Did I say the right thing regarding "farting noises"?

@TheHorse (238349)
Walnut Creek, California
September 24, 2016 7:42pm CST
"Can I come over and play" Those were the words I heard on my phone about an hour ago, as I was grading papers. He played with his cars, I showed him I'd been driving his blue Mustang (it was atop one of my speakers), and we finished up the last slat on my balcony table, as well as one more slat on our dumpster table project. After he had returned to his cars, and me to one of my AR-3s (my latest speaker restoration project), I heard some wicked fart sounds coming from his play area, near my main stereo I could have said, Oh, you poor thing, but instead I said, You can't fool me. I was one of the great arm fart noise makers of my day. I suppose that making farting noises with your arm is a universal stage of child development for boys, at least in the United States. When he demonstrated his technique, I deadpanned, That didn't sound wet enough. When he put a bit more spit into it, I said, Now THAT sounds like someone has made a terrible mess in their underpants. Of course he giggled, but when he started to practice further, I said, Fart noises must be used with discretion. Do it too much, and it loses its humor potential. Do it around teachers, and you get in trouble. I recommend practicing on your own and only doing it when one of your friends thinks they make the best fart noises at your school. Then you show them. He giggled again, and he stopped making farting sounds with his arm. Do you think I said the right thing? My adult arm is much hairier than my 8-year-old arm was, and I can no longer make the glorious juicy fart noises I could make as a child (I just tried). But I understand that it's something boys must go through. Did you make farting sounds with your arm as a child? Do you see it as inevitable developmental stage? Do girls enjoy making disgusting sounds as much as boys do?
17 people like this
16 responses
@paigea (36143)
• Canada
25 Sep 16
Even teachers don't mind if it's recess and as you pointed out, not done to excess!
3 people like this
@TheHorse (238349)
• Walnut Creek, California
25 Sep 16
I think they understand that there are certain things that are fascinating to kids. Farts are actually teachable moments. You probably know that you can light farts on fire. We did that at Summer Camp during rest time. But did you know that methane, the gas that makes farts flammable, actually has no odor?
1 person likes this
• United States
25 Sep 16
@paigea Yes. There have been terrible accidents when men/boys tried to light them.
1 person likes this
@paigea (36143)
• Canada
25 Sep 16
@TheHorse no I didn't know that
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (54730)
• United States
25 Sep 16
I never made a farting sound, but my sister and I had belching contests and we still occasionally love to compete still. Our father was our teacher
3 people like this
@TheHorse (238349)
• Walnut Creek, California
25 Sep 16
Ah yes. Let me practice! Oh dear! Now I have heartburn. Why is childhood wasted on the young?
2 people like this
@Tampa_girl7 (54730)
• United States
25 Sep 16
@TheHorse I am actually a very talented belcher. My sister and I can do it on command. My husband doesn't truly appreciate my talent
3 people like this
@TheHorse (238349)
• Walnut Creek, California
25 Sep 16
@Tampa_girl7 I am eating some Tom Kha Gai right now as I grade papers. I will do some epic farting later. I just belched and the judges all gave me 5s and 6s out of 10. I'm going back to what I do best.
2 people like this
@hora_fugit (5859)
• India
25 Sep 16
I never did. Nor am going to try!
2 people like this
@TheHorse (238349)
• Walnut Creek, California
25 Sep 16
Ah, it's fun! Just kidding. My skills have waned.
2 people like this
@CinnamonGrl (7086)
• Santa Fe, New Mexico
25 Sep 16
My son Devin did that, of course, and he also enjoyed producing humongous burps. Holly didn't do those things, but she thought they were pretty funny when she was little. Since she is five years older than Devin, there was quite awhile when she'd matured and gotten over "bathroom humor." BUT then Devin started up with his great talents, and she regressed. At least I never caught him trying to light farts. I have known grown men who think that's funny. What is wrong with you people? Anyway, I guess your discretion suggestion is appropriate.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (238349)
• Walnut Creek, California
25 Sep 16
I am also an expert when it comes to vomit noises. When my friend's daughter got too old for regular hugs, I would 'vomit" on her as she squealed with delight. She is now a 20-something accountant, married, with a child. Next time I visit the family (they're in Atlanta) I will hug her from behind, say I'm feeling a little woozy, and make my incredible noises. She will still squeal with delight.
1 person likes this
• Bournemouth, England
25 Sep 16
I certainly did. It was free entertainment and made up for never being able to whistle.
3 people like this
@TheHorse (238349)
• Walnut Creek, California
25 Sep 16
I was not a very good whistler either. Acorns have solved that problem.
2 people like this
• Bournemouth, England
25 Sep 16
@TheHorse There was also that noise you could do with your lips that was a cross between flatulence and quacking.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (238349)
• Walnut Creek, California
25 Sep 16
@asfarasiknow I think I can do that one.
2 people like this
@andriaperry (118793)
• Anniston, Alabama
25 Sep 16
Girls??!?!?! Last week in the E.R for 7 hours, I was making fart noises on my arm Made the people behind the other curtains laugh and laugh. Tony was sick not me :)
2 people like this
@TheHorse (238349)
• Walnut Creek, California
25 Sep 16
The humanity! I hope nobody had a coronary infartion.
1 person likes this
• United States
25 Sep 16
I wouldn't try in front of the boys when I was younger (as they all did in elementary school). But I admit - I went home and tried, couldn't accomplish that noise
1 person likes this
• United States
25 Sep 16
@TheHorse haha! I never tried since elementary though
@TheHorse (238349)
• Walnut Creek, California
25 Sep 16
I'm glad you tried it at home! I wonder why American boys like to make people go "ew" more than girls do. At least in public.
@moirai (2948)
• Philippines
25 Sep 16
Lol! Can't remember exactly, but I'm pretty sure my cousins (both girls and boys) went through a time of making those armpit farts. I probably tried it, too. I expect I failed at it and deferred to those who are better at it.
1 person likes this
@moirai (2948)
• Philippines
25 Sep 16
@TheHorse Oh, lol! We were talking about different things? So sorry. In that case, hmm... I suppose forearm farts were not as popular as armpit farts over here, as I can only vaguely imagine them.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (238349)
• Walnut Creek, California
25 Sep 16
Wait. Armpit farts? Oh, my friend was doing blow on your forearm farts! I almost forgot about armpit farts. Those are short and duration and never quite sound like an explosive tragic accident.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (238349)
• Walnut Creek, California
25 Sep 16
@moirai The "artist" can prolong a "forearm fart" for as long as he or she deems artistically appropriate. It can lead to some dramatic and tragic images.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502729)
• Italy
25 Sep 16
No, never did anything like this. This is a taboo topic in Europe, especially for girls. It is considered very (VERY) BAD manners.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502729)
• Italy
25 Sep 16
@TheHorse Peeing alone the side of the road is not permitted here, nor in Italy and France. If you were not close friend with the French kid I suppose it was "s'il vous plaît" "s'il te plaît" is very "familiar".
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502729)
• Italy
25 Sep 16
@TheHorse This is sure for Italy and Switzerland, I think to remember that French were less prudish about this.
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@TheHorse (238349)
• Walnut Creek, California
25 Sep 16
@LadyDuck In Austria and Germany, I notice how polite people were. Except that peeing along the side of the road was permitted on the Autobahn. That surprised me! I colored with some 5-year-olds at a wedding in France, but we did not discuss anything "gross." They were perfect for helping me practice my French, since their sentences were simple. "Rouge, s'il tu plait." Or was it "vous"?
1 person likes this
• United States
25 Sep 16
It must be a guy thing.....
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (238349)
• Walnut Creek, California
25 Sep 16
Sounds like both guys and girls participate. But I admit that this still makes me laugh.
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@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
25 Sep 16
prob good you snuck in a "when this is appropriate" warning lol!!!! And kids will be kids. Mine was burping, I got good at it, heh
1 person likes this
• Centralia, Missouri
27 Sep 16
@TheHorse lol!!!
@TheHorse (238349)
• Walnut Creek, California
25 Sep 16
I was good at it too. Had to be accepted among my peers, you know.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382412)
• Rockingham, Australia
2 Oct 16
I don't recall ever doing it. I think it was just the boys in my era.
1 person likes this
@vandana7 (102698)
• India
25 Oct 16
Neither do I..
1 person likes this
@teamfreak16 (43655)
• Denver, Colorado
25 Sep 16
I never could do that, no matter how many times I tried.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (238349)
• Walnut Creek, California
25 Sep 16
Maybe I'll practice later tonight. Being able to make good fart sounds carried a bit of social prestige with it when I was eight or nine.
2 people like this
@Happy2BeMe (99353)
• Canada
25 Sep 16
Kids are fascinated with farting sounds. I like to hear them laugh and giggle when they make the sounds. It is too funny. Girls can be just as silly as boys when it comes to making fart noises. lol
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (238349)
• Walnut Creek, California
25 Sep 16
I remember a "farting contest" my music friend's 11-year-old daughter was having with her two friends upstairs. I asked, How do you know who won? Volume? Wetness? Stinkiness? Duration? They were up there laughing and giggling away for something like 15 minutes. They couldn't answer my question, though.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (238349)
• Walnut Creek, California
25 Sep 16
@Happy2BeMe It was memorable. I remember being happy that girls enjoy farting contests too.
1 person likes this
@Happy2BeMe (99353)
• Canada
25 Sep 16
@TheHorse lol that's funny
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (174658)
• United States
25 Oct 16
Yes, I think you succeeded in getting him to stop making the noises around your home, but his mom may not be a big fan of yours the next time he starts practicing at his own house! LOL! Nope, can't say I was ever into making fake musical fruit sounds with my pits, pony.... Nope, it is not an inevitable stage in a child's development.... And IDK... you'd have to ask someone who is/was a girl.
1 person likes this
• United States
25 Sep 16
Being an ex-girl, I can tell you that we do not make farting noises, except with another part of our anatomy. And even then, we deny the sound originated from us.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (238349)
• Walnut Creek, California
25 Sep 16
It's not the sound I worry about.