If you're going to Sochi, be careful with your toilet paper

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the practices and challenges associated with toilet paper usage in various regions, particularly in Sochi and other parts of the world. Participants share personal experiences and observations related to sanitation practices, including the disposal of toilet paper and the availability of alternatives.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants note that in Sochi, it is not advisable to flush toilet paper due to plumbing issues.
  • Others mention that similar practices are common in many Middle Eastern and North African countries, where toilet paper can clog narrow sewer systems.
  • A participant shares that travelers often carry their own toilet paper due to the lack of free paper in public restrooms in various regions.
  • Discussion includes humorous suggestions about economizing toilet paper use, referencing military experiences and regulations on sheet usage.
  • One participant reflects on their experiences in Iran, highlighting the absence of toilet paper and the use of water instead, while critiquing cultural attitudes towards sanitation practices.
  • Another participant adds that in China, public restrooms often require individuals to bring their own toilet paper, as it is not typically provided.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the challenges of toilet paper usage in different regions, but multiple competing views exist regarding the best practices and cultural attitudes towards sanitation. The discussion remains unresolved on which method of sanitation is superior.

Contextual Notes

Some statements rely on personal anecdotes and cultural observations, which may not represent broader practices or experiences. The discussion includes a mix of humor and serious commentary, reflecting varying perspectives on sanitation methods.

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This is also true in many places in the Middle East and North Africa. Toilet paper tends to clog the narrow sanitary sewer systems in many homes and businesses. A lidded basket is usually provided for the used paper. In the better places, this is emptied several times a day. In other places, . . . .
 
By the way, canny travelers never go out without a few yards of toilet paper folded snugly in a plastic baggie, and kept handy. Very few public toilets in many parts of the world provide free paper. In many of these areas, an old woman will be in the toilet area (yes, the men's too) selling toilet paper by the square!
 
klimatos said:
... an old woman will be in the toilet area (yes, the men's too) selling toilet paper by the square!
I'd get off cheap as I learned in the Army how to do it with just one sheet. Not kidding.
 
All of this make me think of the wet wipes problem that was in the news last fall.

http://www.kgw.com/news/Flushable-wipes-causing-sewer-problems-223008781.html
 
Last edited by a moderator:
dlgoff said:
I'd get off cheap as I learned in the Army how to do it with just one sheet. Not kidding.

I know what you are talking about and no one will want to share that sheet. There must be a video of that method.:devil:

There was once an Air Force regulation that limited the number of sheets to three for men and six for women.! We ignored it no one was checking.
 
edward said:
I know what you are talking about and no one will want to share that sheet. There must be a video of that method.:devil:
I'm sure there's a video but I value my membership here. o:)
 
  • #10
I arrived in Iran 45 years ago as a Peace Corps volunteer. Although I became an Electronics and Physics teacher in a vocational school, my own learning experiences began immediately upon arrival. Here are some observations from that experience:

There was no toilet paper, to my surprise
Using only water instead of soft double plies
An efficient system they had managed to devise
To be perfectly clear, try to visualize
Using the bathroom tissue you all recognize
Afterwards the area may draw flies
Then go out with your friends and socialize
The suggestion to reexamine our system and perhaps revise
Is flatly rejected by sedentary ostriches who are quick to criticize
And embellish their own ignorance while they chastise
“Disregard all things foreign” they say, “Our American way we idolize”
And who remain dirty daily because they refuse to open their eyes
Which one is barbaric, water or paper, is elementary to surmise.

Bobbywhy
 
  • #11
klimatos said:
This is also true in many places in the Middle East and North Africa. Toilet paper tends to clog the narrow sanitary sewer systems in many homes and businesses. A lidded basket is usually provided for the used paper. In the better places, this is emptied several times a day. In other places, . . . .

It's also true in many public places in China... except you also have to bring your own paper, they usually don't provide free toilet paper.
 

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