Farting Ettiquette
My workmate farts. Her cubicle is right next to mine. This is not just an occasional toot that slips by. This is a several times daily pppbbbbbbbbtttthhhhhh. Sometimes she does it in the middle of meetings, or in the middle of conversations. It's really disconcerting. She never says, "Excuse me" or acknowledges it in any way. Perhaps she feels that she, as an older woman (30 years my senior, but still younger than my mom), no longer has to suscribe to little civilities like saying, "excuse me." It bothers me, obviously. Is there anything I can do about it? Should I say anything? Should I just ignore it and make a mental note to always say "excuse me" should I fart in public? That's it, I'm totally writing to Dear Prudence.
Perhaps you could just put a bottle of BEANO on her desk -- maybe she'd take the hint!
Posted by
Melli |
11:42 AM
I LOVE Dear Prudence, and I'm fairly certain she's already addressed this issue, unless it was Emily Post. But Anyway.
I am pretty sure she wrote that a poot differs from a sneeze and that the proper thing for ALL parties to do is to politely ignore it and say nothing.
Besides, if it happens a lot, I wouldn't want to have my attention brought to it *every single time*.
Posted by
Lisa B |
11:01 AM
that's gross.
she should excuse herself.
Posted by
Paperback Writer |
2:10 PM
I thought the proper etiquette is to point at someone else.
Posted by
Neil |
11:40 PM
Its interesting that this question comes up so often - I think that society is slowly coming to terms with the reality of personal off-gassing as an inevitable part of human experience, like sneezing and coughing.
I'm in Canada, and I noticed that at the start of my hot yoga class, the instructor specifically told us that flatulence was an expected and natural part of yoga, as the mind and body relax and flex. Trying to contain them would lead to anxiety and strain, which were opposite to what the yoga was about, so she declared the class a "free-fart zone." It was a bit awkward at first, but now everyone is used to it, and everyone does it, from the 50+ year old guy at the back to the 22-year old aerobics instructor, to the 33-year old chartered acountant who is there with her sister. I go for coffee with some of them after class, and the zone now comfortably extends to our table. You try to be discreet, but if not, you just say 'excuse me' and carry on.
Maybe its a bit more organic and accomodating, but I'd like to see more spaces be more open to the reality. Is America more or less inclined to join the free-fart-zone revolution?
Feeling Renewed Tranquility in the Great White North
Posted by
Anonymous |
5:14 PM
Maybe it is a natural process in yoga class as one tries to reach a state of relaxation and one's body stretches, relaxes, etc., but I do NOT think it is appropriate at work. I don't want to sit in a cloud of poop smell all day. When I have gas I remove myself to the bathroom to relieve it, and I expect the same curtesy from people around me. It may be a natural process to relieve oneself when one has to pee, but I do not pee in the corner of my office; I do not have indiscriminate sex when I'm ovulating just because I can feel the desire for it; I do not belch after meals just because I need to expel that kind of gas. I believe in our little civilized rituals; the world is wild and untrollable enough, it seems the least we can do to treat each other with privacy and respect.
Posted by
miXi |
8:42 PM
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