I've read a lot of comments that, apparently, imply that the idea is a sign of either stupidity or laziness or both. One actually was quite insensitive enough to make the very racist claim that the originator of the idea is probably American since it just strikes someone as lazy.
Allow me to clarify that, despite the apparent stupidity of the idea, it makes a lot of sense. Consider this... sure, you have perfectly healthy hands that are capable enough to lift the toilet seat but what kind of healthy person would actually lift or pull down a toilet seat with his bare hands? It is a given that toilet seats are quite dirty by nature (despite a local advertisement claiming that the kitchen counter is actually much dirtier than the toilet seat)
Also, it has been raised that it has been a point of conflict in a lot of households when men leave the seat up. Apparently, some women expect that it is the responsibility of the man to both lift the seat up and pull it down. However, like moldboy said, it is only fair that that both should do their parts. In an email I once received called "10 Things Women Should Know About Men" it was mentioned that women "should learn to work the toilet seat. You want it down, we want it up."
Anyway, however, I don't quite agree with the toilet-seat opener patterned after the dustbin openers. It would certainly be icky, especially to those who happened to be wearing brand-new shoes, to step on that pedal but, come to think of it, isn't it just a lot like stepping on the equally dirty toilet floor? In any case, I don't think it'd be a good idea to put the pedal near the bottom of the bowl. I was, initially, inclined to suggest a wall button but I also realized that you can't quite tell where those hands have been.
Nonetheless, I think that a toilet seat opener is quite a good idea. I'm mulling over employing a motion detector to automatically open and close the seat but, with the energy situation right now, maybe that's going overboard already

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