The Editorially Independent Voice of The University of Akron

The Buchtelite

The Editorially Independent Voice of The University of Akron

The Buchtelite

The Editorially Independent Voice of The University of Akron

The Buchtelite

Graphic courtesy of Liv Ream; movie flyer from IMDB
In defense of Skinamarink
By Liv Ream, Arts and Entertainment Editor • October 1, 2023
Alternative Spring Break 2023 volunteers in Washington, D.C. Courtesy of Natalie Mowad.
Applications open for Akron’s 2024 Alternative Spring Break
By Taylor Lorence, Correspondent • October 1, 2023
The Northern Cheyenne tribe and community walking the ancient Portage Path from Portage Path CLC to the John Brown Home during a previous years First Peoples Day event. Photo courtesy of Portage Path Collaborative.
UA Holds events in celebration of North American First People’s Day   
By Shananne Lewis, Online Editor • September 28, 2023
White swan on water during daytime photo - Free Uk Image on Unsplash
The Swan's Rapture: a poem
By Emily Price, editor in chief • September 27, 2023
Desperately Seeking an Amazon Fighter, sculpture by Kimberly Chapman
"Easy Prey" art exhibit on display at Myers School of Art
By Taylor Lorence, Reporter, Secretary • September 21, 2023
“On the left, there’s me at work! I received the New Student Orientation “Gold Standard” award alongside 
and at the same time as my friend Gillian.”
Courtesy of Connor VanMaele
Fall 2023 Print Edition: Going the Distance
By Connor VanMaele, Correspondent • September 19, 2023
L to R: Steve Horner, Heather Barhorst, Haley Kuczynski, Shawna Blankenship, Brynley Harris, Jessie Redwine at the Pop-Up Pantry. Image Courtesy of ZipAssist.
ZipAssist Holds Community Resource Fair Tuesday, September 19 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the SU 2nd Floor
By Shananne Lewis, Correspondent • September 18, 2023
Film critic Liv Ream and friend pose for photo (Image via Liv Ream)
My Barbie experience
By Liv Ream, Film Critic • September 17, 2023

Ms. DoRight

“Ms. DoRight, My boyfriend thinks it is hilarious to talk about his bowel movements in public. This is gross, but it gets worse. He also is convinced that the average 25-year-old man has accidents in his pants at least once or twice a year. At parties and other social events, he is never too embarrassed to tell everyone about his accidents.”

Ms. DoRight,

My boyfriend thinks it is hilarious to talk about his bowel movements in public. This is gross, but it gets worse. He also is convinced that the average 25-year-old man has accidents in his pants at least once or twice a year.

At parties and other social events, he is never too embarrassed to tell everyone about his accidents. Is this behavior acceptable?

Appreciatively,

Mrs. Poopy Pants

Mrs. Poopy Pants,

Generally, fecal incontinence is not a laughing matter. I use the word generally because I am not accounting for comedic movies or other stage productions where characters might, on occasion, go in their pants.

In these cases, the bowel movement is most likely a staged event. It is funny only because it is not real.

In most settings, it is not appropriate for your boyfriend to talk about bowel movements, even if he is a parent of a newborn and wants to share the details of his baby’s healthy and colorful deposits. If he wants to share intimate details about his incontinence, he can arrange a visit with his primary care physician.

He could join an Internet chat group, which would provide access to people who share his interests in scatological humor.

A popular Web site on this topic is www.poopreport.com. This Web site also lists details and guidelines on Poop for Peace Day, a national event that takes place on April 13 of every year.

According to the Web site, this event seeks to achieve empathy through excrement. It is important to note that this empathy is achieved in the bathroom, not in the participant’s pants.

If your boyfriend prefers to continue bringing his embarrassing incidents into the public sphere, you need to tell him how much it bothers and humiliates you before it gets out of hand.

If people laugh at his stories, he might be misled into thinking that it is perfectly reasonable to poop and tell. When people laugh at your boyfriend’s stories, it is safe to assume that they are laughing at his expense.

Your boyfriend is incorrect to think that the average man has accidents in his pants once or twice a year. This type of behavior can hint at deeper physical and psychological problems, but it should be easy to overcome with medication and a well-balanced diet.

If his problem becomes serious, he should consider adult diapers. A more extreme solution would be a colostomy pouch, which can be changed when necessary.

However, from what you described, your boyfriend does not appear to have a medical problem. My sense is that he suffers from immaturity, a common disorder found in men his age.

If telling him how you feel does not work, give him a courtesy flush out the door.

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