Survey Tackles Age-Old Toilet Paper Debate: Over or Under?

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Kimberly-Clark's (Dallas, Texas, USA) Cottonelle brand is trying to solve one of life's great puzzles once and for all, i.e., should toilet paper be hung so that it rolls over or under? The company is teaming with actors and real-life married couple Tori Spelling and Dean McDermott to determine how America rolls so that it can put an end to the "Great Debate" for good. Tori and Dean are encouraging couples, roommates, siblings, and co-workers to select their preference by voting either over or under through March 6.

To get the conversation started, the Cottonelle brand surveyed 1,000 American adults ages 18-65+ on their toilet paper hanging habits. Among the surprising survey findings:

• Half of those surveyed pay attention to which way the toilet paper is hanging, and 1 in 5 gets annoyed when it's hanging the wrong way.
• Men are more likely to notice and be annoyed if it's not to their liking.
• One in five queried (19%) confessed to changing the way the toilet paper is hung even when in someone else's home. Overs are more likely to go that far, with more than a quarter (27%) admitting to doing so.
• Ease of grabbing and habit are the main reasons why those surveyed hang their toilet paper a certain way.

"With the results of our survey in, it's clear that we have hit a nerve with the American public," says Cherie Kamin, Cottonelle brand associate manager. "We've found that this is one of those topics that people feel strongly about—they often don't express it until they're asked. This campaign is all about people choosing how they want to roll."

Are there certain character traits associated more closely with people who roll over as opposed to under? And what about those who are indifferent to how their paper rolls? To find out, the Cottonelle brand consulted Dr. Gilda Carle, psychotherapist and internationally-renowned relationship expert, for her observations on basic character traits associated with how people roll. According to Dr. Gilda:

• If you roll over, you like taking charge, crave organization, and are likely to over-achieve.
• If you roll under, you're laid-back, dependable, and seek relationships with strong foundations.
• If you don't care as long as it's there, you aim to minimize conflict, value flexibility, and like putting yourself in new situations.