HOWTO: Properly Install a Roll of Toilet Paper in a Dispenser

[marcmagus]

1. Preface

1.1 Copyright

Copyright (C) 2009 marcmagus

1.2 Revision History

v1.0: 2009-03-23

1.3 Authoritative Version

The authoritative version of this document will always be found at http://marcmagus.livejournal.com/98120.html

1.4 Feedback

If you have questions or comments about this document, please feel free to post a comment at the URL found in section 1.3 above. I welcome any suggestions or criticisms.

I would particularly welcome open discussion with any person who feels I have mislabeled the possible orientations.

2. Overview

There is, in fact, a correct orientation for a roll of toilet paper in a toilet paper dispenser. As it has recently come to the author's attention that this is not inherently obvious, this HOWTO is provided to educate the population.

3. Orientation

There are two possible orientations for valid installation of a roll of toilet paper in a dispenser. These will be referred to as The Wrong Way and The Right Way. Please see the following diagram:

Wrong Way       Right Way
   |                 |
   |@               @|
   |                 |

| = wall
@ = toilet roll, cutaway view, simplified

4. Discussion

Note that when the toilet paper is installed the right way, the leading edge of the roll will always fall somewhere between the far-top of the roll and hanging down the near side of the roll to the user. When it is install the wrong way, the leading edge will fall somewhere between the near-top of the roll and hanging down the far side of the roll from the user. As the range of near-top to far-top is common to both situations, the difference is that when the toilet paper is hung the right way, it will sometimes hang near the user, and when hung the wrong way, it will sometimes hang far from the user.

Please also note that if a user has a disability which requires them to use their far arm to reach the toilet paper, and the dispenser has been hung relatively low on the wall, these differences are exacerbated.

Comments

[miintikwa.livejournal.com]

Oddly, with all the cats I have had, I have never (*knock on wood*) had any of them attack the TP. And I am an outside-TP-hanger. My brother, who has had at max count nine cats in his house at one time, reports the same results.

(My current cat-in-the-house count is six. Four are mine, two are the roomie's.)

*shrug* Different games for different cats.

[artemisfowl2nd.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes, I'm not going to argue that. Rug-Rat's outgrown such things, it seems, although he used to have fun with it. Other people hang my toilet paper the "right" way sometimes and he never bothers with it.

I'm still a fervent "wrong" way supporter, though.

[miintikwa.livejournal.com]

By the way, I meant to put this in the original comment, and it was the entire reason I replied duh. (Long day.) Your icon is FAB.

And I think the GREAT TP DEBATE is one of those things. Everyone has their own way. :)

[kdsorceress.livejournal.com]

I'm with Marc. We're gonna have problems, sweetie.

...Or passive aggressive arguments where we each correct the roll whenever we care enough, and let laziness determine who wins.¹

~Sor

1: Well, yes, I am talking like we're gonna live together at some point. That is the plan, yeah?

[artemisfowl2nd.livejournal.com]

Re footnote: I hope that's the plan. I will be sad if it is not.

And, like I said above, other people have been putting the toilet paper the "right" way and I don't correct it unless I'm in the middle of a low, so it shouldn't wind up being a problem. Unless we wind up with playful cats. Then you'll be sorry.

Oh yes.

Then you'll all be sorry.