General Question

filmfann's avatar

How do blind people know when they have properly wiped themselves?

Asked by filmfann (52226points) February 11th, 2010

When using toilet paper, I have to look to see if I have any smear on the paper to know if I am finished. How do blind people do this?

Observing members: 0 Composing members: 0

73 Answers

Axemusica's avatar

Kind of a disgusting image, but interesting question nonetheless.

Your_Majesty's avatar

With long term practice.

jbfletcherfan's avatar

Sarah Palin??????? LOLLLLLLLLLL

HungryGuy's avatar

They have wipe themselves a bunch of times and hope they got it all?

Jack79's avatar

They get a seeing person to check it for them :P

bhec10's avatar

They adjust the times they wipe to the consistency of their poop?

editingdiva's avatar

When one sense is lost, another is usually strengthened. Enough said.

filmfann's avatar

@Jack79 I’m sure they don’t.
@HungryGuy Sometimes I wipe a lot, and still haven’t gotten it all
@jbfletcherfan I was wondering if I was gonna get away with that.
@editingdiva are you suggesting they sniff at the paper?

eponymoushipster's avatar

maybe some don’t…..

Axemusica's avatar

Well, now it’s gone from disgusting to hilarious. lol, “sniff the paper”

SABOTEUR's avatar

Question reminds me of the song “Too Much Time On My Hands” by Styx.

vincentcent's avatar

@editingdiva good point. They can probably tell when sighted people missed a spot of their own.

ubersiren's avatar

If I couldn’t see my skid marks, I’d get some baby wipes or adult equivalent for extra effectiveness.

eponymoushipster's avatar

maybe they just always go as soon as it first turtleheads, and always have a clean drop.

filmfann's avatar

@johnpowell I tried searching for this question, and that one did not come up.
thanks for pointing it out.

phoebusg's avatar

My guess would be smell… well if you haven’t got anything else what choice do you have? The only thing is those molecules get stuck in your noise affecting your ability to tell whether the next wipe is much cleaner or not. So I assume they must overall over-wipe.

Axemusica's avatar

@johnpowell you do know you could’ve brought it directly to your quip by pressing the ΒΆ and copying that right? ;)

dpworkin's avatar

Does anyone want me to ask my girlfriend?

Axemusica's avatar

@dpworkin I was actually awaiting your arrival, lol.

vincentcent's avatar

@dpworkin This close to V-day, only if she has a very good sense of humor.

dpworkin's avatar

It probably hasn’t occurred to her to think about it for 45 years, but if I ask her she’ll tell me. She knows Fluther. There must be a way, because I have never noticed anything… questionable for the last eight years.

phoebusg's avatar

For some reason I’m getting this image of a whole bunch of humans sitting around and sniffing each other’s behinds.
“Good job there!”
“Ewww, do it again.”

Now, think of a whole bunch of monkeys doing the same.
Now thing of both happening at the same time, but the two groups can see each other.

Oh the simile, hi cousins – don’t fling poo at us please, we’ve evolved out of that one.

Axemusica's avatar

@phoebusg but if they’re blind they wouldn’t see the poo coming.

borderline_blonde's avatar

Re: @johnpowellI tested this a long time ago.” Really? I wonder how many other people are asking themselves this same question right now…

My guess is some kind of system: clean break = 2 wipes; unsure = 4; wet butt = shower?

dpworkin's avatar

OK, I asked her. She said this is the first time she has ever been asked this question, which is actually a good thing: she gets asked the same boring stuff over and over. She says this one gets points for novelty.

Basically she said “What is wrong with sighted people? They have to check everything with their vision? Where’s the trust? I can tell because the coefficient of friction changes, and when I feel that it has returned to normal I stop. If I have a doubt, I do a little extra.”

Now you know.

Axemusica's avatar

Straight from the horses mouth! GA x 150 @dpworkin

eponymoushipster's avatar

so basically, your other senses are heightened….and you just know your asscrack is pure. awesome.

jbfletcherfan's avatar

Ahhhh, the wonders of fluther. ’-)

jbfletcherfan's avatar

@AstroChuck You’re terrible!

casheroo's avatar

@dpworkin love the response!

ubersiren's avatar

@dpworkin It’s so simple!

jbfletcherfan's avatar

@dpworkin that’s great that she’d be so open & honest about something so personal & to allow you to tell a bunch of strangers. Kudos to her. And to you for being a loving partner. :-)

MRSHINYSHOES's avatar

If I were blind, I would wipe myself repeatedly, then wash the area throughly with soap and water in a tub or shower. That is the most sanitary and sure way to clean yourself, blind or not blind. I would hope most blind (and unblind!) people do that, and if not, they should.

jrpowell's avatar

@Axemusica :: I know, but I wanted to link to the actual question. Trust me, I know about the permalinks. I spent months bitching to get them.

jbfletcherfan's avatar

@MRSHINYSHOES Personally speaking, wet wipes work great, too.

Shae's avatar

@MRSHINYSHOES You get in the bath every time you use the bathroom? That must be time consuming.

dpworkin's avatar

@MRSHINYSHOES That sounds kinda nutty. You have some shit issues?

jbfletcherfan's avatar

LOLLLLLLLL…I have a great come back for @dpworkin & @Shae, but I’d better keep still. I’ve already been modded on another thread tonight. Hahahaaa…damn, I feel evil tonight. Sorry, mods.

ratboy's avatar

Their guide dogs give them a licking.

dpworkin's avatar

@ratboy That is not the least bit amusing. You need an education.

Arp's avatar

This is the best question I have ever seen on Fluther. Ever.

MRSHINYSHOES's avatar

@dpworkin “Nutty”? When is hygiene and efficacy ever a crime or in your words “nutty”? I mean it’s not that much of an effort to “wash” yourself properly after defecating and wiping yourself. It’s actually common practice in many places around the world. Don’t try to make something good sound “neurotic” or wrong. I teach my children to clean themselves well and wash themselves thoroughly if possible. It’s only good hygienic practice. Of course, in public washrooms this would not be feasible, but one can still use “Wet Wipes” as one jbfletcherfan mentioned. But at home this simple practice is always observed. It doesn’t take much time or energy for God’s sake! Lazy people are dirtier I suppose.

mangeons's avatar

@MRSHINYSHOES I think what @dpworkin is trying to say is that it seems quite odd and obsessive to clean yourself after every time you need to use the bathroom. In which case, I agree wholeheartedly.

dpworkin's avatar

@MRSHINYSHOES Let’s not say “nutty”. Let’s just say whackadoodle.

JMCSD's avatar

Can we take a vote, oh please?!

Clean with soap and water (if possible)

Just wipe (preferably well)

I for one don’t feel the need to break out the bleach and steel wool everytime I, “defecate.” :) I must be lazy.

MRSHINYSHOES's avatar

@mangeons—-You don’t have to bathe your entire body to wash yourself silly! And again, I repeat, it doesn’t take much effort to do a simple wash with soap and water. Sheesh!
@dpworkin——cleanliness is next to godliness, not whackadoodle. Lol. Read the message I sent to you. :)

MRSHINYSHOES's avatar

@JMCSD—-you got it!

mangeons's avatar

@MRSHINYSHOES Sure, but every time you go to the bathroom? It just seems a bit much to me.

MRSHINYSHOES's avatar

@mangeons—-RE-READ my comment! Not everytime, but whenever possible, especially when you’re home before you go to school or work. Of course not everytime! Depends where you poop! Lol. But like one answerer said, you can use Wet Wipes too (when you’re in a public washroom).

dpworkin's avatar

I read your message, pal. Hence the diagnosis. Watch out that I don’t touch you with the doody finger.

editingdiva's avatar

The perfect answer is a bidet. I don’t understand why they are not more common in the U.S.

mangeons's avatar

@MRSHINYSHOES But there’s no need! As long as you wipe thoroughly, you’re fine. Sure, wash when you take a shower, but there’s no need to take the chance at every opportunity possible to wash with soap and water.

MRSHINYSHOES's avatar

@dpworkin——one word—-“Yeech!!” Lol. Stand away!
@mangeons,——yes a thorough wipe MAY be okay, but often it doesn’t clean through and through. My mother taught me as a small child to wash myself, and as a parent, I teach my own kids. Again, you missed my point. You don’t take the chance at every opportunity if you are unable, but you SHOULD if you can. It’s only sensible, hygienic practice, bottom line (pardon the pun——LOL.). Quite frankly, I am surprised there are people who think it’s odd to wash yourself. I just strive to be a clean person, that’s all, and I encourage my children to be too. Just a simple wash does wonders. Nothing obsessive about that! Lol.

In Japan, people clean themselves thoroughly (bathe with soap and water) before going into a hot tub to soak. That’s hygienic. In many places around the world, there are actually hoses attached to faucets in public toilets, for people to “wash” their anuses after wiping and defecation. I’ve travelled to the Middle East, and they do that, especially before Salaam or Prayer.

filmfann's avatar

@MRSHINYSHOES So, not just your shoes are shiny?

JMCSD's avatar

I hate to think how much germ x you go through in a day….

MRSHINYSHOES's avatar

@filmfann.—-Lol Everything about me is shiny. That’s what separates me from the dull and dirty people. (wink!)

casheroo's avatar

We’ve been over this, Fluther, wet wipes no need to get naked and shower. What a waste of water and towels, and laundry!

SeventhSense's avatar

@ratboy
LMAO.
It’s a lesser known part of their education at the academy.

Response moderated
SeventhSense's avatar

@dpworkin
It’s called a joke. And maybe when you can laugh at yourself you will understand.

MRSHINYSHOES's avatar

@dpworkin—-did you read my latest comment I sent you?

dpworkin's avatar

I told @ratboy there is nothing amusing about it, and I am telling you there is nothing amusing about it. If you don’t feel free to make crude jokes about African Americans, homosexuals, Latinos or Intellectually Challenged people, why do you feel free to make jokes about the congenitally blind? Please don’t answer. You have nauseated me sufficiently today.

SeventhSense's avatar

@dpworkin
Why don’t you ask Stevie Wonder why he makes commercials that air on the Super Bowl mocking blind people. I agree it’s discriminatory to exclude anyone from being the butt of a joke. I don’t agree that anyone should be exempt. It’s all fair game. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Political correctness is just a form of mental constipation.

MRSHINYSHOES's avatar

@SeventhSense——I love your last sentence. Very funny, and very true.

SeventhSense's avatar

@MRSHINYSHOES
Thank you. Humor is the great equalizer.

MRSHINYSHOES's avatar

@SeventhSense—-I agree with you wholeheartedly. Having a sense of humor is a good thing. Even on the most serious matters. Without the ability to laugh at ourselves and life’s issues, life would be very depressing indeed. :(

augustlan's avatar

[mod says] Flame off, folks. Let’s get back to the actual question… which already seems to have a definitive answer.

Simone_De_Beauvoir's avatar

Well! This was intense. Anyway, I don’t look when I wipe and I’m not blind – so it’s probably just like that for a blind person.

Dutchess_III's avatar

This is too terrible!!!

desiree333's avatar

This is the best.question.ever. Hahahahah “skid marks”.

Hypocrisy_Central's avatar

If I were blind, I would just wipe three time extra just to be sure.

Answer this question

Login

or

Join

to answer.

This question is in the General Section. Responses must be helpful and on-topic.

Your answer will be saved while you login or join.

Have a question? Ask Fluther!

What do you know more about?
or
Knowledge Networking @ Fluther