In any given household, wars between spouses, families and roommates are waged on a variety of different fronts. Who does the dishes tonight? Who will take out the trash? How could Steve have left the toilet seat up...again? And seriously, who finished the coffee but didn't refill the pot? The audacity.
同住一個屋檐下，無論是夫妻之間，還是家人、室友之間，都有可能因生活中各種各樣的瑣碎小事而爆發“戰爭”。比如：今晚輪到誰洗碗了；今天該誰負責倒垃圾了；斯蒂夫上完廁所怎么又忘蓋馬桶蓋了；說真的，到底是誰喝完咖啡也不再沖上一壺。臉皮可真夠厚！

Individuals have to figure out most of these issues themselves through awkward household meetings, and, likely, more than a little bit of passive aggressive behavior.
這些問題大部分都是可以通過家庭會議自行解決的，但畢竟共處一屋，難免會尷尬，而且，很有可能會出現冒犯性的語言攻擊，甚至有大打出手的情況。

But today, we are thrilled to report that some questions do have answers. And it might be the most important household dispute you can imagine. For far too long people have been arguing about whether the toilet paper roll should go over (meaning the toilet paper feeds out over the top) or under (meaning the toilet paper would come out from underneath).
不要擔心，現在，我們要懷著激動的心情告訴大家：有些問題已經找到解決的辦法了。而且，極有可能就是你能想到的最嚴重的家庭糾紛。長期以來，人們一直就廁紙卷的懸掛方式而爭論不休。那么問題來了，廁紙擺放到底是應該朝外（即廁紙從上方往外抽出）還是朝里（即廁紙從下方由內抽出）。

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首先，為什么這個問題那么重要。來看一組數據：

50%的人對廁紙朝向很在意。

美國人每年平均要花半個小時來研究廁紙的朝向。

25%的人會在廁紙朝向“錯誤”時把它翻過來。

1/5的人會因為廁紙擺放錯了方向而惱火，其中男性比女性更容易生氣。

哦，原來人類在廁紙面前這么脆弱！

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Thanks to a patent filed on June 8, 1891 by inventor Seth Wheeler — that's 124 years ago! — we now know that the "overs" were correct. I write this as a girl who used to be an "under." I know, the shame.
1891年6月8日，廁紙發明人賽斯?惠勒（Seth Wheeler）申請了該項專利，沒錯，就是124年前！多虧了這張專利圖紙，我們現在終于知道了：朝外擺放廁紙才是正確滴。作為一個總是將廁紙朝里放的女生，小編實在是捂臉羞愧。

Fight as the "unders" might, the proof is in the diagram.
下面這張圖紙將說服那些心存異議的“朝里黨”們。

In addition to settling that long argued upon question, the patent tells us a bit more about toilet paper, and why we should recognize Wheeler for making bathroom time a little more user friendly. According to the patent, we have him to thank for easily tearable pieces of tissue.
這張專利圖紙解答了困惑人們已久的廁紙擺放問題，除此之外，它還普及了更多有關廁紙的信息，并解釋了為什么惠勒的這項發明能讓蹲廁變得舒服一點。從這張專利圖紙，我們不難看出，在撕扯廁紙時惠勒的發明確實為我們提供了不少方便。

In a letter to the United States Patent Office, Wheeler describes how wrapping-paper (that's what he called toilet paper) used to be packaged. He wrote, "In the manufacture of wrapping-paper it is usual to cut the same into sheets, count them out into quires or half-quires, fold them, and tie them up into bundles, such as half-reams or reams."
在給美國專利局（the United States Patent Office）遞交的專利申請信上，惠勒詳細解說了人們以前都是如何對“包裝紙”（廁紙的委婉說法）進行包裝的。他寫道：“在包裝紙的生產過程中，通常情況下，人們會將其切割成同樣大小的一張張紙片，然后數出一刀或半刀（一刀紙相當于24張紙）為一疊，折疊起來，分別用繩捆在一起，最后形成一令裝或半令裝的包裝紙（一令紙相當于20刀紙）。

Wheeler wrote about his improvements, "My invention consists of a roll of connected sheets of paper for toilet use, said roll having incisions at intervals extending from the side of the web toward the center, but not meeting, and terminating in an angular out, whereby the slight connection left may be separated without injury to the connected sheets."
緊接著，惠勒又寫道了他對廁紙的改進：“我發明的廁紙就是一卷紙，由一張張連接在一起的紙片組成的。紙張之間每隔一定長度就會有一條分割線。分割線就是從卷紙兩側邊沿到卷紙中央會有一排持續但不連接的一個個小切口，這樣扯完紙后會留下一個個向外突出的小棱角，正因為有這些殘留下來的小角才使得下一格紙不會受到損壞。”

Tearable pieces of toilet paper certainly sound a lot easier to deal with than pre-cut pieces of tissue wrapped in a bundle.
當然，相比于那些提前切割好了捆成一摞的衛生紙，這種易撕廁紙聽起來就好用得多。

As for the original debate between the "overs" and the "unders," as a more recently converted "over," let me say to all those religiously holding on to their "under" status, having the toilet paper dispense from the top is actually more convenient. I swear. It takes a few weeks to get used to it, and then you start scoffing whenever you see it positioned the other way.
回到最初關于廁紙擺放朝外還是朝里的爭論，小編也是最近才改變這一習慣將廁紙朝外擺放的，我想以親身實踐對那些執著于將廁紙朝里擺放的人們說：朝外擺放廁紙，然后從上方扯紙確實相對更為方便！我發誓！這種改變可能需要幾周時間來適應，但當你適應了以后，每當你看到廁紙朝里擺放時，你肯定會忍不住嘲笑。

Trust Seth Wheeler. He hasn't steered us wrong so far.
相信賽斯?惠勒吧，他可從未誤導我們。

英文來源：MNN

譯者：懵懵zoe

審校&編輯：yaning