# Light a match **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 16, 1999, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/light-a-match/5396 "1999-12-16T15:21:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kiki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dc4da7/32.png) [@Kiki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiki)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 1999, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/light-a-match/5396/1 "1999-12-16T15:21:00Z")
What happens if you fart over an open flame? I’ve heard lots of different things… never tried it myself. ---
**Author:** ![AWB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bb73d2/32.png) [@AWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AWB)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 1999, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/light-a-match/5396/2 "1999-12-16T15:35:00Z")
I wouldn’t suggest having that part of your body directly over a flame. Try bending over. 🙂 That said, yes, farts are flammable. At one (drunken) party, one guy made a 3 ft flame. Personally, I wouldn’t try it. I’ve heard (possibly a UL) that some people have had gasses still inside them ignite, which wasn’t a pleasant experience. * * * I looked in the mirror today/My eyes just didn’t seem so bright I’ve lost a few more hairs/I think I’m going bald - Rush ---
**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:** [December 16, 1999, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/light-a-match/5396/3 "1999-12-16T16:23:00Z")
_Caveat:_ Leave your underwear on to prevent backdrafts. * * * TT “Believe those who seek the truth. Doubt those who find it.” --Andre Gide ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 1999, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/light-a-match/5396/4 "1999-12-16T17:08:00Z")
How does a 19 year old actuary put some life in her party? She invites an accountant. ---
**Author:** ![Daniel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Daniel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daniel)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 1999, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/light-a-match/5396/5 "1999-12-16T17:59:00Z")
Q: how many actuaries does it take to screw in a lightbulb? A: how many did it take last year? ---
**Author:** ![Vestal\_Blue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/5e9695/32.png) [@Vestal\_Blue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vestal_Blue)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 1999, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/light-a-match/5396/6 "1999-12-17T06:04:00Z")
No underwear; too much diffusion. Knew a guy once who lit one, but it was the kind where it kinda sucks back in. I couldn’t recommend this as the depilatory it became with him, but it sure was funny to see him do the quick-step! Yes, alcohol was a serious factor. * * * VB “Hey! How 'bout that Toe Jam?” ---
**Author:** ![jab1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ee7513/32.png) [@jab1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jab1)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 1999, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/light-a-match/5396/7 "1999-12-16T19:56:00Z")
Everything you ever wanted to know… and more: [http://britannica.com/bcom/eb/article/6/0,5716,108926+12,00.html](http://britannica.com/bcom/eb/article/6/0,5716,108926+12,00.html)[http://britannica.com/bcom/eb/article/idxref/9/0,5716,72649,00.html](http://britannica.com/bcom/eb/article/idxref/9/0,5716,72649,00.html)[http://britannica.com/bcom/eb/article/9/0,5716,43589+1,00.html](http://britannica.com/bcom/eb/article/9/0,5716,43589+1,00.html) I am lactose intolerant. As one article makes clear, I really shouldn’t drink milk AT ALL!! Another article states that IG (Intestinal Gas) is fifty percent hydrogen and ten percent methane. Sounds like rocket fuel. _Definitely_ an explosive combination. Hell, it would be a surprise if your farts _didn’t_ burn! * * * \>\< DARWIN \> \_\_ **L\_\_\_L** ---
**Author:** ![BigRoryG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f07891/32.png) [@BigRoryG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigRoryG)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 1999, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/light-a-match/5396/8 "1999-12-17T00:09:00Z")
My brother lights his farts allt he time…I’d say i do it, but it;s tough to see. I reccomend flanel shorts. Make sure you do it quickly though, diffusion is rapid. * * * “C’mon, it’s not even tomorrow yet…” - Rupert If you need a graphic solution, [http:\ alk.to\Piglet](http://talk.to%5CPiglet) ---
**Author:** ![Kiki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/dc4da7/32.png) [@Kiki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiki)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 1999, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/light-a-match/5396/9 "1999-12-17T14:35:00Z")
Handy & Daniel - are those insurance cracks? I like them! (I’m not in actuary though!) Also, I’m not planning on lighting my farts or anything. I was watching South Park - the movie - and Kenny lit a fart and caught himself on fire! ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 1999, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/light-a-match/5396/10 "1999-12-18T00:39:00Z")
Yeah, insurance jokes. Yeah, farts are flammable. Kinda stupid looking- sitting there butt naked trying to light one… I wonder why they come out that hole instead of the mouth? Are burps flammable? If not, how come? ---
**Author:** ![LongHrn99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e4f/32.png) [@LongHrn99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LongHrn99)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 1999, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/light-a-match/5396/11 "1999-12-18T04:11:00Z")
Well I tried it once, as did all of my friends. Sadly, alcohol did not play any part whatsoever in the incident, we did this of our own will while completely sober. We never could get it to work, though, I don’t know why. I have heard that it could backdraft before, and it sorta makes sense. The flame could travel up the fart the same way gasoline vapors can ignite. * * * “I hear the mermaids singing, each to each. I do not think that they will sing to me.” -T.S. Eliot