think that a reason would be that I am thinking of the next person who may need to use it. The next person may not need the seat up to complete their business and putting the seat down helps them to start with a fresh slate so to speak. At my house the men in the family shut the seat unless they are waking from a perfect sleep to do what needs to be done. My wife will verify that in our restroom the seat is normally down. In a public area the seats are normally all up so if I am forced to use a toilet instead of the more convenient avenue, yes I will shut the toilet seat. If I do not leave the seat down I feel like I am being a little lazy and inconsiderate, unless the seat is not sanitary at all then I will pass. I also think that it compliments cleanliness by having the seat down. I like to look nice without being arrogant and my habitual toilet seat placement could say that I like nice and neat. In the thought process of placing the toilet seat down it states that something of this nature is not below me it could show a humble side that some people need to realize is very important. I am not forced by the powers that be to always put down the toilet seat but it is something that I do willingly because believe it or not it is part of what makes me who I am or who I am perceived to be.

Okay, when I use a public restroom, it seems the half down types are more than evident. It seems that more often than not these types of people perhaps are the most rampant. They aren't thinking of being sanitary or considerate. They are people who most likely have high stress situations that they can't figure out. They obviously do not wait for completeness because they leave a telltale dribble on the seat and make someone else worry about it. They are most likely impatient and are almost impossible to please. I could see these people not even taking the time to clean their hands, just head for the door. The main thought perhaps on these minds are deadlines, goals, and how to make a fast buck. There minds probably are not even thinking of the now. They are somewhere not even close to their present situation. They very likely lack an almost lost art form entitled common sense. The half down types fit the majority of the general public and a toilet seat left half open and half closed could be the sign of a degenerating society.

Now we arrive at the toilet seat left up types. These types of people you can almost see coming half a mile away. They usually are not concerned about their appearance. It is more of a "whatever" look. They may not be overly hygiene friendly and as they get closer you can smell them. They are usually loud and boisterous and tell stories that would make an exaggeration look for a better definition. They are usually people who speak their minds before there mouth can stutter to a stop. These people have a tendency to stick their shoe size in their mouth and think they did the right thing by speaking.

Some of these people are too high and mighty to shut the toilet seat, it is below them. Someone that they may look down upon should shut the toilet seat. These people are the most likely to leave the facility without even flushing away their business. These people also seem to be more prone to germaphobia and are usually the ones who will use half of a roll of toilet paper to set their haunches on, and then leave the bun dressing for the next person to flush. They have a tendency to not know whether or not they are just going in, or just going out. They are usually more concerned about themselves then anyone else. They are the" my way or the highway" type people and their crap doesn't stink. They could be defined as lazy and most do not show respectfulness in certain given situations.

Before you began to ask your friends, family, or coworkers how they leave the toilet seat, think about a time when you remember using a restroom. Maybe the place is packed and you have to go extremely bad. There is a line and you are forced to wait for a throne. Finally, it is your turn and the person before you steps out and you step in. Did you not look to see what type of person came out? Did it not determine your plan of attack as you began to take care of your business? What did the next person in line think about you when you stepped out? Did you leave a personality trait with the toilet seat? The person before you did. If you think about this just a little bit, you will start to agree that observations made by a person who has been in customer interaction situations for nearly 20 years, is very close to correct. If you have been acquainted with a church restroom situation, the same observations do apply. As a matter of fact, wherever you go where there is a restroom situation, you will have to agree that a toilet seat up, down, or half and half, (if they even leave you a choice) can and will define a particular part of a persons personality.