What is the point of 3 and 4 ply toilet paper?

So your finger doesn’t go through.

What is this thing you talk of? Sounds like a handy invention, toilet paper!
The point, I think, is to give customers choice.
Those that want to be safe (see @trailsillustrated ‘s answer), or live ‘luxurious’ lives, or don’t (have to) pay attention to their budgets, buy 4 ply. ~
People that don’t give a shit buy 2 ply (if I am not wrong in the Netherlands you can even buy 1 ply).

@rebbel: Isn’t the point that we all do “give a shit”? – thus the toilet paper.

And 1-ply?!?!? That’s just living dangerously.

So you do not have to fold it so often. So you only need to fold it once instead of twice.

People fold?!

I don’t see the point of it either, it can cause blockages the real thick stuff, apparently…

Also, on the subject of toilet paper, don’t you think some brands spin the paper around the roll with less tension, thus resulting in a roll that looks big but actually contains half the amount of paper because it’s spun so loosely? That ticks me off.

@Keep_on_running
Of course they do. What else would anyone do? Crumple it? Now that would be stupid.

lol

I can not stand the thought of crumpling it. It increases the likelyhood of getting your fingers in your feces by 1000%. Urgh.

It plays into the “more is better” mentality. The same reason that we now have 4-bladed razors.

Plus, you can be sure that it will mean that more actual paper gets consumed. The gesture you use to grab toilet paper off a role is an automatic behavior, not something that most people pay attention to. Chances are that you’ll take 3-ply off in exactly the same way you’d take 2-ply off, so you’ll end up using 50% more actual paper. That’s all money in the pockets of the paper mills.

Marketing.

Ever used cheapo toilet paper and your fingers go crashing through?

Its very unsanitary.

Besides, 3-ply toilet paper is outstanding, also, for blowing your nose.

I like it.

What is this business of fingers going through? How hard do people wipe? Shouldn’t you wanna clean the area gently enough so as not to cause swelling of the rectal veins ?

My brother once attempted to use a Doritto bag to wipe while we were on a long hike w/out toilet paper. I’m sure he would have been ecstatic if we had had any kind of ply at the time.

The more plys the better I always say.

@ragingloli: I fold. My wife crumples. It makes me nervous.

Wooheee! Let me tell you. There are some nights I sit down on the “thinkin’ chair” and discover that five or six ply would be a darned good idea. Or maybe they should make cello sponges and beach towels flushable… I mean really after a really good curry.. you know..

..oop..

nevermind..

@john65pennington “Ever used cheapo toilet paper and your fingers go crashing through?”

”Its very unsanitary.”

If you don’t wash your hands after it is. :P The more ply the more comfort though.

A special treat for the anus, bit like a cucumber only softer :¬)

@ucme there are special toys for that you know?

@ragingloli I’m sure there are, my arse is of course just for shittin…..which is nice.

For those of us with a septic tank and leaching fields, even 2 ply is a very bad idea.

@thorninmud – That is what went through my mind, it is worse for the environment because you rip off just as much 4 ply as you did 1 or 2 ply. Now there is definitely less chance of finger contamination but that is twice as many trees used to make the paper, double the amount of sewage to be disposed of. I stick with the 2 ply but I love the triple length rolls, I think that’s a great idea!

Cheers all and some really creative and funny answers.

@ragingloli – omg, we agree! on folding anyhow!

I used to use nice… fluffy… thick bun-appreciating toilet paper. I’d use a few squares at a time and it was perfectly perfect. No nasty fingers either!

Then someone moved in and peewtoooooo! (spinning sound) they would rip yards off at a time. I still do not understand how you can rip off 2 yards of thick toilet paper and get it to fit in the toilet between your legs, folded or waddled. I swear we went through a roll a day!

So. I started buying the cheapest 1½ ply crap out there. My TP and dollars last much, much longer.