What is the run on toilet paper (no pun intended)?

[demosincebirth]

[elleng]

1. Made in China, so some actual shortages.

[OhioChick]

12. I heard the same n/t

[LizBeth]

2. I don't get it either. Finally went to store. Down to one roll. And there were only TWO packages

left. A guy in the isle and I were laughing about it. I only took one and left the last one, just saying. I do not get why people are hoarding toilet paper either.

[mr_lebowski]

3. So they can hunker down at home and avoid all the sick people ...

I don't get why this is complicated

[Dem2theMax]

5. Because if they are like me, they use a lot of it.

I can look at a glass of water, and I will have to go to the bathroom. I also have IBS. I spend a lot of time in that particular room.

TMI, but now people know that some people actually need more toilet paper.

[demosincebirth]

16. Crinkled-up newspaper will do in a pinch

[Dem2theMax]

17. I don't get the newspaper. LOL! nt.

[demosincebirth]

18. In dire times human ingenuity steps forward.

[Dem2theMax]

20. I have trees in the backyard.

The problem is, they are avocado trees. The leaves protect the avocados from getting burned in the summertime. So I have to decide, food or artificial toilet paper?

I already know the answer. The food wins out. I can use the shower for toilet paper.

There's my human ingenuity! Thank goodness I know it worked.

[demosincebirth]

21. I can just imagine with avocado leaves

[Dem2theMax]

22. Ouch. Ouch. Ouch.

I think that would pretty much sum it up!

[tblue37]

23. It would clog your toilet. nt

[mahina]

14. Here in Hawai'i it's because people remember very well

The dock strike that went on and on and had us all wiping with Sears catalogues and newspaper.

Now, no mo’ either one, most people, so that’s why.

I was really surprised to see a TV news clip posted here at Du by somebody from Iwilei costco here in Honolulu about to shortage and long lines to pick up tp. I hope we didn’t unintentionally start this.

[demosincebirth]

15. I guess it's "monkey see monkey do."

[Recursion]

4. In case the stores are shut down

People are more used to hurricanes and blizzards than pandemics, so they're responding with what they know.

[lapfog_1]

10. This... I hadn't anticipated getting more TP

but after the run started... I went and "contributed to the panic" by getting an additional 12 large rolls. Should last for a couple of months now... maybe 3. But I only did it because I if we close the stores (which I believe is a possibility now)... I didn't want to run out.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

6. In my experience as an older male with lots of road under my wheels....

the ladies do no like to run out of toilet paper.

That's worse than running out of chocolate and ice cream and butter.

I know. I've made thousands of trips to the grocery and big box stores.

Seriously, I think everyone is thinking of being quarantined for a couple of weeks or more and just want to survive with minimal discomfort, to maintain good hygiene, and reduce the risk of having to go out.

KY............

[RockRaven]

7. I'm generally snarky about the TP thing, but I did hear from some of my 70+ yr old relatives,

one of whom has some lung dysfunction, who have decided to lay in a 2 month or so supply of disposables/consumables (obviously not 2 months of fresh produce, dairy, other expirables, but includes TP, paper towels, kleenex, detergents, soaps, pasta, rice, beans, canned veg and bottled sauces, frozen veg/meats/breads, etc.) so that they can hunker down when their community gets a big explosion of exposure. Not the most balanced diet, but they will probably consider risk/benefit of going to the store for produce/dairy and to otherwise restock every couple of weeks depending on circumstances. Obviously no plan is perfect, but their plan seems to be rather reality-based, and does include TP. So I cannot fault stockpiling some TP, I guess.


I suspect the "TP thing" has a psychological component having to do with volume/size. TP is high volume per cost compared to other things (bottled water is similar). So when you acquire some, there is a sort of cartoonish caveman-ish "look what I have brought home!" aspect despite not being that big of a cost. "I've made a lot of progress in preparing for disaster -- look at all this stuff I have stored away!" It's a mirage, but it soothes the disaster-anxiety in the moment...

[Awsi Dooger]

8. I happened to buy 72 double rolls a month or two ago

Not planned whatsoever. Target had a promotion of a $15 gift card if you purchased $50+ in certain items. I was looking for something on sale that qualified for the promotion and I'd eventually use. I ended up with two bags of 36 roll toilet paper plus some mouth rinse and hand sanitizer and something else.

The hand sanitizer was also accidental. I had just run out.

I'm getting wiped out in the stock market but I guess I can rationalize via no lack of ass wipes

[ribrepin]

9. I live outside of Seattle

Toilet paper is getting hard to find. I found some at Winco and stocked up.

[hlthe2b]

11. I usually keep six months worth on hand and was down to my last three rolls so I bought a big pack

which I had to wait more than a week and monitor Sam's Club website multiple times daily to see it come back in stock. Their brand is soft enough to double as kleenex if necessary so buying 45 rolls seems logical.

That said, I don't get people buying what surely must be two year's worth. That's why I couldn't buy one package.

[Buns_of_Fire]

13. Not everyone eats black beans and rice. Not everyone eats granola. But...

[The_jackalope]

19. Because every time someone sneezes

Everyone nearby shits themselves.