# Does bat shit actually cause insanity?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-bat-shit-actually-cause-insanity/632390>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 23, 2012, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-bat-shit-actually-cause-insanity/632390 "2012-08-23T16:06:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\
**Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-bat-shit-actually-cause-insanity/632390/1 "2012-08-23T16:06:58Z")

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Otherwise, why describe someone as “bat shit crazy”?

I’ve read that toxoplasmosis, transmitted in humans primarily by contact with cat poop, is linked to certain kinds of schizophrenia… Perhaps as a factor in the “crazy cat lady” phenomenon (though that’s supposed to be more of an “animal hoarder” type of thing). Yet nobody’s called “cat shit crazy”. Just bat shit.

Any known reasons why?

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**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\
**Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-bat-shit-actually-cause-insanity/632390/2 "2012-08-23T16:34:30Z")

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Probably derived from the old “bats in your belfry” way of calling people crazy.

“moonbat” was a popular term for nuttiness not too long ago.

So “bat” has a strong history (of late, in our culture) of being associated with crazy.

And shit.

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**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\
**Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-bat-shit-actually-cause-insanity/632390/3 "2012-08-23T16:36:06Z")

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Not every phrase is literal.

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**Author:** ![Jake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake)\
**Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-bat-shit-actually-cause-insanity/632390/4 "2012-08-23T16:42:38Z")

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> [@Chimera](#):
>
> Probably derived from the old “bats in your belfry” way of calling people crazy.
> 
> “moonbat” was a popular term for nuttiness not too long ago.
> 
> So “bat” has a strong history (of late, in our culture) of being associated with crazy.
> 
> And shit.

Also, “Dingbat”, “Batty”.

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**Author:** ![Filbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/filbert/32/3433_2.png) [@Filbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Filbert)\
**Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-bat-shit-actually-cause-insanity/632390/5 "2012-08-23T16:43:09Z")

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Well, fruit bat shit certainly doesn’t!

I used to have a job that involved cleaning it up, and I’m perfectly frurbelwit gnap beeble!

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**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\
**Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-bat-shit-actually-cause-insanity/632390/6 "2012-08-23T16:49:23Z")

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Bat shit is a source of nitrates that can be used to make explosives. That’s why people who go nuts and start blowing things up are called… wait … this isn’t the fun facts thread is it?

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**Author:** ![beagledave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6de8d8/32.png) [@beagledave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beagledave)\
**Post date:** [August 23, 2012, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-bat-shit-actually-cause-insanity/632390/7 "2012-08-23T17:07:42Z")

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> **[Origin of "Batshit Crazy"](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=385244)**
>
> I’m thinking about adding this term to my vocabulary, since I’ve recently run into several people who can be described by the term. Anyone know?

[http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=381630&highlight=bats+belfry](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=381630&highlight=bats+belfry)