Do you sit on the toilet seat in public restrooms?

[Ember]

But it's OK for someone else to do it? Because you're somehow more important?

If she truly is OCD about germs, then rationality won't enter into the equation here. It's a real fear that no amount of logic will overcome. She will protect herself from the germs she believes are there, regardless of whether it makes sense or not. There are people who are just stupid when it comes to this sort of thing, but if the poster is ODC, medically diagnosed not just fussy, then she doesn't deserve to be belittled for it. It is far beyond her control.

 

[a1tinkfans]

So this is a purely random question and I have included a poll......do you sit directly on the toilet seat in public restrooms? Am I just super neurotic about this, perhaps it stems from the days my grandmother held me above the toilet seat as a child so as not to sit on it. In Korea they have the right idea, you simply squat over a urinal looking bowl in the floor and then flush with your foot. What are your thoughts? I had no trouble in Germany though, on the autobahn the toilets self clean right before your eyes, I had no problem sitting on those seats!

This was so funny to me.... and I needed a laugh!
Meanwhile...crazy here NEVER would sit, NOR do I flush with my hands, I use my foot, I know, I know....I said I was crazy AND I also never well maybe rarely use my hand on the doors when I leave, I ALWAYS try and use my sleeve. I am so grossed out in public bathrooms and try to not use them unless HAVE too and cannot wait it out! Atleast i admit it.....YUCKs me out totally!!!
BY the way I always use that sleeve thing at stores too and have wipes for the carts, I think I am really nuts..... no, I am not ocd, just overly cautious....

 

[pearlieq]

but if the poster is ODC, medically diagnosed not just fussy, then she doesn't deserve to be belittled for it. It is far beyond her control.

I understand the point you're making and in general I agree. The term "OCD" is bandied around pretty casually, and it only hurts the people who actually do struggle with it.

While I'm willing to make allowances for mental illnesses, to me there is a big difference between "People are nasty and I'm sure as heck not touching their germs" and "I have a medical disorder that makes it difficult for me to touch things. I do my best to fight it, but right now I am not able to use a shopping cart without assistance".

To me the first sentence sounds rude and selfish. The second sentence sounds like someone fighting a disease and they'll have my empathy and respect.

 

[Mrs.Reese]

I am proud to sit on the seat and yes I will do a number 2. When you've got to go you've got to go.

 

[spaceacewannabe]

Hoverers are a major reason that public bathrooms get nasty.

I work in a public building in which the bathrooms are cleaned every single day and thus cleaner than most of us have at home. There's nothing that irks me more than going to the bathroom outside my office and sitting on some hoverer's pee. What in the heck is wrong people? They are so precious that they can't sit on the seat but so nasty that they won't bother to clean up their mess for the next person?

I'm so glad so many people on here are anti-hover! I picked the "cover the seat" option, because that's what I do in a less-clean bathroom. I ALWAYS wipe the seat off with tissue before I sit, whether I am then covering it or not, because if someone left it wet, lining the seat doesn't do any good! Anyway...I came on to make the same comment: that hovering is why there's a mess in the first place. Disney is especially bad, although it's hard to say if it's the hovering or the spray from the power flush (ick).

 

[IndianaMouse]

I don't get all of this " I use TP to line the seat/ open the door". You do realize that every time someone flushes a toilet germs spray all over the place, including on the TP that is right beside the toilet. The article I saw said that those toilet germs can spray as far as 8 feet. Paper towl dispensers in the bathrooms are coated with those same germs....so where's the protection?

 

[1957]

I don't get all of this " I use TP to line the seat/ open the door". You do realize that every time someone flushes a toilet germs spray all over the place, including on the TP that is right beside the toilet. The article I saw said that those toilet germs can spray as far as 8 feet. Paper towl dispensers in the bathrooms are coated with those same germs....so where's the protection?

Body suits and Depends?

 

[OceanAnnie]

I don't get all of this " I use TP to line the seat/ open the door". You do realize that every time someone flushes a toilet germs spray all over the place, including on the TP that is right beside the toilet. The article I saw said that those toilet germs can spray as far as 8 feet. Paper towl dispensers in the bathrooms are coated with those same germs....so where's the protection?

Well, that's that then.

Yuck.

 

[shortbun]

Sometimes I find it necessary to clean up after you hoverers! Look back ladies and clean the seat.

 

[davidsprincess]

Had to use a public washroom today and I thought of you all from the moment I stepped into the stall till I walked out.

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

But it's OK for someone else to do it? Because you're somehow more important?

No I'm not important. I just can not & will not touch something germy. My DH can & will. FTR yes I am truly OCD diagnosed and I am OK with it & so is my DH. It doesn't affect anyone else.

 

[maxiesmom]

You touch the dirty money, etc., then later you rub your eyes or your nose or your mouth. If the germs are on your backside seems it's more likely that they'll stay there until the next time you bathe.

Exactly! When I hear that people hover, I always wonder what they are afraid of getting on their bottoms. Do these people run around scratching their rears all day? I think if you are putting paper down on the toilet you have a better chance of touching the toilet with your hands, which is way more gross than touching it with your behind.

 

[Ppufi]

I try to avoid using public bathrooms. If I need to use one, I'll put paper down, a LOT of it, and then hover.

 

[Ember]

I understand the point you're making and in general I agree. The term "OCD" is bandied around pretty casually, and it only hurts the people who actually do struggle with it.

To be fair, I agree 110%.

 

[1957]

No I'm not important. I just can not & will not touch something germy. My DH can & will. FTR yes I am truly OCD diagnosed and I am OK with it & so is my DH. It doesn't affect anyone else.

Do you handle cash coins and bills? Do you open canned goods, boxed or frozen foods? Do you handle fresh fruits/vegetables? Sorry...don't mean to be inflammatory, but I'd just like to know. TIA!!

FTR, I was in Wal-Mart last summer buying massive amounts of food for a large Family Reunion. I was standing in line at the Deli to order sliced turkey, ham, and Swiss. The lady behind the counter was wearing plastic gloves, when a friend of hers carrying a baby showed up to say Hi to her. This lady stepped out from behind the counter, hugged her friend, and rubbed the baby's hair...still wearing the same plastic gloves. She then went back behind the counter and continued to take orders without changing the gloves! I was the next in line. She asked for my order, and I was so grossed out that I just left and asked to speak to a supervisor. They confronted her and she actually denied that this had happened! Fortunately, the lady in line behind me witnessed this and confirmed my story. The whole incident drew a lot of attention, as the lady in question was fired on the spot and had to be escorted out the door. I'm not normally squeamish at all (still sit on public toilets), but this incident really grossed me out!

 

[teacherforhi]

I hover however I make sure the seat is clean before I leave(no I don't touch it with my hands I use a BIG wad of TP). AS far as touching carts, door handles, etc. well I don't. I use my sleeves or in the summer I go with someone who can do it for me.

It's okay for others to touch those things but not you? Isn't that a bit selfish? I honestly would have to think twice about being friends with someone who wanted to me to push the cart and open all the doors so she wouldn't have to touch anything.

 

[1957]

It's okay for others to touch those things but not you? Isn't that a bit selfish? I honestly would have to think twice about being friends with someone who wanted to me to push the cart and open all the doors so she wouldn't have to touch anything.

I believe she stated that she had been officially diagnosed with OCD. This was discussed at length several posts back.

 

[RNMOM]

I remember hearing Dr. Arnot, I think that was his name, on the radio many years ago talking about how useless those paper covers are. He sited research that said sitting on a toilet seat was far better than sitting on a movie theater seat in shorts of a skirt.

He said due to them being cleaned fairly frequently and most of our bums being clean that it isn't an issue.

I completely agree about those that hover. I have followed many a woman into a stall with spatters of urine all over the seat. Can't you at least clean it off for heavens' sake.

 

[MIGrandma]

FTR, I was in Wal-Mart last summer buying massive amounts of food for a large Family Reunion. I was standing in line at the Deli to order sliced turkey, ham, and Swiss. The lady behind the counter was wearing plastic gloves, when a friend of hers carrying a baby showed up to say Hi to her. This lady stepped out from behind the counter, hugged her friend, and rubbed the baby's hair...still wearing the same plastic gloves. She then went back behind the counter and continued to take orders without changing the gloves! I was the next in line. She asked for my order, and I was so grossed out that I just left and asked to speak to a supervisor. They confronted her and she actually denied that this had happened! Fortunately, the lady in line behind me witnessed this and confirmed my story. The whole incident drew a lot of attention, as the lady in question was fired on the spot and had to be escorted out the door. I'm not normally squeamish at all (still sit on public toilets), but this incident really grossed me out!

Couldn't you have just asked her to change her gloves before waiting on you? She could have been in the back, picking her nose with the gloved finger, and come out to wait on you and you never would have known the difference.

 

[Shyvioletisme]

I sit! But I also use bedspreads at hotels, walk around the room barefoot and use the hotel glasses.

Like to live dangerously!

this is all me too...Been doing it all for years and ***knock on wood*** am still alive after all of it..so I'll just continue how I've been doing it.