# Why does it take so long for people to poop? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 25, 2003, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-it-take-so-long-for-people-to-poop/164134 "2003-03-25T21:47:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TGWATY](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5e925/32.png) [@TGWATY](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TGWATY)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-it-take-so-long-for-people-to-poop/164134/1 "2003-03-25T21:47:27Z")
This is a lifelong mystery to me. It takes me at most 30 secs to get it out. I spend more time wiping than pooping. Are there any other animals that spend 5 minutes or more just to poop? Its ridiculous. Don’t you know that if you were in the wild you would be so vulnerable to attack squatting like that for so long? Squeeze it out and c’mon already! Life is waiting and you’re sitting on the pot. Hmm. Maybe I should spend more time pooping and less time posting. ---
**Author:** ![In\_Conceivable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/4bbf92/32.png) [@In\_Conceivable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/In_Conceivable)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-it-take-so-long-for-people-to-poop/164134/2 "2003-03-25T21:51:46Z")
Maybe they don’t eat enough fiber? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-it-take-so-long-for-people-to-poop/164134/3 "2003-03-25T21:58:22Z")
I’m with you, **TG**. Never understood what folk were doing in there so long. Personally, I can think of nicer places to read the paper. I wait till I need to poop, then go to the john and do it. ---
**Author:** ![merge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9f8e36/32.png) [@merge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/merge)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-it-take-so-long-for-people-to-poop/164134/4 "2003-03-25T22:01:57Z")
because where else in my office can I sit down and read the paper without someone bothering me? You can get away with a good 15 minutes in the bathroom like 3 times a day… although I only have to crap maybe once… and it only lasts about 15 seconds… thanks to rasin bran every morning… ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-it-take-so-long-for-people-to-poop/164134/5 "2003-03-25T22:03:34Z")
Even if I was an animal on the hunt, I don’t think I’d rush my prey right in the middle of a big dump. In fact, if I was getting chased I’d probably crap all over the place. ---
**Author:** ![Lookout](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b3f665/32.png) [@Lookout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lookout)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-it-take-so-long-for-people-to-poop/164134/6 "2003-03-25T22:04:19Z")
This is a shitty thread. ---
**Author:** ![samarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4da419/32.png) [@samarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samarm)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-it-take-so-long-for-people-to-poop/164134/7 "2003-03-25T22:46:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by In Conceivable \* > \*\*Maybe they don’t eat enough fiber? 🙂 \*\* Did you know cavemen got more fiber than we do? ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-it-take-so-long-for-people-to-poop/164134/8 "2003-03-25T22:49:42Z")
> [@](#): > > because where else in my office can I sit down and read the paper without someone bothering me? Shit. I used to work with a guy who read the _Bible_ in the crapper. ---
**Author:** ![garius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e19b73/32.png) [@garius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garius)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-it-take-so-long-for-people-to-poop/164134/9 "2003-03-25T22:52:56Z")
because haste is dangerous - an early clench could result in “cigar clipping” which leads to cling-ons… ---
**Author:** ![porcupine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ac91a4/32.png) [@porcupine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/porcupine)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-it-take-so-long-for-people-to-poop/164134/10 "2003-03-25T22:53:55Z")
Hell if I know, as I expressed in [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=172234) thread. Unless I’m sick, I’m in and ou w/in a few, and I sure as hell don’t want to sit in there, smell my own shit, and read. It’s a lot more pleasant on my comfy couch. ---
**Author:** ![regurgit8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/58f4c7/32.png) [@regurgit8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/regurgit8)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-it-take-so-long-for-people-to-poop/164134/11 "2003-03-25T23:09:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by UncleBeer \* > \*\*Shit. I used to work with a guy who read the _Bible_ in the crapper. \*\* Really? That’s disrespectful. When I was little I once asked my mom why we have to fold our hands for bedtime prayer. And she said, so that we don’t pick our nose or play with our butt while praying. So, practicing religion while performing bodily functions = no-no? ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-it-take-so-long-for-people-to-poop/164134/12 "2003-03-25T23:18:24Z")
Whatever would possess you to time other peoples’ bodily functions?? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![TGWATY](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5e925/32.png) [@TGWATY](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TGWATY)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-it-take-so-long-for-people-to-poop/164134/13 "2003-03-25T23:39:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by FairyChatMom \* > \*\*Whatever would possess you to time other peoples’ bodily functions?? :eek: \*\* Cause I have to go! and I’m standing out here waiting on YOU! What are you doing in there? ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2003, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-it-take-so-long-for-people-to-poop/164134/14 "2003-03-25T23:50:46Z")
I think some people just use it to have some quiet alone time. I’m a quick person myself–but IME it’s kind of a guy thing? Regurgit, Madeline L’Engle has a story about talking with a seminarian who claims that he has no time for prayer. She comes back with “Why can’t you do it while you’re in the john?” I think God already knows that we poop, although it’s probably best to keep a reverent attitude in prayer as much as possible. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2003, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-it-take-so-long-for-people-to-poop/164134/15 "2003-03-26T00:35:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by UncleBeer \* > \*\*Shit. I used to work with a guy who read the _Bible_ in the crapper. \*\* Holy shit! Tripler Oh c’mon. I can’t believe I was the first one to think it. ---
**Author:** ![Lorenzo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4da419/32.png) [@Lorenzo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lorenzo)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2003, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-it-take-so-long-for-people-to-poop/164134/16 "2003-03-26T00:49:05Z")
fiber challenged ---
**Author:** ![pizzabrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9c0ed/32.png) [@pizzabrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pizzabrat)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2003, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-it-take-so-long-for-people-to-poop/164134/17 "2003-03-26T00:56:15Z")
Because we don’t just push and plop as soon as we feel the urge. We suck it up to give us time to get to the toilet. Then we need a few minutes to coax it back down to the exit. Then it eeeeeases on out. Then we wait another minute to see if their’s anymore. Than another minute, cause we really want to make sure we’re done, we don’t want to have to go right back again. Then we wipe. Then we realize that there _was_ a little more left. Then we push a little bit cause this last piece doesn’t come out so easy. Then a bit gets stuck to our butt, and we get frustrated. Then we wipe again, but longer this time. _Then_ we pull up our pants, gather our things, flush, and leave. ---
**Author:** ![pizzabrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9c0ed/32.png) [@pizzabrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pizzabrat)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2003, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-it-take-so-long-for-people-to-poop/164134/18 "2003-03-26T00:57:23Z")
ARRGH! “If there’s any more” is what I meant. ---
**Author:** ![FabioClone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5f8ce5/32.png) [@FabioClone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FabioClone)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2003, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-it-take-so-long-for-people-to-poop/164134/19 "2003-03-26T01:11:33Z")
Finally. An honest, detailed answer to the question. Thank you, **pizzabrat**. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Harrison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5ac83/32.png) [@John\_Harrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Harrison)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2003, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-it-take-so-long-for-people-to-poop/164134/20 "2003-03-26T01:45:34Z")
Why does it take longer for some people? Why are some people tall? Short? Fat? Skinny? etc… **It just takes longer.** Accept it and move on with your life, and thank whatever ultimate being you may pray to that you have it so easy. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-it-take-so-long-for-people-to-poop/164134.md?page=2)