Slog - Comments on Why Do I Have to Poop When Browsing, Redux http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/why_do_i_have_to_poop_when_browsing_redu This just in to the Dear Science mailbag: Dear Science, I recently read your response to Bothered Bowels' inquiry from 2/13/2008. Sadly, BB is not alone. I actually know several people who experience this same issue, most with #2, but others with #1. Indeed, it particularly occurs at Value Village, libraries, bookstores, and also when shopping to CD's. I find your Pavlovian theory rather interesting and plausible, but I would like to be so bold as to add a comment. The common theme for BB and others like him/her seems to be situations that involve the act of browsing. Is... Copyright 2008 Thu, 18 Sep 2008 14:18:57 -0800 Sat, 20 Sep 2008 17:44:50 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by Bellevue Ave I get this feeling working on databases.

]]> Bellevue Ave http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/why_do_i_have_to_poop_when_browsing_redu#c1145360 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/why_do_i_have_to_poop_when_browsing_redu#c1145360 Housekeeping Thu, 18 Sep 2008 14:27:23 -0800 Comment by Julie in Chicago Wait, are you saying the coffee should not make you have to go "#2" because it is a sympathomimetic? That would be completely contrary to my experience. Coffee makes me go. Usually about half an hour to an hour later...

]]> Julie in Chicago http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/why_do_i_have_to_poop_when_browsing_redu#c1145364 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/why_do_i_have_to_poop_when_browsing_redu#c1145364 Housekeeping Thu, 18 Sep 2008 14:31:24 -0800 Comment by Jeremy from Seattle I have to poo before a rugby match, always. Even if I drop a big deuce at home first. It sucks because there aren't many porta-potties out at marymoore, and sometime there aren't any when we are away.

]]> Jeremy from Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/why_do_i_have_to_poop_when_browsing_redu#c1145365 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/why_do_i_have_to_poop_when_browsing_redu#c1145365 Housekeeping Thu, 18 Sep 2008 14:32:41 -0800 Comment by Jonathan Golob Caffeine in coffee is a sympathomimetic and should stop you from #1 and #2.

But, coffee also promotes both #1 and #2.

It's a quandary. I suspect it takes you an hour, just for the burst of caffeine to wear off, allowing the other parts of the coffee to take hold.

]]> Jonathan Golob http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/why_do_i_have_to_poop_when_browsing_redu#c1145368 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/why_do_i_have_to_poop_when_browsing_redu#c1145368 Housekeeping Thu, 18 Sep 2008 14:34:37 -0800 Comment by tiffany parasympathetic response... rest and digest!

]]> tiffany http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/why_do_i_have_to_poop_when_browsing_redu#c1145369 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/why_do_i_have_to_poop_when_browsing_redu#c1145369 Housekeeping Thu, 18 Sep 2008 14:36:57 -0800 Comment by Chris in Tampa Bookstores just have the comfiest bathrooms of all public places.

]]> Chris in Tampa http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/why_do_i_have_to_poop_when_browsing_redu#c1145402 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/why_do_i_have_to_poop_when_browsing_redu#c1145402 Housekeeping Thu, 18 Sep 2008 14:56:06 -0800 Comment by cranky i don't drink coffee and never have. also no tea or pop, no reason, just don't care for them. and i too have not just the urge, but the need to go while browsing. maybe this is why i became a librarian.

i've always assumed it was because i find browsing to be deeply, physically relaxing. my mind is engaged to a degree that for once my clench-butt mode is over-ridden and my body relaxes, allowing everything to move those last few critical inches.

let face it, book people, whatever our other charms, tend to be tense in one way or another. and many compulsive book- or music-lovers will say that "this is the thing that always relaxes me." seems a given, a wonderful given.

i'd say more, but i gotta go!

]]> cranky http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/why_do_i_have_to_poop_when_browsing_redu#c1145409 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/why_do_i_have_to_poop_when_browsing_redu#c1145409 Housekeeping Thu, 18 Sep 2008 15:02:43 -0800 Comment by max solomon my sister has to poop whenever we talk on the phone. perhaps the bookstore is RELAXING.

]]> max solomon http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/why_do_i_have_to_poop_when_browsing_redu#c1145432 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/why_do_i_have_to_poop_when_browsing_redu#c1145432 Housekeeping Thu, 18 Sep 2008 15:12:37 -0800 Comment by Jen #8 - Exactly. Especially if there's not a lot of people around.

]]> Jen http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/why_do_i_have_to_poop_when_browsing_redu#c1145555 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/why_do_i_have_to_poop_when_browsing_redu#c1145555 Housekeeping Thu, 18 Sep 2008 16:22:30 -0800 Comment by Bob Coffee is not a diuretic at the doses most people consume.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/05/health/05brod.html?em

]]> Bob http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/why_do_i_have_to_poop_when_browsing_redu#c1145688 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/why_do_i_have_to_poop_when_browsing_redu#c1145688 Housekeeping Thu, 18 Sep 2008 18:17:14 -0800 Comment by Brandon Burt Could it be a form of operant conditioning? If, like me, these people keep a stack of reading material in their bathrooms for those quiet moments, maybe they've developed an unfortunate Pavlovian response to the sight of books and magazines.

Maybe I should move my mini-library out of the bathroom. I'd hate for that to happen to me ...

]]> Brandon Burt http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/why_do_i_have_to_poop_when_browsing_redu#c1147036 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/why_do_i_have_to_poop_when_browsing_redu#c1147036 Housekeeping Sat, 20 Sep 2008 17:44:50 -0800