Is this a middle class saying?

I take it you went to a state school, Only Male on this Thread.

It must be a terrible cross to bear.

I take it you say 'toilet'.

Yes, that's why I put it in. Not quite the "gotcha" you seem to think.

I didn't think it was a "gotcha" (for what? What was I trying to "get" you over?). I was agreeing with you in a roundabout way.

And anyway pro bono, I’m not sure anyone is desperate to slip anything in or be perceived in any particular way ( what? by a bunch of faceless usernames?) The info is simply provided as relevant to the issue - which, in and of itself, I don’t think anyone is even taking particularly seriously. Some threads touch on raw nerve issues but this is a trivia chat. Please feel free to call “ the facilities” what you like and don’t get perturbed by us.

And using the more basic word is, bizarrely, posher and more acceptable.

This is the money shot really of this whole discussion.

I feel like I've explained this about five times but there's absolutely nothing wrong with the word "toilet" (or any of these words). The reason why some people don't like them has nothing to do with being rude or disgusting it's to do with the hidden class status they betray.

Which is all a load of antiquated crap (no pun intended) so don't worry about it anyway.

But the people talking about bog being "gross" and using vomit emojis etc are being daft. No word for a toilet is intrinsically any worse, or more gross or disgusting than any other word. But claiming that bog is "lower class" just shows how pointless all the pearl clutching is.

Sadly, the only ones who seem to use that term are guys whose only flotation device is a rowboat, or their ego.

I will say I haven't heard it used as often now that I am older. It was mostly during my younger, unmarried, child-free years.

'Crapper', 'sh**r', 'pooper'. I don't know what it is about 'crapper' for me. It just makes me laugh.

My dad calls it the crapper (tho I notice only in private). He maintains it is simply the equivalent of using the brand name in so far as it was invented by Thomas Crapper. Imagine being called Tom Crapper - though I guess the crap business ( ie; calling excrement crap) all came later - in his “ honour” as it were.

That is a very good point. I'd forgotten about the name of the guy who invented it.

Actually this post caused me to “research” that claim ( because let’s face it, it isn’t something I would normally get round to) and it seems Crapper’s claim to have invented the ( device) is quite overstated. His contribution is primarily around siphonic flush. ALSO the term crap as bodily waste occurred before his flush work, by way of a reference to a “ Crapping Ken” to retreat to when evacuating. So that settles it for me and henceforth I need not navigate the perils of loo vs toilet vs bog: it’s the Crapping Ken for me.

Definitely not something an upper middle class person would say. Also, what a disgusting expression!

I’m guessing “Ken” is maybe an old version of “can” which sounds even worse, especially as that’s probably more or less all it was. Or maybe it shares some etymological history with “kennel” since the outhouses were outside like a dog kennel.

"Can" is American, I think. They say "shit or get off the can", we say "piss or get off the pot".

oh yes, that’s right, they do actually. And yet they also go all coy and say “washroom” - which personally I think sounds gross, as though some massive clean up is involved. 🧹 🧽

Bog sounds much grosser to me than toilet. Nearly as bad as 'shitter'. I'm not middle class clearly 😆
My posh aunt says 'ladies' (she's probably middle class)

I'm female, went to a state school, I usually say toilet

Yeah, I’ll continue to use the word ‘toilet’ but then I’m not bothered which ‘class’ people think I’m in. In any case the British class system doesn’t carry the same weight it once did outside the UK. My American relatives see us as a figure of fun and call the UK ‘Brexitland’.

I didn't know toilet was common. What do you ask for when you need to know where the "toilets" are? What about the French and their "toilettes"? So many questions. I use loo generally but also say toilet. It is indeed a toilet.

I really don’t think anyone cares at all these days. I say loo, but sometimes get looks from waiters etc as though they are taken aback at the “nursery-ness” of it. Occasionally they will even say “ the toilet?” Or “the ladies?” but I normally get directed there in time, which I guess is what matters. I think if people were really being judgmental ( and who would bother) I would reserve it for histrionically delicate terms, such as “little room” or “ powdering my nose” unless said with obvious irony; but toilet is fine.

My mother would flatten me if I said “toilet” but I do remember we all said “bogs” at school.

Toilet is considered very common where I live, loo is the usual term.

I'm so intrigued where some of you live. I say toilet, if I was trying to be posh I would say ladies or bathroom. Bog is a common word here. What a funny country we live in. I used to work for some really posh people and I can't remember noticing they said it different. They are twats though so they would have been judging all of their common employees.

I really want my current boss to say he's going for a wee to see what he calls it. He's not as posh as my old bosses but he is quite posh.

What are hereds please?

A few years ago I was in a local supermarket looking for a jar of Bovril. I couldn’t find it anywhere so I asked a young chap if he could direct me.
“Of course madam I will show you.” What a kind young man. I followed him across the shop feeling rather nonplussed until he stopped and indicated a shelf saying: “ There you are madam, bog roll! “ I was in my late 70s and couldn’t stop giggling while putting some unwanted Andrex in my trolley so as not to embarrass him. At the checkout I asked about Bovril and someone brought it for me.

That’s so funny - and very sweet of you to take some anyway! I can just imagine how much you were laughing to yourself…

Yeah well … that’s a whole ‘nother topic!