Having heard this topic discussed before (!) I get the impression that people who mount toilet rolls backwards typically do so because they attach the roll whilst the loose end is still glued down and don't know which way round they're doing it. (And then don't care enough to reverse the error.)
As mentioned below, possibly a 'hangover from small children in the house' issue. Back-hanging tissue generally snaps if you take hold of the end and run. Front-hanging doesn't (and hence the 'flush the end' trick works, and blocks the loo if you're really unlucky).
It also stops people using half a roll at once without conscious effort. If you're from the "three squares is extravagant" school (and/or remember rationing...) I guess it would be a good way of limiting use. *shudder*
Yes, as various people have now mentioned it's frequently proposed as an anti toddler or cat measure. But also some people just think it looks better having the hanging bit closer to the wall (though, you know, then the print is facing backwards, so that's clearly spurious ;)
When I was a child, my grandparents *always* had it at the back - it seems unlikely that could happen by chance. I usually swapped it and I think they sometimes swapped it back.
My greatgrandfather used to always have that horrid shiny stuff that came in single sheets (great as tracing paper, vile for its intended purpose!) - wonder if as someone else said it was a rationing hangover?
My godmother still buys the horrid shiny stuff out of preference - fortunately in addition to normal stuff (either for visitors, or her husband, or maybe her preferences are more complicated... I've never wanted to ask!)
I know some people think/thought that the shiny stuff was more hygeinic, being essentially non-permeable (and hence presumably keeping one's hands cleaner?)
My grandparents were using that still up until they died in the last couple of years. But my grandma was brought up by her grandma, so I forgive them for being a bit more old-fashioned than some. Izal. Horrid stuff. It comes in rolls too if you're feeling nostalgic!
There was a programme on Radio 4 about Izal, its history and fans last year ("Now Wash Your Hands") which was vaguely amusing listening in that R4 way. Unfortunately it's not on iplayer :-(
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2010-05-04 09:04 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-05-04 09:16 am (UTC)And don't get me started on people who don't sort out the plies such that the perforations line up.
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Date: 2010-05-04 09:19 am (UTC)So if you talk to the former group, what reason to they give for their preference?
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Date: 2010-05-04 09:29 am (UTC)It also stops people using half a roll at once without conscious effort. If you're from the "three squares is extravagant" school (and/or remember rationing...) I guess it would be a good way of limiting use. *shudder*
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