It's regularly referenced on the @mrjamesob.bsky.social show. Explains so much so simply

I had a similar theory in Beautifully Unique Sparkleponies but I used toilet paper as the example. A good company spends for double ply and people are happy. A bad company spends half as much for single ply to “cut costs,” but people use three times as much because it doesn’t work AND they’re pissed

single ply is one of the most evil things ever invented

Single ply in one of those one-sheet-at-a-time or locked roll dispensers.

Get behind me, Satan

I lived in a hotel for some of 1977, and therefore the toilet paper was provided for me. It's one of maybe two places I ever saw these single sheets, which popped out like Kleenex, but were small and not a bit absorbent. Might as well have been waxed!

Agreed. But FWIW some buildings have ancient ass thin sewer lines; you need to use a rapidly-dissolving tissue paper (like the kind used for RVs) or it will clog. Single-ply is literally all their pipes can handle. (Disneyland's famous for 1ply bc their 1955 plumbing can't handle 2025 crowds/poops)

Septic tanks, alas. Brands definitely vary, tho. . . .

It's single ply that horrible stretchy gray stuff that's just rough and doesn't absorb anything nor holds anything on its surface?

Yeah, and it tends to fall apart when you’re wiping

I hope whomever invented that shit (pun intended) is in hell right now. I also hate every company that uses it in their restrooms.

This is probably the Pratchett concept or quote I use most often in real life. I refer to it at least 5 times a year

I’ve been using “Charisn’tma” more and more

The Captain Samuel Vimes 'Boots' theory of socioeconomic unfairness fundamentally altered the entire way I perceive the world and the degree to which our economy actively works to make it both more expensive and much shittier to be poor

Another fun fact about boots Italian soldiers were sent to the western front to Russia with cardboard boots by their facist leaders!

Another fun fact: Canadian sailors used to be issued pretty good sea boots, til they cheaped on the contractor and the soles started falling off. Plus, they were always out of most sizes. They sorted themselves out and now we get issued Terras. Never skimp on boots, folks. Bad for everyone.

Also never skimp on socks.

I think about it all the time! Also how rich people just get shit for free, all the time. As I become less rich, I notice how much less free shit I get.

Economics professor at my college brought it up once during a lecture and praised Pterry for explaining the concept of false economy so simply and elegantly. Wonderful moment.

It would have been better if he praised Pterry for explaining the economics of poverty. It's not false economy to buy cheap boots. It's not being able to afford boots that last.