Psychological link between bowel movements and department stores?

[Nothing_Special]

For most people, spending money is tantamout to defecating.

They hit a mall, and immediately have the urge to shit.

Then they shit, and it feels good, and they go on and shit some more, with their money.

[Frylock]

@cainxinth

I’d say we’ve got some pretty strong anecdotal evidence to confirm this is real. So the question is why does it happen? I’m getting a hunch it has more to do with confirmation bias than anything else. I’m sure you walk into a store a hundred times without feeling anything, but the few times you do feel the urge to go you assume the two things are connected.

But I don’t ever really get the urge to go in public unless I’m at a book store. Its weird.

-FrL-

[toadbriar]

A relevant Ask Metafilter thread confirms the phenomenon: Bookstores: the natural laxative? - feces toilet shit | Ask MetaFilter

Because of this curious effect, stores with nice ample public restroom facilities get my money. A giant grocery store the size of a city block with just a tiny, cramped one-person, unisex restroom off the backroom? (I’m lookin at you, Ralphs in Southern California) Blech, I’ll not go back even if their prices are best. It’s not worth it if I get caught short and then have to do my business while someone keeps jiggling the handle and I know they can’t go away to another stall.

[danceswithcats]

@Nothing Special

For most people, spending money is tantamout to defecating.

They hit a mall, and immediately have the urge to shit.

Then they shit, and it feels good, and they go on and shit some more, with their money.

That being the case, the local mall must have a stall with my buddy’s wife’s name on it.