Mideasterners used what part of their body instead of toilet paper?

diffuseaxon

"There is a profound stigma against left-handedness in Arabian cultures. ... when paper was extremely rare and (in desert regions) water was too precious to be used for hand-washing.... To expose the left hand during a public meal is still considered profoundly offensive in many Arab cultures, especially in desert regions." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southpaw Although we might find this practice offensive, consider that: 1. the act of using paper to wipe oneself is not necessarily most hygenic, cost effective, environmentally sound either 2. the human mouth and GI tract are already filthy 3. many Western/US/UK practices are quite offensive and repulsive to those not familiar with our sensibilities Jul 15 06, 8:53 AM

Arpeggionist

By the way, nowadays mideasterners do use toilet paper. Certainly every hotel bathroom in Israel has it, as does every respectable hotel bathroom in Jordan. Jul 15 06, 2:36 PM

darkpresence

Hotels certainly, but in Egypt we were told that it's still a luxury. This, I'm reliably told, is why the right hand is cut off in those Sahria law courts; it renders the victim a social outcast. Jul 15 06, 4:00 PM

Princess_A_R

but im pretty sure they don't actually use their hand to wipe themselves! wat i kno of the stigma against left-handedness in Arabian cultures is that itz because it is belieevd wen you wipe urself you are supposed to use your left hand, not literally , but with watever material you're using. the left hand is associated with cleaning yourself and the right hand with eating, which is why they may find it offensive to expose the left hand at a meal. that'z wat i kno to be the reason for the stigma, as diffuse sed, having been brought up with asian traditions, and i am pretty certain they dont use ther actual hand!! Jul 18 06, 4:18 PM