easy, Killer. again, most of my participation in this thread is half in jest, half serious. i think it's gross, the OP's friends seemed to think it's gross, i'm expressing why i think it's gross and hopefully lending some understanding to why others might think it's gross. i think soiled diapers are gross but that doesn't mean i'm not going to change my child's diaper, understand?
this is a loving disagreement because i do accept that i can be a bit of a germaphobe, and in reality there's probably no real health concern, but nothing anyone says is going to change that i'm a little skeeved out by it. again, everyone has hang-ups; this is mine and i'll own it.
also, in fairness, this is the first anyone has said about a health issue that has kept them in the bathroom for long periods of time. obviously, i am sympathetic to such circumstances and while i still think it's gross, i certainly wouldn't expect you to stare at a wall if you're going to be in there awhile. though, i don't know that i've ever said it's "wrong" to read on the toilet if that's what you enjoy, just that it's not my preference due to the discomfort of sitting, hunched over on a hard toilet seat for prolonged periods and that i'm a little grossed-out by taking a book in and out of the bathroom with me or accepting reading material someone else has taken in and out of the bathroom with them. that's it - nothing but a difference in comfort and personalities.
this is a loving disagreement because i do accept that i can be a bit of a germaphobe, and in reality there's probably no real health concern, but nothing anyone says is going to change that i'm a little skeeved out by it. again, everyone has hang-ups; this is mine and i'll own it.

I think the ulcerative colitis might have contributed to that habit as I was nearly living on the toilet during the worst of it, got through 2 Sherlock Holmes books in a week reading them pretty much only in the bathroom...I never saw anything wrong with it.
also, in fairness, this is the first anyone has said about a health issue that has kept them in the bathroom for long periods of time. obviously, i am sympathetic to such circumstances and while i still think it's gross, i certainly wouldn't expect you to stare at a wall if you're going to be in there awhile. though, i don't know that i've ever said it's "wrong" to read on the toilet if that's what you enjoy, just that it's not my preference due to the discomfort of sitting, hunched over on a hard toilet seat for prolonged periods and that i'm a little grossed-out by taking a book in and out of the bathroom with me or accepting reading material someone else has taken in and out of the bathroom with them. that's it - nothing but a difference in comfort and personalities.
