h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Seemingly it is bad luck to leave the seat, and hence the cover, up. Your wealth flows away down the pan as there is no obsruction to the 'chi' or life force. Now all those women have to do is persuade their blokes to believe in this eyewash as earnestly as my Chinese office mate - who has also conned her husband. He got a promotion the day after she shifted their living room furniture into auspicious positions
Personally, I've nver been bothered by seat positions - a lot of my life has been spent in places where they don't have any.

Ah so, my wise and learned friend. I bow to your earnest colleague and will sprinkle cherry blossoms on the loo seat cover

There's actually a very expensive bathroom accessories shop in the local mall that has plastic loo seat with roses embedded in them(not sure I'd cope well psychologically sitting on those) Also teddy bears, or frogs. I haven't asked Alison what one of those would do to the life force

I think there's a Haiku in there somewhere...