Today on Quick Questions, two things that get a lot of people riled up. Not putting
the toilet seat down and being a vegan. Are the two related? Well maybe if you're a vegan
dude who never puts the seat down. Here's looking at you buddy.
Stuff Mom Never Told You fan Julie Mabel had a quick question. 'What are you thoughts on
veganism and why is everyone so hostile after I reveal that I'm a vegan. I think that if
you want to be a vegan, Julie Mabel, be a vegan. You need to make sure that you're getting
all of the, the nutrients that you need, you probably are, you're probably way more nutritious
and delicious than I am in my dietary choices. Personally I don't see myself ever becoming
vegan for the simple fact that I love cheese. When it comes to this question of hostility,
I couldn't find a study specifically focused on perceptions towards vegans but let me tell
you that 'why people hate vegans' is a common google search. There's a 2007 study looking
at representations of veganism in British newspapers and there was a lot of negativity,
a lot of stereotyping, a lot of casting them as this unwanted extremists or fad dieters.
Humans often don't like being confronted with choices outside of the mainstream. It makes
us uncomfortable because it forces us to consider what we're doing. Have I encountered some
food-shamey, condescending vegans before? Yeah, absolutely in the same way that those
vegans have probably encountered plenty of food-shamey condescending omnivores or carnivores,
whatever vores. What I haven't been able to puzzle out yet so much or put coherent language
around is this pattern that I've noticed more anecdotally of women who are vegetarian and
especially if they're vegan getting all sorts of food-shamed for it. If they're women and
they're vegan, it's the assumption that they're dieting in order to look better, whereas in
the case of say Bill Clinton who is vegan for health purposes, we can just accept that.
If anyone has any thoughts on this that are more eloquent than mine, please put them in
the comments below. Now for a question that you all helped me answer. 'What's up with
women freaking out over toilet seats when they're up?' Let me speak from my heart. My
heart says I don't want to touch the toilet seat. I know that that is irrational though.
There are all sorts of things that we come in contact with all the time that are far
dirtier than our toilet seats such as our keyboards. Also for women who carry purses
those things are just like trash bags full of bacteria. Because 'I just don't like touching
it' seems like such an unsatisfying answer to offer to you I asked viewers about their
thoughts on toilet seats up or down and listen it's not just women freaking out over the
toilet seat thing. Arlheen Rodriguez said, 'I'd rather guys leave the toilet seat up,
then to leave pee all over the seat. Nobody likes sitting on pee y'all. NOBODY!' Sierra
Lobo said, 'The only time I ever care about someone leaving the toilet cover up is when
they're flushing. Sometimes, it's almost like I can see all the droplets of toilet water
and bacteria flying out of the toilet like a tornado of disgustingness.' Danielle Hull
said, 'I put both the seat and the lid down because it looks neater to do so, especially
if it's not your place and if you have guests around regularly.' Stephie says, 'Are there
people who don't put the seat and lid down when they flush the toilet? You are spraying
toilet water everywhere, you nasties.' Finally Brooke Henry brings it all home with a cautionary
tale. 'Worst case scenario for a gentleman if the seat is down: he pees on it. Worst
case scenario for a lady if the seat is up: she falls in, splashes dirty toilet water
on the brand-new wallpaper, breaks her pelvis in 6 places, knocks herself unconscious on
the edge of the tank, and has to be lifted pantsless out of a toilet bowl by the paramedics
6 hours later.' Guys do you want to be responsible for that? Now I want to know what quick questions
are on your mind. You can ask them in the comments below, you can message me privately
or tweet me @cristenconger.