Since mankind first looked at a roll of toilet paper, philosphers and end users have pondered the deceptively simple-appearing question: should the free end of the toilet paper hang down the front or the back? The Virtual Toilet Paper Museum regrets that it can no longer espouse a view in the great controversy, as attempts to reach a consensus led repeatedly to acts of violence between our staff members. We temporarily achieved an uneasy compromise between proponents of the two sides by installing dual holders in our restrooms, but this soon led to further dissension when accusations of favortism were levelled regarding the relative convenience of the holders (e.g., "theirs is easier to reach than ours"), and we were ultimately forced to take the secular position of removing the holders altogether and simply setting the rolls on the counter. A possible solution might be found in the Tilt-aRoll, which would even accommodate those who prefer it hung sideways, but we're too cheap to spring the cash for one.

We would like to make it clear, though, that in our opinion the 'cat factor' has been greatly underrated in this debate.

Clearly we have much company in this seemingly insoluble struggle, as there exists numerous web sites addressing this controversy:

• Stammtisch Beau Fleuve (scroll down to "tp")
• Radio 612 ABC Brisbane
• Gravel Gertie
• UN debate toilet paper
• When I am Queen
• The Queen gets corrected
• Straight from the experts (this link only seems to work in Internet Exploder)

If you want to let your own voice be heard, cast your vote in the debate at these sites:

• The Great Debate Series
• Best and Worst
• The Tennessean

A related controversy: crumple or fold?