<p>“2) Everyone (guys included) should always put the seat down, but not out of politeness for girls. No, you should put the seat down because that’s the only way to put the cover down, which is your only line of defense during flushing against fecal mist landing on you and your toothbruth.”</p>
<p>I was going to make this point, but you beat me to it.</p>
<p>Other than that, I really don’t care about the seat up/down business. I look before I sit, if no other reason than to double check that there’s no residue on the seat that I don’t want to sit in. After having my nieces live with me at different points and still visiting frequently, I always try to make sure I don’t sit in any stray tinkle. :)</p>
<p>So for me, the seat up/down thing is a non-issue other than that in my house when I am an adult I’d like to enforce a rule to put the lid down before flushing for the germ reasons. The only thing that really bothers me regarding bathroom manners is leaving urine/excrement/menstrual blood on the seat, and not washing hands after going. The second one is what gets me because I’ve met guys who think because they don’t wipe they don’t have to wash their hands after. Yuck.</p>
<p>EDIT: Just to answer the OP’s question, I think your roommate was being ridiculous. I guess you learned your lesson, though I don’t agree with the requirement that guys are supposed to put the seat down anyway.</p>