# Is it okay to fart in front of other people at work? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 22, 2011, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-okay-to-fart-in-front-of-other-people-at-work/586405 "2011-06-22T10:46:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Erdosain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/erdosain/32/7284_2.png) [@Erdosain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Erdosain)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-okay-to-fart-in-front-of-other-people-at-work/586405/1 "2011-06-22T10:46:05Z")
A day ago, I wouldn’t have thought this to be a controversial topic, but I’ve been told in a Pit thread that I have “hang-ups” about people farting at work. So I pose the question to you, Dopers: is it okay to rip one at work in the presence of coworkers? Or is it reasonable to expect that if you share a workspace, your coworkers will keep the farting to a minimum? It seems very unprofessional to me. ETA: Inspired by this [Pit thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=13943106#post13943106). ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-okay-to-fart-in-front-of-other-people-at-work/586405/2 "2011-06-22T11:06:44Z")
I fart in meetings to make them end faster. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-okay-to-fart-in-front-of-other-people-at-work/586405/3 "2011-06-22T11:21:31Z")
I thought it was expected. ---
**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-okay-to-fart-in-front-of-other-people-at-work/586405/4 "2011-06-22T11:22:43Z")
It depends. If you’re in the bathroom and someone else happens to be in there, then whatever. The occasional poot in the same area as a coworker? Whatever. If you make a habit of loud and extended farting, or trailing puttputtputt around the office, that’s a bit out of line. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-okay-to-fart-in-front-of-other-people-at-work/586405/5 "2011-06-22T11:30:00Z")
When I was at work one of the guys farted so hard he blew his leg up so it was beside his face. He looked like Charlie Chaplin. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-okay-to-fart-in-front-of-other-people-at-work/586405/6 "2011-06-22T12:56:18Z")
When I worked in an office, I made a point of crop dusting the cubicle farm so as not to foul my own. ---
**Author:** ![NinetyWt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/cc9497/32.png) [@NinetyWt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinetyWt)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-okay-to-fart-in-front-of-other-people-at-work/586405/7 "2011-06-22T13:02:57Z")
I think it depends upon your workplace. At a fancy office? Probably not okay. At a machine shop? Probably okay. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-okay-to-fart-in-front-of-other-people-at-work/586405/8 "2011-06-22T13:15:23Z")
At my last job I mostly worked alone. One day I was having a particularly nasty bout of flatulence, when a co-worker unexpectedly came to visit me. Um, sorry about that. 😃 If you work around other people, I’d say yeah, try to keep the smelly farting to a minimum. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-okay-to-fart-in-front-of-other-people-at-work/586405/9 "2011-06-22T13:35:26Z")
Well, it depends. I don’t expect you to never fart…but please keep it quiet, for heaven’s sakes. The bathroom is right over there if you need more. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-okay-to-fart-in-front-of-other-people-at-work/586405/10 "2011-06-22T13:55:14Z")
Depends on how much I like the co-worker. ---
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-okay-to-fart-in-front-of-other-people-at-work/586405/11 "2011-06-22T14:54:43Z")
:eek: No, never, of course not! :eek: Unless you’re in the washroom, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Who\_me\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/958977/32.png) [@Who\_me\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Who_me_1)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-okay-to-fart-in-front-of-other-people-at-work/586405/12 "2011-06-22T15:01:28Z")
I don’t care if it’s okay. If I fart, I fart. I will head to the restroom if time allows. ---
**Author:** ![Clark\_Cello](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58f4c7/32.png) [@Clark\_Cello](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clark_Cello)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-okay-to-fart-in-front-of-other-people-at-work/586405/13 "2011-06-22T15:04:39Z")
In a white-collar office setting, generally the answer is no. Unless of course you are in IT. Then knock yourself out. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-okay-to-fart-in-front-of-other-people-at-work/586405/14 "2011-06-22T15:06:29Z")
> [@Sierra\_Indigo](#): > > … or trailing puttputtputt around the office, that’s a bit out of line. We had a gal where I used to work who would leave a wake of SBD’s that would peel paint. She became known (by virtue of her prolific reeking) as The Phantom Pooter. Even today, decades after I left the place, one of my work buddies and I still use that monicker for her and have all but quit using her real name. As for the OP’s question, I think it should be a condition of employment. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-okay-to-fart-in-front-of-other-people-at-work/586405/15 "2011-06-22T21:00:37Z")
Sometimes leaving the room isn’t an option, but try not to make a habit out of it. _snerk_ I’d DEFINITELY avoid if you worked near a blast furnace. ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-okay-to-fart-in-front-of-other-people-at-work/586405/16 "2011-06-22T22:02:30Z")
I like to crop dust the hallways. I also like to fart going up escalators so people must ride thru my cloud. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-okay-to-fart-in-front-of-other-people-at-work/586405/17 "2011-06-22T22:20:53Z")
> [@Cubsfan](#): > > I like to crop dust the hallways. I also like to fart going up escalators so people must ride thru my cloud. You’ve helped me remember my favorite expression for farting: dropping a cloud. We need us a thread for synonyms, don’t we? ---
**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:** [June 22, 2011, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-okay-to-fart-in-front-of-other-people-at-work/586405/18 "2011-06-22T22:56:14Z")
\*\*Is it okay to fart in front of other people at work? \*\* It’s kind of a waste not to. ---
**Author:** ![dam0](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@dam0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dam0)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-okay-to-fart-in-front-of-other-people-at-work/586405/19 "2011-06-22T23:00:39Z")
Yes. I worked in a place which had a ‘fart lock’. Two air tight doors very close together in a small corridor. You would often let one go and seal it in for the next person. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2011, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-okay-to-fart-in-front-of-other-people-at-work/586405/20 "2011-06-23T01:18:16Z")
Where I work making noise is unacceptable, but c’cmon, everyone’s gotta fart sometime. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-okay-to-fart-in-front-of-other-people-at-work/586405.md?page=2)