Women need the toilet seat down for both uses of the toilet... however, men only need it for the second function.... and since they always have trouble with their *aim* (as described above quite eloquently with, "the women can wipe it, can't they?") , it makes sense for them to lift the seat to avoid excessive cleaning afterwards and then kindly return it to its previous position... hardly hard work eh ? Any man who refuses to do so is, in my opinion, a lazy b-s-g... and should be flushed down said toilet pan forthwith.