How do North Americans use toilet paper? [closed]
I saw a joke on an American late-night show about that Germans fold their toilet paper. I got confused. As a German myself I thought "Wait what? What's wrong with that?" and I assumed North Americans use single sheets of toilet paper. But recently I watched an episode of "F is for Family" where workers at an airport complain about having to use single sheets.
After some research I found that it seems to be best practice to use more than single sheets (see e.g. the presumably north-american website http://www.howtowipeyourbutt.com/), which, since "when in rome...", makes me wonder:
Is it common practice in North-America to use several sheets of toilet paper at once? If yes, why would the joke be funny?
germany local-customs north-america toiletries
asked Feb 5 at 6:38
M. SternM. Stern
20417
closed as off-topic by David Richerby, Giorgio, choster, gmauch, Ali Awan Feb 5 at 17:57
- This question does not appear to be about traveling within the scope defined in the help center.
If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
|
show 5 more comments
I saw a joke on an American late-night show about that Germans fold their toilet paper. I got confused. As a German myself I thought "Wait what? What's wrong with that?" and I assumed North Americans use single sheets of toilet paper. But recently I watched an episode of "F is for Family" where workers at an airport complain about having to use single sheets.
After some research I found that it seems to be best practice to use more than single sheets (see e.g. the presumably north-american website http://www.howtowipeyourbutt.com/), which, since "when in rome...", makes me wonder:
Is it common practice in North-America to use several sheets of toilet paper at once? If yes, why would the joke be funny?
germany local-customs north-america toiletries
asked Feb 5 at 6:38
M. SternM. Stern
20417
closed as off-topic by David Richerby, Giorgio, choster, gmauch, Ali Awan Feb 5 at 17:57
- This question does not appear to be about traveling within the scope defined in the help center.
If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
8
I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it has nothing to do with travel.
– David Richerby
Feb 5 at 10:54
2
Agreed, with David. No one is using toilet paper on you except yourself, and if they are, in going to assume you're paying them to do so, and they will do it in whichever way you prefer.
– choster
Feb 5 at 13:29
4
@LightnessRacesinOrbit Huh? It's the same paper. You can use it exactly how you use it at home. What Americans do makes no difference whatsoever.
– David Richerby
Feb 5 at 16:42
2
@LightnessRacesinOrbit The question is whether North Americans use toilet paper in a different way from Europeans and about why some joke is funny. Neither of those is a question about travel. If the question was "Is there a difference between North American toilet paper and European toilet paper?" then the answer being "no" wouldn't disqualify the question. But the question isn't that.
– David Richerby
Feb 5 at 17:45
2
@DavidRicherby My reasoning was that it is a question about a difference in cultures and this way related to travel.
– M. Stern
Feb 5 at 17:53
|
show 5 more comments
I saw a joke on an American late-night show about that Germans fold their toilet paper. I got confused. As a German myself I thought "Wait what? What's wrong with that?" and I assumed North Americans use single sheets of toilet paper. But recently I watched an episode of "F is for Family" where workers at an airport complain about having to use single sheets.
After some research I found that it seems to be best practice to use more than single sheets (see e.g. the presumably north-american website http://www.howtowipeyourbutt.com/), which, since "when in rome...", makes me wonder:
Is it common practice in North-America to use several sheets of toilet paper at once? If yes, why would the joke be funny?
germany local-customs north-america toiletries
asked Feb 5 at 6:38
M. SternM. Stern
20417
I saw a joke on an American late-night show about that Germans fold their toilet paper. I got confused. As a German myself I thought "Wait what? What's wrong with that?" and I assumed North Americans use single sheets of toilet paper. But recently I watched an episode of "F is for Family" where workers at an airport complain about having to use single sheets.
After some research I found that it seems to be best practice to use more than single sheets (see e.g. the presumably north-american website http://www.howtowipeyourbutt.com/), which, since "when in rome...", makes me wonder:
Is it common practice in North-America to use several sheets of toilet paper at once? If yes, why would the joke be funny?
germany local-customs north-america toiletries
germany local-customs north-america toiletries
asked Feb 5 at 6:38
M. SternM. Stern
20417
asked Feb 5 at 6:38
M. SternM. Stern
20417
edited Feb 5 at 19:42
M. Stern
asked Feb 5 at 6:38
M. SternM. Stern
20417
asked Feb 5 at 6:38
M. SternM. Stern
20417
asked Feb 5 at 6:38
M. SternM. Stern
20417
20417
closed as off-topic by David Richerby, Giorgio, choster, gmauch, Ali Awan Feb 5 at 17:57
- This question does not appear to be about traveling within the scope defined in the help center.
If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
closed as off-topic by David Richerby, Giorgio, choster, gmauch, Ali Awan Feb 5 at 17:57
- This question does not appear to be about traveling within the scope defined in the help center.
If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
8
I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it has nothing to do with travel.
– David Richerby
Feb 5 at 10:54
2
Agreed, with David. No one is using toilet paper on you except yourself, and if they are, in going to assume you're paying them to do so, and they will do it in whichever way you prefer.
– choster
Feb 5 at 13:29
4
@LightnessRacesinOrbit Huh? It's the same paper. You can use it exactly how you use it at home. What Americans do makes no difference whatsoever.
– David Richerby
Feb 5 at 16:42
2
@LightnessRacesinOrbit The question is whether North Americans use toilet paper in a different way from Europeans and about why some joke is funny. Neither of those is a question about travel. If the question was "Is there a difference between North American toilet paper and European toilet paper?" then the answer being "no" wouldn't disqualify the question. But the question isn't that.
– David Richerby
Feb 5 at 17:45
2
@DavidRicherby My reasoning was that it is a question about a difference in cultures and this way related to travel.
– M. Stern
Feb 5 at 17:53
|
show 5 more comments
8
I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it has nothing to do with travel.
– David Richerby
Feb 5 at 10:54
2
Agreed, with David. No one is using toilet paper on you except yourself, and if they are, in going to assume you're paying them to do so, and they will do it in whichever way you prefer.
– choster
Feb 5 at 13:29
4
@LightnessRacesinOrbit Huh? It's the same paper. You can use it exactly how you use it at home. What Americans do makes no difference whatsoever.
– David Richerby
Feb 5 at 16:42
2
@LightnessRacesinOrbit The question is whether North Americans use toilet paper in a different way from Europeans and about why some joke is funny. Neither of those is a question about travel. If the question was "Is there a difference between North American toilet paper and European toilet paper?" then the answer being "no" wouldn't disqualify the question. But the question isn't that.
– David Richerby
Feb 5 at 17:45
2
@DavidRicherby My reasoning was that it is a question about a difference in cultures and this way related to travel.
– M. Stern
Feb 5 at 17:53
8
8
I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it has nothing to do with travel.
– David Richerby
Feb 5 at 10:54
I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it has nothing to do with travel.
– David Richerby
Feb 5 at 10:54
2
2
Agreed, with David. No one is using toilet paper on you except yourself, and if they are, in going to assume you're paying them to do so, and they will do it in whichever way you prefer.
– choster
Feb 5 at 13:29
Agreed, with David. No one is using toilet paper on you except yourself, and if they are, in going to assume you're paying them to do so, and they will do it in whichever way you prefer.
– choster
Feb 5 at 13:29
4
4
@LightnessRacesinOrbit Huh? It's the same paper. You can use it exactly how you use it at home. What Americans do makes no difference whatsoever.
– David Richerby
Feb 5 at 16:42
@LightnessRacesinOrbit Huh? It's the same paper. You can use it exactly how you use it at home. What Americans do makes no difference whatsoever.
– David Richerby
Feb 5 at 16:42
2
2
@LightnessRacesinOrbit The question is whether North Americans use toilet paper in a different way from Europeans and about why some joke is funny. Neither of those is a question about travel. If the question was "Is there a difference between North American toilet paper and European toilet paper?" then the answer being "no" wouldn't disqualify the question. But the question isn't that.
– David Richerby
Feb 5 at 17:45
@LightnessRacesinOrbit The question is whether North Americans use toilet paper in a different way from Europeans and about why some joke is funny. Neither of those is a question about travel. If the question was "Is there a difference between North American toilet paper and European toilet paper?" then the answer being "no" wouldn't disqualify the question. But the question isn't that.
– David Richerby
Feb 5 at 17:45
2
2
@DavidRicherby My reasoning was that it is a question about a difference in cultures and this way related to travel.
– M. Stern
Feb 5 at 17:53
@DavidRicherby My reasoning was that it is a question about a difference in cultures and this way related to travel.
– M. Stern
Feb 5 at 17:53
|
show 5 more comments
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
The debate is between folding it or crumpling it, it is not about the number of sheets. A single sheet would be inadequate in most cases in either form.
I know this is a strange question. Heck, you may have never even thought about it before. However, when watching TV with the German boyfriend recently, a show mentioned that different cultures have different methods for using toilet paper. In particular, they said that Germans fold and Americans crumple.
Source: https://welcometogermerica.com/2014/11/toilet-paper-culture-germans-fold-americans-crumple.html
Then there is this survey about bathroom habits
Folding versus crumpling. Overall almost 50% more people fold their toilet paper
rather than crumple it. Age increases the chance you will be folding rather than
crumpling. Women are significantly more likely than men to crumple than fold.
Spending more time in the bathroom increases the chances of you crumpling
versus folding.
Must Read: The 3 Types of Toilet Paper Users: Which One Are You?
answered Feb 5 at 6:46
Hanky PankyHanky Panky
26.2k478126
18
This is scary and eye-opening at once.
– Ewige Studentin
Feb 5 at 9:05
14
Trust the Germans to be anal about how to use toilet paper. hehehe
– RobbyReindeer
Feb 5 at 12:28
5
TIL I'm German.
– GalacticCowboy
Feb 5 at 14:56
4
@AlexanderMatrosov It feels like if you crumple it does a better job of getting into any crevices or wrinkly areas (speaking as a woman).....If you fold, it just kind of skims across the top.
– user3067860
Feb 5 at 15:39
4
Afaik, there's nothing "American" about crumpling. This is just another internet myth that came out of nowhere. I'm American and I've known plenty of people growing up who do one or the other. Crumpling definitely isn't more prevalent. Folding probably is, in fact.
– only_pro
Feb 5 at 16:04
|
show 4 more comments
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
The debate is between folding it or crumpling it, it is not about the number of sheets. A single sheet would be inadequate in most cases in either form.
I know this is a strange question. Heck, you may have never even thought about it before. However, when watching TV with the German boyfriend recently, a show mentioned that different cultures have different methods for using toilet paper. In particular, they said that Germans fold and Americans crumple.
Source: https://welcometogermerica.com/2014/11/toilet-paper-culture-germans-fold-americans-crumple.html
Then there is this survey about bathroom habits
Folding versus crumpling. Overall almost 50% more people fold their toilet paper
rather than crumple it. Age increases the chance you will be folding rather than
crumpling. Women are significantly more likely than men to crumple than fold.
Spending more time in the bathroom increases the chances of you crumpling
versus folding.
Must Read: The 3 Types of Toilet Paper Users: Which One Are You?
answered Feb 5 at 6:46
Hanky PankyHanky Panky
26.2k478126
18
This is scary and eye-opening at once.
– Ewige Studentin
Feb 5 at 9:05
14
Trust the Germans to be anal about how to use toilet paper. hehehe
– RobbyReindeer
Feb 5 at 12:28
5
TIL I'm German.
– GalacticCowboy
Feb 5 at 14:56
4
@AlexanderMatrosov It feels like if you crumple it does a better job of getting into any crevices or wrinkly areas (speaking as a woman).....If you fold, it just kind of skims across the top.
– user3067860
Feb 5 at 15:39
4
Afaik, there's nothing "American" about crumpling. This is just another internet myth that came out of nowhere. I'm American and I've known plenty of people growing up who do one or the other. Crumpling definitely isn't more prevalent. Folding probably is, in fact.
– only_pro
Feb 5 at 16:04
|
show 4 more comments
The debate is between folding it or crumpling it, it is not about the number of sheets. A single sheet would be inadequate in most cases in either form.
I know this is a strange question. Heck, you may have never even thought about it before. However, when watching TV with the German boyfriend recently, a show mentioned that different cultures have different methods for using toilet paper. In particular, they said that Germans fold and Americans crumple.
Source: https://welcometogermerica.com/2014/11/toilet-paper-culture-germans-fold-americans-crumple.html
Then there is this survey about bathroom habits
Folding versus crumpling. Overall almost 50% more people fold their toilet paper
rather than crumple it. Age increases the chance you will be folding rather than
crumpling. Women are significantly more likely than men to crumple than fold.
Spending more time in the bathroom increases the chances of you crumpling
versus folding.
Must Read: The 3 Types of Toilet Paper Users: Which One Are You?
answered Feb 5 at 6:46
Hanky PankyHanky Panky
26.2k478126
18
This is scary and eye-opening at once.
– Ewige Studentin
Feb 5 at 9:05
14
Trust the Germans to be anal about how to use toilet paper. hehehe
– RobbyReindeer
Feb 5 at 12:28
5
TIL I'm German.
– GalacticCowboy
Feb 5 at 14:56
4
@AlexanderMatrosov It feels like if you crumple it does a better job of getting into any crevices or wrinkly areas (speaking as a woman).....If you fold, it just kind of skims across the top.
– user3067860
Feb 5 at 15:39
4
Afaik, there's nothing "American" about crumpling. This is just another internet myth that came out of nowhere. I'm American and I've known plenty of people growing up who do one or the other. Crumpling definitely isn't more prevalent. Folding probably is, in fact.
– only_pro
Feb 5 at 16:04
|
show 4 more comments
The debate is between folding it or crumpling it, it is not about the number of sheets. A single sheet would be inadequate in most cases in either form.
I know this is a strange question. Heck, you may have never even thought about it before. However, when watching TV with the German boyfriend recently, a show mentioned that different cultures have different methods for using toilet paper. In particular, they said that Germans fold and Americans crumple.
Source: https://welcometogermerica.com/2014/11/toilet-paper-culture-germans-fold-americans-crumple.html
Then there is this survey about bathroom habits
Folding versus crumpling. Overall almost 50% more people fold their toilet paper
rather than crumple it. Age increases the chance you will be folding rather than
crumpling. Women are significantly more likely than men to crumple than fold.
Spending more time in the bathroom increases the chances of you crumpling
versus folding.
Must Read: The 3 Types of Toilet Paper Users: Which One Are You?
answered Feb 5 at 6:46
Hanky PankyHanky Panky
26.2k478126
The debate is between folding it or crumpling it, it is not about the number of sheets. A single sheet would be inadequate in most cases in either form.
I know this is a strange question. Heck, you may have never even thought about it before. However, when watching TV with the German boyfriend recently, a show mentioned that different cultures have different methods for using toilet paper. In particular, they said that Germans fold and Americans crumple.
Source: https://welcometogermerica.com/2014/11/toilet-paper-culture-germans-fold-americans-crumple.html
Then there is this survey about bathroom habits
Folding versus crumpling. Overall almost 50% more people fold their toilet paper
rather than crumple it. Age increases the chance you will be folding rather than
crumpling. Women are significantly more likely than men to crumple than fold.
Spending more time in the bathroom increases the chances of you crumpling
versus folding.
Must Read: The 3 Types of Toilet Paper Users: Which One Are You?
answered Feb 5 at 6:46
Hanky PankyHanky Panky
26.2k478126
edited Feb 5 at 16:56
answered Feb 5 at 6:46
Hanky PankyHanky Panky
26.2k478126
answered Feb 5 at 6:46
Hanky PankyHanky Panky
26.2k478126
answered Feb 5 at 6:46
Hanky PankyHanky Panky
26.2k478126
26.2k478126
18
This is scary and eye-opening at once.
– Ewige Studentin
Feb 5 at 9:05
14
Trust the Germans to be anal about how to use toilet paper. hehehe
– RobbyReindeer
Feb 5 at 12:28
5
TIL I'm German.
– GalacticCowboy
Feb 5 at 14:56
4
@AlexanderMatrosov It feels like if you crumple it does a better job of getting into any crevices or wrinkly areas (speaking as a woman).....If you fold, it just kind of skims across the top.
– user3067860
Feb 5 at 15:39
4
Afaik, there's nothing "American" about crumpling. This is just another internet myth that came out of nowhere. I'm American and I've known plenty of people growing up who do one or the other. Crumpling definitely isn't more prevalent. Folding probably is, in fact.
– only_pro
Feb 5 at 16:04
|
show 4 more comments
18
This is scary and eye-opening at once.
– Ewige Studentin
Feb 5 at 9:05
14
Trust the Germans to be anal about how to use toilet paper. hehehe
– RobbyReindeer
Feb 5 at 12:28
5
TIL I'm German.
– GalacticCowboy
Feb 5 at 14:56
4
@AlexanderMatrosov It feels like if you crumple it does a better job of getting into any crevices or wrinkly areas (speaking as a woman).....If you fold, it just kind of skims across the top.
– user3067860
Feb 5 at 15:39
4
Afaik, there's nothing "American" about crumpling. This is just another internet myth that came out of nowhere. I'm American and I've known plenty of people growing up who do one or the other. Crumpling definitely isn't more prevalent. Folding probably is, in fact.
– only_pro
Feb 5 at 16:04
18
18
This is scary and eye-opening at once.
– Ewige Studentin
Feb 5 at 9:05
This is scary and eye-opening at once.
– Ewige Studentin
Feb 5 at 9:05
14
14
Trust the Germans to be anal about how to use toilet paper. hehehe
– RobbyReindeer
Feb 5 at 12:28
Trust the Germans to be anal about how to use toilet paper. hehehe
– RobbyReindeer
Feb 5 at 12:28
5
5
TIL I'm German.
– GalacticCowboy
Feb 5 at 14:56
TIL I'm German.
– GalacticCowboy
Feb 5 at 14:56
4
4
@AlexanderMatrosov It feels like if you crumple it does a better job of getting into any crevices or wrinkly areas (speaking as a woman).....If you fold, it just kind of skims across the top.
– user3067860
Feb 5 at 15:39
@AlexanderMatrosov It feels like if you crumple it does a better job of getting into any crevices or wrinkly areas (speaking as a woman).....If you fold, it just kind of skims across the top.
– user3067860
Feb 5 at 15:39
4
4
Afaik, there's nothing "American" about crumpling. This is just another internet myth that came out of nowhere. I'm American and I've known plenty of people growing up who do one or the other. Crumpling definitely isn't more prevalent. Folding probably is, in fact.
– only_pro
Feb 5 at 16:04
Afaik, there's nothing "American" about crumpling. This is just another internet myth that came out of nowhere. I'm American and I've known plenty of people growing up who do one or the other. Crumpling definitely isn't more prevalent. Folding probably is, in fact.
– only_pro
Feb 5 at 16:04
|
show 4 more comments
8
I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it has nothing to do with travel.
– David Richerby
Feb 5 at 10:54
2
Agreed, with David. No one is using toilet paper on you except yourself, and if they are, in going to assume you're paying them to do so, and they will do it in whichever way you prefer.
– choster
Feb 5 at 13:29
4
@LightnessRacesinOrbit Huh? It's the same paper. You can use it exactly how you use it at home. What Americans do makes no difference whatsoever.
– David Richerby
Feb 5 at 16:42
2
@LightnessRacesinOrbit The question is whether North Americans use toilet paper in a different way from Europeans and about why some joke is funny. Neither of those is a question about travel. If the question was "Is there a difference between North American toilet paper and European toilet paper?" then the answer being "no" wouldn't disqualify the question. But the question isn't that.
– David Richerby
Feb 5 at 17:45
2
@DavidRicherby My reasoning was that it is a question about a difference in cultures and this way related to travel.
– M. Stern
Feb 5 at 17:53