'Do you read on the loo?' blog discussion

TurkishDelight

Sybersal wrote: »

I am a girl who has read on the loo - for years! Not sure why the hygiene issue is being played (I have worked in a hospital and catering and done various hygiene certificates)
I sit and read, while doing my business, then I put the book away, do what needs to be done then wash my hands. Book/magazine never comes in to contact with anything it shouldn't?!!

Exactly.

I never even thought of it being unhygenic, I mean the loo roll is more unhygenic surely, lots of people use it after all, and especially if you've erm... miscalculated and need to go back for more. (ew, sorry :eek:)

I need to read on the loo, stops me thinking about what I'm doing. :rotfl:

(And I'm female)

babyshoes

My OH and I are both female, and we both read on the loo. We have a stash of magazines there, so it doesn't matter if they get a bit crinkly from the steam, as we clear them out and recycle them every few months anyway.

DaveF327

This is what I read:



http://www.amazon.co.uk/Uncle-Johns-Bathroom-Reader-Readers/dp/1879682699/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1282851180&sr=1-6

I don't find anything unhygienic about reading on the loo. It's not like you wipe your bum with the pages. Your hands are clean while you read at leisure, you put the book down, you wipe, then wash your hands.

orangesmartie

JimmyTheWig wrote: »

If I come in needing to go and there's post on the mat I'll often take that with me and read while sitting.

Yep I do that!

Trunk_z wrote: »

I'm replying to this thread whilst on the loo.

I read, write, make phonecalls. I'm actually fairly productive...

I couldn't make phonecalls - might be a step too far for me

Agent_C wrote: »

I'm a girl and I've read on the loo since I was a child.

I've never met any other girls who admit to it. I don't think it's unhygienic as you don't touch the loo until after you've put your book down. Plus I can bet you that there are far more germs on the average dishcloth/door handle/five pound note than on most parts of a loo!

I'm a girl and I've always read on the loo since I was old enough to read - my family always did it, so it was habit i guess.

Like someone else said, I'd read in the shower if I could (its why I usually have baths lol).

I don't get the hygienic argument. You should always put the lid down before you flush because small particles get aerated in the flush and land on things like towels, facecloths, toothbrushes etc. Books are the least of the worries if you don't close the lid!

CreativeFibro

I couldn't imagine not reading there, it's the perfect activity to occupy your hands and brain (I'm a real multi-tasker) and as Sybersal says there is no real issue of hygene as long as people are sensible. I've been known to get half way to the bathroom and realise I have forgotten my book and have to go back for it!!

snugglepet20

What you lot need is a LAXATIVE not a book!

niamhirl

Sybersal wrote: »

I sit and read, while doing my business, then I put the book away, do what needs to be done then wash my hands. Book/magazine never comes in to contact with anything it shouldn't?!!

I too am a woman who reads on the loo, and agree hygiene is not an issue. Although my other half a man is abhorred by the idea-so either we're an anomally or the gender divide isn't so explicit.
I was used to the idea of reading on the loo from childhood as there was always books in the loo, think it was due to Dad's IBS condition, but my brothers and sister also read in the loo too.

joneeboy

My wife and daughter both read on the loo, magazines, papers, books, unsolited leters and leaflets, you name it. I'm the one that is always taking them downstairs and dumping them. I call our loo the Womens Library. The last time I read in a loo was aa a kid a long,long, long time ago, when we had newpaper squares hanging on a nail due to wartime no proper toilet paper.That was how I caght up on the news that nobody wanted kids to read.

john_s_2

I'm not a reader but I'm fine with the concept. I remember my dad told me once that the inside of the toilet door should be the best painted door in the house, cos it's the one that is gonna be stared at most.

"She-wees" - when I'm hungover (most Saturdays) they're definitely the way forward! Else I get dizzy halfway through. Also, if a secondary urge takes you (not uncommon after consuming many pints of real ale) then you are already suitably positioned.

orangesmartie wrote: »

You should always put the lid down before you flush because small particles get aerated in the flush and land on things like towels, facecloths, toothbrushes etc.

This sounds too much like an urban-myth to me (not the first time I've heard it). You might be interested in this (inconclusive) discussion on Snopes:

http://msgboard.snopes.com/message/ultimatebb.php?/ubb/get_topic/f/35/t/001754/p/1.html

nuttywife

I'm female and will take my book with me when I go to the loo. After all I dont want to put it down and miss the good bits.