Employees working from home have let go of a reluctance to fart in front of colleagues, according to a leading flatulism researcher who has been studying the paradigm shift in contemporary attitudes to farting at work.
In the days before WFH, few will have experienced an office water-cooler moment where someone casually farted.
This is not the case today for WFH employees, who are now prolific fart-droppers during online meetings.
Evidence for the normalisation of farting during virtual interpersonal communication can be seen in “the WHF Zoom bumroll”.
Blaming the dog when farting at work
WFH farting is both casual and pointed – it is also mostly inaudible because a quick and easy “muting of the tooting” means that a burst of sphincter gurgling will not be heard. It can, however, be seen. The “bumroll” manoeuvre is clearly visibly on screen through the movement of the speaker to left or right as they lift a buttock to release the flatus. In the rare case of a challenge, remarks such as, “I was just getting something out of my bottom drawer” or “The dog dropped his biscuit” usually suffices.
The recognition of this buttock-shifting for what it is has led to a redefinition of the role of flatulence in online communication. Dr Eileen Dover, a flatulism researcher from Margate, said that during direct face-to-face staff meetings, for example, an audible or olfactory fart would be a rare event.
“Any attempted escape of wind in such a situation would likely be stifled at birth. However, accidents do happen and the release may be inadvertent and embarrassing. There is also the strong possibility that the fart may have been deliberately given a push to make a point or to emphasise one’s feelings.
“WFH farts are no longer stifled but are allowed free passage and can easily be seen thanks to the phenomenon of the ‘Zoom roll’ and an apparently inexplicable temporary muting of the sound. Accompanying facial expressions, which can range from the angelic to the demonic, are harder to read,” said Dr Dover.
Losing out on old farts’ workplace tales
One of the main arguments against WFH is what has been described as the “old fart paradigm”. Younger WFH employees, denied direct contact with more experienced older colleagues, do not benefit from the passing of knowledge. However, it seems that the passing of wind is now also an issue to be aired.
Farting can be seen as non-verbal communication. Dr Dover wants senior managers to see muted WFH “Zoom roll” farting as indicative of a relaxed working atmosphere still showing the traditional regard for one’s audience. However, an exaggerated farting posture without any attempt at muting should be taken as a warning demonstrating strong feelings about the matter in hand.
The development of a new workplace farting culture is also attributed to many WFH employees wearing loose-fitting casual garments. Pyjama bottoms and boxer shorts rank high on the list of preferred WFH work-wear, which is not seen on screens focused on the upper body.
“My research has led me to conclude that the new WFH farting culture will prove to be a powerful force leading to a wider relaxation of social constraints and a greater emphasis on the natural expressiveness of flatulence,” said Dr Dover.