Very, xx is right. Whatever you caught, rest assured that it was not from a toilet seat. Add me to the list of people who are highly irritated by idiots who pee all over the toilets because they're too stupid find out the facts.

The fact is you can catch crabs from toilet seats.

Congrats, BeenThere, you joined the idiots club! Here's the CDC's position on catching crabs from a toilet seat:<BR><BR>http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/lice/factsht_pubic_lice.htm<BR><BR>so, anyone else have any bright justifications for peeing on the seat like a chimp?<BR><BR>

Hey, xx - just because nobody at the CDC ever caught 'em from a toilet seat doesn't mean it can't happen, you idiot! If someone is not sexually active and not doing sleepovers and suddenly gets crabs, where the hell do you think they're coming from? I have SEEN them crawling around a toilet seat before regardless of what the dummies at the CDC say. Or you for that matter.

Crabs cn only be gotten from person to person contact. That means shared sheets, towels and intimate contact

I always found this fear of sitting on toilet seats to be very interesting. I wonder if Europeans, in general, have the same degree of fear about this since, IMO, Americans are more obsessed -- or, if you prefer, concerned -- with hygiene. <BR><BR>The Straight Dope about toilet seats and diseases:<BR><BR>http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mtoilet.html

"You can get cooties, and that's about it." Cooties are crabs.<BR><BR>"Most bugs don't tend to live on cool, hard surfaces." That's why they jump onto a warm body as soon as one gets near.<BR><BR>

Ah, BeenThere, do you often see bugs everywhere? And, once you get out of kindergarten, you'll discover that cooties don't really exist.....the article is tongue-in-cheek about that, dear. Ask your mom to explain what tongue-in-cheek means.<BR><BR>In sum, it is almost impossible to catch an infection from a toilet seat unless you sit on fecal matter and/or have open sores. So, all of you who hover, please admit that you are being selfish, irrational idiots, and vow to change your ways. thank you.<BR><BR>

Not worried about catching infection. Worried about crabs! Too bad you haven't learned anything from this enlightening dialogue today, xx.

Hoverer, welcome to the idiots club. If you read the CDC article (or have someone read it to you if necessary), it indicates that crabs are not transmitted via toilet seats. By infection, I also meant a crab infestation. Now, go back to your room and think about what you've done....

Carol and whatever other aliases you are using... YOU ARE A PARANOID FREAK THAT NEEDS TO GET A LIFE! What kind of rubbish are you trying to feed us? If you are so scared and pathetic then stay in your hole. People like you should not travel abroad.

Wow! What nasty people!! I can't believe how harsh everyone has been on this post!<BR>Carol was just trying to be helpful... Granted, there are disgusting bathrooms in any country, but what is with all of the name calling?<BR>Anyone who gets so sensitive about this should be the one to get a life!!

I can't believe that someone who travelled to a wonderful country, and hopefully experienced beautiful sights, ate delicious food, and learned about some amazing history, came back home and all they could think of to post about was a dirty toilet seat. There are some serious issues involved here that a therapist should probably explore.

My father is a physician and he has always told us NOT to sit on the toilet because of the transmission of staph infections. He says the most common area where staph is spread is in the hospital and that is why surfaces in the rooms are sanitized between patients. He says anyplace where human skin touches is a potential hotbed of staph.

Mediator, don't worry about it. Although Bill is accusing me, he is the troll. I am used to jerks like him and basically am of the opinion that he is the one with the problem, and blow him off as such.<BR><BR>Bill, I have never used an alias. That accusation is queer coming from a guy who does not have the decency to use his email address! I feel sorry for you. Get a life.<BR><BR>Homey, your comments are not fair. If you looked elsewhere, you can see that I have frequently offered advice to others on my trip. I have plenty more to say about how wonderful it is, if you would just ask. However, that is not the topic of this post. I was just trying to be of help.<BR><BR>With regards to diseases from toilet seats, I have to admit I am not up on that topic, and put down paper based on information read in journals probably 10 years ago, when they indicated that although you could not get many STDs, there were still other skin-borne infections including arthropod-type things like crabs, that you could get.<BR><BR>However, I do know about hand-washing from five years of work in health care, as well as recent infection control articles and epidemiology classes(just finished an MHA). Yes, you can get infections from keyboards. However, there are more bacteria in urine and feces, for natural reasons!

Yikes! Who knew that toilets could instigate such passionate debates! I spent 3 weeks in Spain last year, from to bottom (pun intended) and was totally impressed with the bathrooms, which I found to be clean, (spotlessly so), and neat. Folks this was alot of bathrooms in my case, as I have...ahem..."tiny tanks" and I drink ALOT of water! :) A more fascinating question would be: why are the toilet seats MISSING in Italy? I encountered this quite frequently, either the top seat or bottom, or both would be gone! Is there some sort of market for used seats in Italy? Inquiring minds want to know!<BR><BR>Melodie

Carol's stupidiness has sparked some rather good responses. I also would like to know why this woman would travel to such a wonderful country and come back home and post a moronic story about a toilet. Only a neanderthal from Canada would be blind to all the magnificent culture and history of Spain. Instead she focused on the toilets. Typical dumb canadian!

Carol is a Canker Sore. People like her wouldn't enjoy themselves anywhere. They always find fault with everything and everyone.

In reply to the motion sensors that cause the bathroom lights to go out - I always travel with a flashlight - AND THEY COME IN HANDY MANY TIMES - like when I was repacking my suitcase in a Madrid hotel late and the power went off - I continued packing with my trusty flashlight and was able to finish my bathing, etc.

tp