Do some people not use toilet paper?

Question

I remember at one of my former office jobs, the owner was from Pakistan, anyway when he went #2 he wouldn't flush and also there would be no toilet paper. It was gross, but I would just flush. I figured it's just the way he was raised or something.

I never complained since it was his company and I wanted to be politically correct and open minded to his culture. I haven't run into anyone since who did the same.

This poor man passed a way a few years back. God Bless Him and forgive me, but I'll never forget how he would do that.

He did it to everyone and other guys would say the same. I remember talking about it with some of my female coworkers once and they both said "oh so and so who used to work here used to say the exact same thing"

Answer 1

Thought I'd enlighten some of the folks here. Muslims usually use water to wash (the behind or the front) after 'they go'. In Arab and Muslim countries (and mosques) you'd either find a water hose built-in the toilet, a hose just beside it, or at the very least a jar holding an enough amount of water. The toilets with built-in water hoses are the standard in every city house in those countries. Some major toilet manufacturers are now picking up the idea and manufacturing those toilets as 'washlets' (see: http://www.washlet.com/default.asp from TOTO or http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:JapaneseToiletBidet.jpg).
Toto say on their website that it is the 'next generation of toilet fixtures'.
As a Muslim, I can't stand the idea of having to use a paper towel to wipe up the remainder of my poop (eeewww). Why not just use the power of streaming water to do that for me, and I can finish off the rest (if any) :). Now excuse me, I have to go and get myself a travel washlet (http://www.washlet.com/portable.asp) as I've been missing my 'modern' 10 year old toilet at home :)

PS: This doesn't by the way explain the personal hygiene of some. What you do and how you do it is a personal matter.

Answer 2

The amount of toilet paper being flushed at a time will make a great difference but if your family isn't using handfulls of paper with every flush, I suggest that you take the toilet off and check to see if something is stuck in the S shape of the toilet (this ca be done with a coat hanger wire, but you must approach the problem from the bottom of the toilet). Also, you may have a problem further down the drain pipe, so be prepared to snake out the drainpipe if nothing is found in the toilet.

Answer 3

Both flush toilets and toilet paper are really quite recent inventions. Less than 100 years ago the majority of Americans didn't use toilet paper and "did their duty" in outhouses. Toilet paper is still a luxury that the majority of the world can not afford. In some parts of the world, even those of means still use traditional toilet methods, largely out of tradition.

Answer 4

Toilet paper has only been around for a little over a century, and for some of that time as a luxury item. And that's in the developed West. Call me culturally bigoted, but I think I'll keep buying the Charmin..

Answer 5

In most second and third world countries, the toilet paper is not flushed in the toilet, but put in a waste bin. I know, that's gross, but the stopped up plumbing and overflowing sewage in these places is worse.
Secondly, many Asian countries use a water sprayer to clean yourself, and paper isn't often available; but people do use the paper they bring to dry themselves, but not to clean.
Not flushing? OK that is just plain uncivilized, but as you said, perhaps he didn't know. RIP non-flusher

OMG, I just read some of the answers; some of you women are so incredibly DULL. Don't you read, or travel or even THINK?? A few of you are TOTAL DITZES

Answer 6

Did he know you would be next in line.....

Most people that immigrate to North America from poverty stricken countries are "integrated" (for lack of a better word) into our culture by government people whom are specifically trained to help newcomers adapt. They show them how an electrical stove, fridge etc., work, and they definitely explain that the tap water is safe to drink, explain how our sewage systems work, and yes you can flush the toilet, it's not going to come out your tap.

Like I said, did he know you would be the next one in? Guess maybe chances are he just didn't like you and was a real sh.itty assh.ole about it.

Answer 7

If you work in fast food it's quite unnecessary and saves you having to wash your hands after.
Seriously did you know in S. America they usually can't put tp down their toilets so they have to put it in a basket on the side, I once used it cause the roll had run out, I was thinking people must have only blown their noses on it but I learned the hard way and completly blocked the toilet putting that paper down it!

Answer 8

yeah not flashing is gross, but generaly muslims wash their butts with soap and water, and in most muslim countries toilet paper is rarely used, for example in Tunisia the price of a toilet paper roll cost about %10 of a daily wage, it s like spending 60 bucks a week on toilet paper in the US for someone who makes $ 600 a week.

Answer 9

I sure hope everyone wipes after they do #2. If they don't, I don't want to know about it! Maybe he threw the tp in the garbage and not the toilet, some people do that.

Answer 10

In some Asian countries it's normal practice to use their hand instead of toilet paper. I think it's always the left hand which is why they eat with the right hand, shake hands with the right hand and so on.

Not sure which countries or how widepsread but it is definitely practiced in some places.