Don't use your phone while you poop
Many commenters argue that bathroom time should be one of the few moments in the day free from smartphones, both to reduce screen addiction and to preserve a quiet mental space for reflection and “default mode” thinking. Others push back that people have always read on the toilet—books, magazines, shampoo bottles—and that the real health risks (like hemorrhoids) come from straining or poor diet rather than simply sitting with a phone. Hygiene concerns and broader worries about over‑stimulation and constant dopamine hits from modern devices run through the exchange, alongside anecdotes about family habits, humor, and the practical realities of busy lives.
Bathroom time & physical health
- Many argue you shouldn’t linger: “in, out, 1–6 minutes” is framed as ideal; >15–25 minutes seen as a sign of digestive issues or doomscrolling.
- Others counter that longer, relaxed sitting can aid complete emptying and reduce straining.
- Strong disagreement over hemorrhoid causes:
- One camp: long toilet sitting “consistently leads to hemorrhoids” and kids should be trained not to sit and read.
- Opposing camp: evidence and cited papers emphasize straining, not time per se; one study is cited suggesting toilet-seat shape may matter.
- Several note personal anecdotes of long-time sitters with/without hemorrhoids, but others dismiss anecdote as akin to “lifetime smokers without cancer.”
- Fiber and water intake are frequently mentioned; some insist fiber helps in “99% of cases,” others say it can worsen symptoms for some.
- Squatting posture and tools like a “squatty potty” are mentioned as making quick, easy BMs likelier.
Hygiene and contamination
- Some refuse to use phones on the toilet over fear of fecal aerosols settling on devices.
- Others are skeptical, arguing aerosol levels would have to be extreme to matter and contact surfaces + handwashing are more important.
- A few advocate periodic disinfection of phone surfaces with alcohol.
Phones, attention, and boredom
- Many see bathroom time as a rare chance for undistracted thinking and “default mode network” activity; comparisons to silent drives and showers.
- Others say the toilet is their only quiet time to check phones, do work, or run flashcards.
- Some posters explicitly identify as phone-addicted and describe tools or rules (e.g., apps blocking feeds, phone only on toilet/bedtime) to curb usage.
Phones, society, and birth rates
- One subthread blames smartphones and dopamine loops for declining birth rates, risk aversion, and “performance culture.”
- Others strongly contest this, citing long-term fertility data, birth control, wealth, housing costs, and culture as more important; phones are seen at most as an accelerant, not root cause.
- Disagreement remains unresolved; impact of phones on demographics is marked as unclear.
Books, magazines, and pre-phone bathroom culture
- Many argue the article ignores long-standing traditions of bathroom reading: books, game manuals, “bathroom readers,” National Geographic, Sears catalogues, shampoo labels, cleaning products, TV guides, etc.
- Some say these older habits were fine because overall life was less overstimulated; today, even bathroom time is saturated with internet content.
- A number of people still keep curated bathroom libraries and see them as harmless or even educational.
Vulnerability, privacy, and alone time
- Several comments note pooping is an evolutionarily vulnerable moment; analogies to animals (dogs, sloths) and jokes about “I watch, you shit.”
- Parents describe the bathroom as one of the few private spaces away from toddlers and family; some admit to “sandbagging” for alone time despite possible health downsides.
- Others argue that if you need long solitary time, better to find it outside the toilet.
Humor and meta-observations
- Large numbers admit they read the article/thread while on the toilet; multiple jokes that HN traffic would crash if people stopped “toilet browsing.”
- Running gags about AI fecal analysis, “ShatGPT,” smart toilets, “golden throne” phone use, and superior stool quality.
- Some dismiss the article as sanctimonious or “pointless,” others praise the reminder to unplug and think.