# Why are farts internationally funny? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 19, 2013, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-farts-internationally-funny/674272 "2013-11-19T17:53:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Artemis\_Tardis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4bbf92/32.png) [@Artemis\_Tardis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Artemis_Tardis)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-farts-internationally-funny/674272/1 "2013-11-19T17:53:31Z")
There are plenty of internet videos where farts make us laugh. Those videos come from all over the world. Why are farts funny anyway? And why are they a joke in the whole world? There are many jokes that are more local, but farts… they make everyone laugh, no matter where the person is from! ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-farts-internationally-funny/674272/2 "2013-11-19T18:47:58Z")
Perhaps because farting is generally a taboo, but also something we all do. Laughing relieves the tension that naturally surrounds a “crime” we’re all guilty of. Or, I dunno, maybe it’s picturing people’s butt cheeks rippling. ---
**Author:** ![GrizzRich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7ba0ec/32.png) [@GrizzRich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrizzRich)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-farts-internationally-funny/674272/3 "2013-11-19T20:28:42Z")
… but, know your audience. Internationally funny?.. probably. ALWAYS funny?.. definitely not. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-farts-internationally-funny/674272/4 "2013-11-19T21:44:58Z")
Farts: the universal language. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-farts-internationally-funny/674272/5 "2013-11-19T21:52:14Z")
Yeah, farts certainly _can_ be funny, but like with any humor, it depends on the context. A bunch of drunk frat boys sitting around drinking beer and farting? Nah, that’s just gross, not funny. A wedding where the bride lets out a loud one just when she’s about to say “I do”? Hilarious. I think the common thread is that humor only works when it’s at least somewhat unexpected. ---
**Author:** ![James\_Toothpaste](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e56c9b/32.png) [@James\_Toothpaste](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/James_Toothpaste)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-farts-internationally-funny/674272/6 "2013-11-19T21:59:07Z")
They’re loud and smelly. ---
**Author:** ![Malden\_Capell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malden_capell/32/5274_2.png) [@Malden\_Capell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malden_Capell)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-farts-internationally-funny/674272/7 "2013-11-19T22:13:21Z")
My farts aren’t funny, and they are deeply offended at the insinuation. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-farts-internationally-funny/674272/8 "2013-11-19T22:56:20Z")
According to an old George Carlin bit, “They’re shit without the mess, man.” ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-farts-internationally-funny/674272/9 "2013-11-19T22:56:53Z")
Moved from General Questions to IMHO. **samclem** , moderator. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-farts-internationally-funny/674272/10 "2013-11-19T23:02:50Z")
Is My Hiney Open? ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-farts-internationally-funny/674272/11 "2013-11-19T23:13:13Z")
Took me a second there, **lieu**. I don’t know why they’re so universally giggle-inducing, either, but I do know that a couple of years ago there was a “funny fart stories” thread around here that had me shaking, tears \*streaming \*down my face, because I was laughing so hard. One story after another just kept building up the funny, until somebody mid-story posted \* \*poot \*\* and somehow that just sent me completely over the edge. I’m smiling now just looking at the word. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2013, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-farts-internationally-funny/674272/12 "2013-11-19T23:58:16Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > Moved from General Questions to IMHO. > > **samclem** , moderator. You mean there isn’t a single, undisputed, factual answer to this?😛 ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2013, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-farts-internationally-funny/674272/13 "2013-11-20T00:29:10Z")
The oldest known joke, written in cuneiform on a clay tablet, is a fart joke (seriously!). Fart jokes are funny. That’s just how it is, was, and ever more shall be. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2013, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-farts-internationally-funny/674272/14 "2013-11-20T04:47:20Z")
> [@BrotherCadfael](#): > > The oldest known joke, written in cuneiform on a clay tablet, is a fart joke (seriously!). Cite, _please!_ 'Cause I’d really like to read this. ---
**Author:** ![Battle\_Pope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Battle\_Pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Battle_Pope)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2013, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-farts-internationally-funny/674272/15 "2013-11-20T05:10:52Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Farts: the universal language. "If everything’s ready here on the Dark Side of the Moon… play the five tones. " ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2013, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-farts-internationally-funny/674272/16 "2013-11-20T05:18:25Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > Cite, _please!_ 'Cause I’d really like to read this. [“Something which has never occurred since time immemorial; a young woman did not fart in her husband’s lap”](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/7536918.stm) (1900 BC) ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2013, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-farts-internationally-funny/674272/17 "2013-11-20T05:23:48Z")
In Kurt Vonnegut’s _Galapagos_, in the far distant future humanity has evolved into unintelligent seal-like aquatic animals. The one thing they have in common with present-day humans is that when everyone is hauled out sunning on the beach and somebody farts, everybody still laughs. ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2013, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-farts-internationally-funny/674272/18 "2013-11-20T05:41:45Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > Cite, _please!_ 'Cause I’d really like to read this. Not sure about farts, but it looks like one of the [oldest](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/30/babylonian-yo-mama-joke_n_1242617.html) cuneiform jokebooks has a “your mom” joke. ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2013, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-farts-internationally-funny/674272/19 "2013-11-20T09:39:58Z")
[An older thread on the same subject](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=595744). And a web site that was linked to from that thread: [Breaking Wind: Legendary Farts](http://www.pitt.edu/~dash/fart.html) ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2013, 10:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-farts-internationally-funny/674272/20 "2013-11-20T10:04:55Z")
And the same day I see this thread I come across this [Pearls before Swine strip](http://www.gocomics.com/pearlsbeforeswine/2013/11/20). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-farts-internationally-funny/674272.md?page=2)