# "That Shit Don't Float" **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 24, 2009, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-shit-dont-float/490577 "2009-03-24T14:02:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CapnPitt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/edb3f5/32.png) [@CapnPitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CapnPitt)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-shit-dont-float/490577/1 "2009-03-24T14:02:53Z")
We’ve all probably heard the phrase, “that shit don’t float,” meaning something is unacceptable. But this got me to wondering, should shit float? In my experience, sometimes shit floats and sometimes it doesn’t. If shit doesn’t float, why doesn’t it float? Honestly, I would really like a GQ answer. But, mods, feel free to move as you see fit. ---
**Author:** ![HorseloverFat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8e8cbc/32.png) [@HorseloverFat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HorseloverFat)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-shit-dont-float/490577/2 "2009-03-24T14:14:54Z")
Depends on diet and fat content. ---
**Author:** ![CapnPitt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/edb3f5/32.png) [@CapnPitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CapnPitt)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-shit-dont-float/490577/3 "2009-03-24T14:22:54Z")
Which way does that work though? High fat content = float? ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-shit-dont-float/490577/4 "2009-03-24T14:24:09Z")
How well can you swim? ;o) ---
**Author:** ![HorseloverFat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8e8cbc/32.png) [@HorseloverFat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HorseloverFat)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-shit-dont-float/490577/5 "2009-03-24T14:26:55Z")
My understanding is that the more fat in the fecal matter the better it floats. They also contain gas, so more gas the better it floats too. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-shit-dont-float/490577/6 "2009-03-24T14:27:54Z")
According to “House” it floats if you are eating meat, and sinks if you are vegetarian. ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-shit-dont-float/490577/7 "2009-03-24T14:34:35Z")
It floats if it’s guilty and sinks if it’s innocent. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-shit-dont-float/490577/8 "2009-03-24T14:35:19Z")
I read somewhere that a guy found out he was sick because he noticed it floated when it did not in the past. It was a serious illness, maybe cancer? ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-shit-dont-float/490577/9 "2009-03-24T14:38:42Z")
I’ve never heard that saying. Alternatively I have heard “That dog don’t hunt” to mean the same thing. I’m guessing yours came later. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-shit-dont-float/490577/10 "2009-03-24T14:39:44Z")
> [@Chez\_Guevara](#): > > It floats if it’s guilty and sinks if it’s innocent. Bravo! ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-shit-dont-float/490577/11 "2009-03-24T14:46:10Z")
Shit should not float. It should sit in the large intestine long enough for the body to absorb the bulk of the water. A compact and connected turd should emerge. Doesn’t matter what type of food you are eating. However, you don’t want so much water removed that the remainder scrapes the tissue from hardness. Like most things with the body, it needs to be just right. Most of the time it is just right, but that balance can easily be disrupted. Both fats and gases can contribute, but mostly it’s the water content. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-shit-dont-float/490577/12 "2009-03-24T15:03:55Z")
> [@CapnPitt](#): > > We’ve all probably heard the phrase, “that shit don’t float,” meaning something is unacceptable. Never heard that one, and it doesn’t really make sense to me. I always heard “that shit don’t flush.” As to the actual question in the OP, check [this](http://www.poopreport.com/Doctor/Content/float.html) and [this](http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071202165255AAGufF9). Google on _floater sinker stool OR poop_ to find more. ---
**Author:** ![CapnPitt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/edb3f5/32.png) [@CapnPitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CapnPitt)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-shit-dont-float/490577/13 "2009-03-24T15:09:52Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > According to “House” it floats if you are eating meat, and sinks if you are vegetarian. I’m about as far from vegetarian as you can get, and I often have sinkers (for lack of a better term). ---
**Author:** ![CapnPitt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/edb3f5/32.png) [@CapnPitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CapnPitt)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-shit-dont-float/490577/14 "2009-03-24T15:13:28Z")
Thanks for all the replies so far. **Exapno** , as usual, very nice. How in the world you know so much about so many different areas always amazes me. **Chez** , very nice. 😉 I’m surprised folks hadn’t heard that before. Growing up in Pittsburgh, it was common as can be. When I lived in Memphis, that was the only time I heard “that dog don’t hunt.” More often on the golf course, a good shot would get a response of “that dog’ll hunt.” ---
**Author:** ![Lurking\_Quahog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lurking_quahog/32/21274_2.png) [@Lurking\_Quahog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lurking_Quahog)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-shit-dont-float/490577/15 "2009-03-24T15:46:26Z")
If it floats, that means it’s made out of wood. If it’s made out of wood, that means it’s a witch. [SIZE=“2”]Or something like that.[/SIZE] ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-shit-dont-float/490577/16 "2009-03-24T15:47:00Z")
> [@CapnPitt](#): > > I’m surprised folks hadn’t heard that before. Growing up in Pittsburgh, it was common as can be. Pittsburgh is a weird place; they put fries on their sandwiches there. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-shit-dont-float/490577/17 "2009-03-24T15:48:48Z")
A nutritionist told me that it floats due to fiber content, not fat content- if yours don’t, you’re not getting enough roughage. Mine don’t. ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-shit-dont-float/490577/18 "2009-03-24T16:45:56Z")
Believe it or not, we actually [did this one](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=475328&highlight=float) a while ago (the phenomenon, not the metaphor.) ---
**Author:** ![CapnPitt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/edb3f5/32.png) [@CapnPitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CapnPitt)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-shit-dont-float/490577/19 "2009-03-24T17:53:55Z")
As for me, I know I’m not getting enough fiber. My doc is having me take supplements like Benefiber, and complaining that I need to eat more veggies. But enough about me, it’s really the phrase and its “truthiness” I was thinking about. **freckafree** , that’s what happens when you don’t think to use the polite term of poop when you search. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2009, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-shit-dont-float/490577/20 "2009-03-24T18:15:40Z")
> [@Tomczyk](#): > > If it floats, that means it’s made out of wood. If it’s made out of wood, that means it’s a witch. Thanks very much, now I’m contemplating a bridge of shit! “Before you cross the Bridge of Shit, and reach the other side of it, answer me these questions two or you’ll sink into the poo!” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-shit-dont-float/490577.md?page=2)