The Great Debate – Over or Under?

On this National Toilet Paper Day, let’s honor humanity’s greatest bathroom battle: the age-old debate of over or under. Forget politics, forget pineapple on pizza—this is the real issue dividing households!

Team Over claims the high ground (literally). After all, Seth Wheeler’s 1891 toilet paper patent showed the roll hanging “over.” Seventy percent of wipers already prefer this style, citing easier grabbing, smoother tearing, and fewer germy knuckle-scrapes on the wall. They’ll proudly say, “It’s not just preference, it’s history!”

Team Under isn’t backing down. They argue their way is sleeker, tidier, and most importantly, pet-proof. Cats and toddlers can bat at the roll all they want, but it won’t unravel like a fluffy waterfall of doom. And because it’s slightly harder to pull, “unders” argue they’re saving the planet one sheet at a time.

Of course, psychologists have even chimed in. Dr. Gilda Carle’s Toilet Paper personality test suggests “overs” are dominant go-getters, while “unders” are laid-back, easygoing souls. That might explain why 19% of people admit to secretly flipping the roll in other people’s homes.

So, what’s the verdict? Maybe it’s less about right or wrong, and more about what your toilet paper orientation says about you. I’m just happy you have some hanging next to the toilet no matter the direction it rolls.

We can argue about 1-ply or 2-ply another time. Today, let’s celebrate the roll that unites us all.

Happy National Toilet Paper Day!

Doug O’Brien