The Fart and Cry Principle

The video above is called Breaking the Barrier by Bernie Hatefield. It's a short, funny video about being comfortable enough around another person to fart.  The guy in the video calls this Breaking the Barrier because he farts first. Of course, the guy in the video gets a rude awakening because his girlfriend won't stop farting. This video exaggerates for effect, but it fits in perfectly with my topic today.  My topic today is what I like to call The Fart & Cry Principle.

The Fart & Cry Principle does not mean that every time that I fart it's followed by me blubbering. David might say that when I fart it's followed by his endless blubbering (because of the smell), but I digress. The Fart & Cry Principle has to do with having a comfortable rapport with another person. I need to know a person well enough to know that I can fart and cry in front of them without them passing judgment on me. They also need to feel comfortable enough to be able to fart & cry in front of me.

 It's the level of comfort and the rapport that distinguishes how close we become to another person.  As you know, there are different levels of friendship.  We may only ever be acquaintances with some people.  Then there are other people that we feel in sync with almost immediately. And then there are other people who we are acquaintances with for a long time and then suddenly it seems a rapport begins to develop between you.


There are clues to how a person may treat you.  For instance, consider what they say about other people especially those who are closest to them.  How often do they talk about others in a negative light? Now, that doesn't mean they can't be annoyed with one or two people - afterall, we're all human. I'm referring to people who say things like, "Did you see what whatsherface did? She's really stupid!" If the person says a lot of negative things about those who are closest to them, please approach them with caution.  Just remember that one day that person will describe you in a negative light to somebody else because that is their pattern of behaviour.  Besides, how would such a negative person react if you farted or cried in front of them? Chances are they would describe the situation in a negative light to somebody else.

I personally feel on edge around people who cast everything in a negative light.  I don't feel comfortable around them and a rapport does not develop with them because I feel stifled. Comfort level and rapport are the most important things to me in a relationship. I like to feel comfortable enough around you to fart and cry in front of you.