The header says it all, basically: While the average individual isn’t exactly enthusiastic about smelling their own intestinal gas, I think most would agree that somebody else’s flati are considerably more offensive than one’s own. I imagine this perceptual phenomenon stems from two basic factors: A) Individual body chemistry has enough of an impact on flatulence as to give one a unique and characteristic stink, and B) One is able to distinguish between one’s own individual fart odor, and the odor of other people’s farts.
But, if my suppositions are correct, that’s as deep as my understanding gets. If there has been a rigorous exploration of this phenomenon, I’m not aware of it, nor could I find much out there that is illuminating on the subject. Doubtless, given the near-universality of this variant of self- and non-self-recognition, somebody with credentials and the tools of science at his or her disposal, has at least given the phenomenon serious thought. Maybe I’m not searching in the right places. If any body of knowledge can provide the answers, the SDMB can!
Methane gas and sulfur-containing gasses. Some have it. Some don’t. Cows have plenty and they, besides being foul-smelling, are ruining the ozone layer. Drink plenty of rose water.
If I eat the right kind of meal, I’ll have plenty of volume and odor. Based on the subjective experiences of myself and those unfortunate enough to be around me, the presence or absence of odiferous compounds is not sufficient to explain the phenomenon. While I am unpurturbed, those around me feel sufficiently offended and assulted as to wish me physical harm. Clearly, I do not percieve my own flati as others do.
I’ve considered this possibility. However, experience has told me this may not be a sufficient explanation. For instance, on many occasions my father invited me to “pull [his] finger”. I knew full well what would follow, whether I granted his request or not. Yet foreknowledge of the coming onslaught seemed to do little or nothing to mitigate the offensiveness of his near-lethal emissions.
The “odiferous compounds” need not be in the food. Some people just naturally produce more of these intestinal gasses, due (I guess) to the right bacteria. Any way, independent of what you ingest, some do and some don’t. BTW, mine are very odiferous, even to me, but I try to do it quietly so they can’t blame me.
There was this lady who went to the doctor, complaining of her farts. She said that they don’t smell and don’t make any noise, but she’d like to eliminate them. So the doc gave her prescription for pills to take daily and return the following week. Next week she returns and she complains that she still farts and now they smell. “Good,” the doc says. “The pills are working. Now here’s the name of an ENT doctor for you to see.”
No, barbitu8, the lady initially complained that she was passing gas frequently, although they were silent and odorless - “In fact, I’ve farted several times since I’ve been talking to you.”
The doctor gave her pills to take, and the next week, she complained that they she still had odorless gas, but now they were no longer silent. The doctor said “well, now that we’ve fixed your hearing, let’s work on your sense of smell.”
I’ve analyzed this problem before, and come to the following conclusion.
Other people’s flatus are less tolerable due to the idea that the vapors currently tickling your nose have only recently escaped from someone else’s rectum.
The gasses emanating from your own anus are far less heinous.
Ever, upon catching that first whiff of a fart, and not know quite what it is? I have, anyway. Maybe I just walked into a room; maybe my mind is wandering on a subway car; maybe I’m stuck in an elevator. Whatever the context, I’ll suddenly register a foul odor. “What IS that??” I’ll wonder to myself. Then it will dawn on me: Somebody let rip! Bastard!
From the first moment my olfactory senses alert me to the stink, I am repulsed. Only moments later does my conscious mind recognize the nature of the stench. Then, and only then, do I start to contemplate the horror of the source.
For me, at least, aversion to fart stink starts even before I know what the bad smell really is. Hence, I have to question whether or not conscious recognition of the origin of the odor plays a primary role in one’s negative impression of the odor itself.
Mine have always smelled okay to me! At least the ones that have an odor…
I have a problem with the fact that after having two kids and aging a lot, I seem to have lost control of my sphincter enough so that my farts just “happen.” Loudly. Geez, I hate that…
I am completely winging it here, as I have no training in the area other than personal experience.
That being said, I think it’s psychological. When you fart, you know that whatever smell is coming came from you. You can be offended by the smell, but that offense is usually followed by “what did I eat that produced THAT?”.
Other peoples’ gas is not only unexpected, but also foreign. We are all naturally more affected by other people’s effluvia than our own.
As an example, consider the toilet and bowel movements. How many people here look at their bowel movements before they flush? If you do, are you ever repulsed by what you see? Or are you more of an analytical observer?
Now imagine walking up to a (public) toilet and seeing someone else’s turd in there. You’ve probably done it, and you’ve probably also looked for another toilet. Even if it was an acorn-sized floater, you still want another toilet. Why? Because it’s not YOUR acorn-sized floater in there.
It’s the same thing with farts - an unexpected, unwelcome emanation from anyone else’s ass is just FOUL. Smelling someone else’s fart is one step down from walking into the bathroom and encountering their prodigious steamer sitting in the bowl.
