Did I say the right thing regarding "farting noises"?
By The Horse
@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
@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
@ElizabethWallace (12069)
• United States
25 Sep 16
@paigea Yes. There have been terrible accidents when men/boys tried to light them.
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
@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

@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
@asfarasiknow (3340)
• 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
@asfarasiknow (3340)
• 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 :)
Made the people behind the other curtains laugh and laugh.
Tony was sick not me :)2 people like this
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• 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

@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
25 Sep 16
@TheHorse haha! I never tried since elementary though 





@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

@TheHorse (238349)
• Walnut Creek, California
25 Sep 16
Sounds like both guys and girls participate. But I admit that this still makes me laugh.
Provided to YouTube by Universal Music Group International Are You Embarrassed Easily? · Monty Python Monty Python's Total Rubbish! The Complete Collection ?...
@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
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@teamfreak16 (43655)
• Denver, Colorado
25 Sep 16
I never could do that, no matter how many times I tried.
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.
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@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.
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@ElizabethWallace (12069)
• 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. 

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I probably tried it, too. I expect I failed at it and deferred to those who are better at it. 





