# The Great Toilet Paper Debate > The Great Toilet Paper Debate is a 1977 perennial argument about whether sheets hang over or under, popularized by Ann Landers and revived in 2015 via Seth Wheeler's 1891 patent. The Great Toilet Paper Debate is the perennial argument over whether a toilet paper roll should hang with the loose sheet going "over" the top or tucked "under" the back. The question entered mainstream American discourse through Ann Landers' advice column in 1977, where it became the most popular topic in the column's history, drawing 15,000 letters by 1986[4]. The debate migrated online in the mid-1990s through personal homepages and forum polls, then surged again in 2015 when Seth Wheeler's 1891 patent illustration, which clearly shows the "over" orientation, went viral on Twitter[7]. ## Origin The question of how to hang toilet paper is as old as the toilet paper roll itself. Seth Wheeler of Albany, New York, patented perforated wrapping paper rolls in 1871, received patent 272,369 for an improved roll design in 1883, and filed patent 459,516 in September 1891 for "certain new and useful Improvements in Wrapping or Toilet Paper Roll"[7]. That 1891 patent illustration clearly depicts the paper hanging in the "over" position[8]. The debate didn't enter mass culture until 1977, when advice columnist Ann Landers published a reader letter about toilet paper orientation[4]. The response was overwhelming. In a 1986 speech, Landers claimed it was the single most popular column she'd ever published, attracting 15,000 letters from readers[4]. She revisited the topic multiple times over the following decades. Modern commercial toilet paper dates to 1857, when Joseph Gayetty introduced "Gayetty's Medicated Paper" sold in flat sheets[3]. But it was Wheeler's roll design that created the physical setup for the debate. Without a cylindrical holder parallel to the wall, there's no "over" or "under" to argue about[5]. - **Platform:** Newspaper syndication (Ann Landers column), early web forums and personal homepages - **Creator:** Unknown (organic cultural debate); Ann Landers (mainstream popularizer), Seth Wheeler (toilet paper roll patent holder) - **Date:** 1977 (mainstream), ~1997 (online) ## Overview At its core, the debate is simple: when you place a roll of toilet paper on a horizontal holder mounted to the wall, should the loose end hang over the front of the roll (the "over" position) or drape down behind it (the "under" position)? That's it. That's the entire argument. And yet it has generated millions of words of discussion, academic papers, corporate marketing campaigns, and an absurd amount of passion from people on both sides. Surveys consistently show that roughly 70% of Americans prefer the "over" method[1]. Proponents of "over" point to easier access, better hygiene (less wall contact), and the fact that the original patent shows it that way[8]. The "under" camp fires back with aesthetics, cat-proofing, and toddler-proofing[2]. Neither side has ever conceded. ## How It Spread The debate moved online almost as soon as people started building personal websites. A page titled "THE GREAT TOILET PAPER DEBATE" was hosted on Purdue University's servers and captured by the Wayback Machine as early as June 1997[10]. The site featured an interactive poll and declared that many people held stronger opinions about toilet paper orientation than about who should be the next president[10]. A similar voting page appeared on Angelfire around 2001, urging visitors to "take a stand" and submit their preference[11]. Forum culture kept the debate alive through the 2000s. A GameSpot off-topic poll from around 2010 asked users to weigh in, with one respondent calling it the "strangest thread ever" while still casting a vote for "over"[12]. Squidoo hosted a long-running lens on the topic where commenters shared passionate arguments for both sides[13]. The corporate world took notice in the late 2000s. Cottonelle launched its "How Does America Roll?" campaign, hiring Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott to publicly debate toilet paper orientation[9]. The couple, described as a "mixed marriage" on the issue (Spelling preferred over, McDermott under), filmed a comedy video called *Under Suspicion* for Funny or Die[9]. Cottonelle's Roll Poll surveyed 1,000 Americans and found that 72% preferred "over," while 28% chose "under"[8]. The debate's biggest viral moment came in 2015. On March 16, Owen Williams, a contributor to The Next Web, tweeted an image of Seth Wheeler's 1891 patent with the caption "The patent for toilet paper should settle the over vs under debate"[7]. The tweet spread rapidly, picked up by news outlets and social media accounts worldwide[6]. The Hagley Museum and Library in Wilmington, Delaware, published a blog post digging into their archival collections of early plumbing catalogs to provide historical context, noting that by 1895 Montgomery Ward was selling three types of toilet paper with free "fixtures"[7]. ## How to Use The Great Toilet Paper Debate typically functions as a conversation starter, social media poll, or relationship compatibility test rather than a visual meme template. Common formats include: 1. **Poll format**: Post "Over or under?" with images of both orientations and let the comments erupt 2. **Patent drop**: Share the image of Seth Wheeler's 1891 patent to "settle" the debate (it won't) 3. **Relationship test**: Frame it as a compatibility question ("My partner does X and I'm reconsidering everything") 4. **Personality reveal**: Reference Dr. Carle's study to claim one side is dominant and the other passive 5. **Cat/kid defense**: Post videos of cats or toddlers unraveling toilet paper as evidence for the "under" position ## Cultural Impact The toilet paper debate crossed from internet curiosity to legitimate cultural fixture through several channels. In academia, it became a standard teaching tool in sociology departments. Professor Burns' first-day exercise at the Eastern Institute of Technology proved so effective at introducing social constructionism that other universities adopted it[4]. Morton Ann Gernsbacher at the University of Wisconsin-Madison used it to warn against cultural bias in neuroimaging research, comparing toilet paper preference to equally arbitrary choices like which drawer to keep socks in[4]. Cottonelle's "How Does America Roll?" campaign turned the debate into a commercial property. The brand's poll data, celebrity spokespeople, and Funny or Die partnership demonstrated that toilet paper orientation could drive genuine consumer engagement[9]. Major brands still won't take an official corporate stance. When pressed, representatives emphasize personal preference while privately admitting they prefer "over"[6]. Bertrand Cesvet cited toilet paper placement in his book *Conversational Capital* as an example of ritualized behavior, the kind of memorable experience around a product that generates word-of-mouth momentum, alongside shaking Tic Tacs and dissecting Oreos[4]. ## Fun Facts - At the Amundsen-Scott Research Station at the South Pole, toilet paper orientation has been a documented source of complaints among crew members[4]. - The average American uses 8.6 sheets of toilet paper per trip, totaling about 20,805 sheets per year[8]. - In public restrooms, it takes an average of 71.48 separate visits to fully use one roll[8]. - 49% of Americans surveyed chose toilet paper as the one "necessity" they'd want if stranded on a desert island, beating out food[8]. - 40% of toilet paper users are "wadders" and 40% are "folders," with the remaining 20% being "wrappers"[8]. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is The Great Toilet Paper Debate? The Great Toilet Paper Debate is the long-running argument over whether a toilet paper roll should be hung with the loose sheet going "over" the front or "under" the back of the roll. It's been a topic of passionate disagreement since at least 1977[4]. ### Where did The Great Toilet Paper Debate come from? The debate entered mainstream American culture through Ann Landers' advice column in 1977, which generated 15,000 letters by 1986[4]. It moved online in the mid-1990s through personal homepages and forum polls[10]. ### What does The Great Toilet Paper Debate mean? It's a lighthearted cultural argument about a mundane household choice. Sociologists use it as a teaching tool for social constructionism, exploring how people form strong opinions about practices they've never consciously examined[5]. ### How do you use The Great Toilet Paper Debate? It's typically deployed as a poll, conversation starter, or relationship compatibility test on social media. Share both orientations and ask people to pick a side, or post the 1891 patent image as "proof" for the "over" camp[6]. ### Is The Great Toilet Paper Debate still popular? Yes. The debate has been recurring for over four decades and shows no signs of resolution. Its biggest viral moment came in 2015 with Owen Williams' patent tweet, but it continues to surface on every major social platform[7]. ### What does Seth Wheeler's patent say about toilet paper orientation? Wheeler's 1891 patent (No. 459,516) for "Improvements in Wrapping or Toilet Paper Roll" clearly shows the paper hanging in the "over" position in its illustration[7]. ### What percentage of people prefer "over"? Various surveys show 60-72% of Americans prefer the "over" orientation. Cottonelle's Roll Poll put the number at 72% over and 28% under[8]. ### Does Oprah prefer over or under? Oprah Winfrey publicly stated she prefers the "over" orientation during a 1980s episode of her talk show[4]. ### Do any toilet paper brands have an official position? No. Charmin, Scott Products, and Cottonelle all declined to take official corporate stances, though individual brand representatives privately admitted to preferring "over"[6]. ### Why do people prefer "under"? The main arguments for "under" are a tidier appearance (hidden loose end), protection from cats and toddlers unraveling the roll, and reduced risk of accidental unspooling in recreational vehicles[2]. ### Has the debate been studied academically? Yes. Sociology professor Edgar Alan Burns uses it to teach social constructionism at the Eastern Institute of Technology, and Dr. Gilda Carle conducted a personality study linking orientation preference to dominant vs. laid-back traits[1][5]. ## References 1. [Toilet Paper Over or Under? The Great Toilet Roll Debate | Reel Paper]() 2. [The Great Toilet Paper Over Under Debate | Who Gives A Crap — Talking Crap]() 3. [The Great Toilet Paper Debate: Over or Under?]() 4. [List of Internet phenomena]() 5. [Toilet paper orientation - Wikipedia]() 6. [The Answer to the Great Toilet Paper Debate | Eric Rosenberg]() 7. [Over or Under? The Toilet Paper Debate Has Finally Been Settled Once And For All - Urbo]() 8. [Toilet Paper - The Great Debate! | Hagley]() 9. [Yahoo Search - Web Search]() 10. [GameSpot Forums - Off-Topic Discussion - Toilet Paper Roll Over or Under? (Poll)]() 11. [Toilet Paper Statistics | Toilet Paper Encyclopedia]() 12. [Cottonelle: ‘How Does America Roll?’ Campaign is Brilliant]() 13. [THE GREAT TOILET PAPER DEBATE!]() 14. [Vote The Great Toilet Paper Debate!]() 15. [Should The Toilet Paper Roll Go on Over or Under?]() --- Source: https://meme.com/memes/the-great-toilet-paper-debate Published by meme.com — The Internet Meme Library