How The Toilet Changed History

↓ More info and sources below ↓

We’re proud to collaborate with Bill and Melinda Gates for this week’s video! It may sometimes seem like things are getting worse, but there’s lots of reasons to be optimistic about the future. More people have access to toilets and sanitation than ever before. Thanks to public health improvements like this, since 1990, 122 million children’s lives have been saved. Diseases like polio are nearing eradication. Women have more access to health care and education than ever before.

But our work is not done. How can YOU help make the future better for the world’s poorest?

SPECIAL THANKS:
Bill and Melinda Gates

-----------
LEARN MORE:

George, Rose. “The Big Necessity: The unmentionable world of human waste and why it matters.” 2008.

Perdew, Laura. “How the Toilet Changed History” 2016.

-----------
FOLLOW US:

Twitter: @okaytobesmart @DrJoeHanson
Instagram: @DrJoeHanson
Snapchat: YoDrJoe
-----------

It’s Okay To Be Smart is hosted by Joe Hanson, Ph.D.
Director: Joe Nicolosi
Writer: Joe Hanson
Editor/animator: Andrew Orsak
Producer: Stephanie Noone and Amanda Fox

Produced by PBS Digital Studios
Music via APM

[besmart]

It's incredible to me that in our age of iPhones, drones, and YouTube, 1 in 3 people on Earth still lack access to basic sanitary toilets. LOTS of people, mainly children, die unnecessarily as a result. I think it's time we flush this problem once and for all, don't you? Something to think about next time you sit on your porcelain throne.

[someinternetbox]

Humans: *poop piles up*
Worms: It’s free real estate

[cadr]

This is what is relevant to me on Valentines Day

[Fanafranky]

So both John Snow and Kit Harrington's ancestor had a part in this? Truly a game of Thrones ._.

[bins]

Thomas Crapper... Well i know why people thought he invented the toilet...

[dcterr]

I remember learning in a sociology class I took in college that improved sanitation more than improved medicine was responsible for increased life expectancy. I think the toilet is probably the most underrated technological innovation of all time. Great video promoting it!

[jesuschristo]

"From atop of our porcelain thrones, we've left a lot of our species drowning in feces" sounds like a rap song

[gravijta]

In days of old,
when knights were bold,
and toilets weren't invented,

people laid their load,
beside the road,
and walked away contented!

[mjolni]

Turns out Jon Snow did know something after all.

[worldwhytf]

I should be sleeping.... and yet, I watch the history of the crapper🤦‍♀️

[Master_Therion]

Some people are embarrassed to talk about toilets. Just say the word toilet to them and their face gets *flushed.*
;)

[DRay]

I cannot imagine what it was like for mothers before diapers were invented...

[gluteusmaximus]

It seems like George R.R Martin is a big fan of toilets.
He named one of his main characters after a toilet inventor and hired another toilet inventor's relative to play that said character..
John Harrington and Jon Snow.
Sorry for the long comment. Cheers!

[BusiedGem]

Give this man an award for talking about poop maturely, and without filling the video with poop jokes.

[Aquillyne]

“He doesn’t know how to use the three seashells...! 😂”

[yaserhumeid]

what a life am having, watching a video about toilets at 4 AM !

[ACSReactions]

A whole video featuring 💩. That's a topic that really moves through us.

[clifftrainor]

3:17 - the serious, straight way you delivered that line made me have to pause the video I was laughing so hard.

[nizzleprizzle]

Kit Harrington (Jon Snow) is related to John Harrington.

[evergreenthequeen]

many years later...
we're hoarding toilet paper


love how this was recommended to me in the middle of said pandemic