About sh*t.
There are certain things I struggle with when it comes to interacting with people, and I have zero poker face when I have exhausted all conduits of reasoning.
For the purpose of this rant, I’ll talk about sh*t as an example.
On our evolutionary history up until today, it has been a truth that people need to sh*t. While it is not always pleasant, it happens. Because Science.
But then, sh*t has to go somewhere, right?
Not only a historical problem, but a present day one. Growing populations. Frequency of meals and movements. Access to drainage and sewage disposal.
I’m a privileged sh*tter. My good health allows me to control when I sh*t, my economic demographic offers me choice of where I sh*t, and my geographical region facilitates that I never have to know where that sh*t ends up while my community leaders assure me that precautions can or have been made to keep that sh*t from coming back to me.
I appreciate not every one would readily identify or acknowledge this as a privilege, or might only do so to varying degrees, and that there are those people who simply can’t.
As a privileged sh*tter, I can choose whether or not I sh*t on you. Or on any person, persons, or animals. Even with your, their, or its consent.
(Frankly, if I was given consent to sh*t on someone, I would wonder (a) why? and (b) really, why?)
For me, sh*tting on someone is neither an effective nor desirable way to get rid of my sh*t. I enjoy the luxury of not having to see the same sh*t twice, and sh*tting on a person is not likely to produce that outcome.
I like to find the best time place, and opportunity to take a sh*t, preferably by myself, so that I can use whatever degree or non-degree of strain is necessary, because this enables me to sh*t with a certain level of comfort.
Now, obviously, I have not and cannot always have ideal conditions when I sh*t, and that can sometimes leads to different sh*t decisions, but as long as I can afford to choose, I will choose to do my best to avoid sh*tting on another sentient being.
This coin does have another side, though, doesn’t it?
Everyone is different, but everyone sh*ts.
Not everyone has my sh*tting privileges, and they can’t control when they sh*t, or where they sh*t, or where their sh*t ends up. And then there are people who have some or all of the same privileges, but have different preferences for when, where, and how their sh*t is treated.
So, in more ways than one, I can consider that my sh*t has or can be taken care of in a way that works for me.
So the struggle then: how to deal with other people’s sh*t.
Well.
When I am confronted with someone else’s sh*t, what I can do, simplified is:
I can look at sh*t, see if it holds together, exhibiting abnormal color or density, or simply floats to the top,
and/or, I can react to sh*t.
Like reacting to anything, objective or subjective, you know, it all depends.
Is anyone else in the room at the time?
Do I know the person whose sh*t this is?
Can I be sure its their sh*t, and not someone else’s?
Do I need to sh*t, and is it possible with this other sh*t here?
Am I party to the disposal of this sh*t?
Based on where I stand in my privilege, and experience, when encountering the possibility or probability of being sh*t on, I have concluded that I need to take in account the following considerations:
Did I articulate that I would like or consent to being sh*t on?
Have I otherwise communicated that I would like or consent to be sh*t on?
Was I ever unclear or ambiguous in regards to my preference in terms of other interacting or making contact with another person’s sh*t?
Am I, or have I been, assuming a position where I am presently vulnerable to be sh*t on?
Am I, or have I been, assuming or put in a position where there is nowhere else for the sh*t to land?
Have I let this person (or persons) sh*t on me before? (How many times?)
Is there anything desirable about this sh*t (or the sh*tter(s)) that might indicate that I would consider the possibility of being sh*t on now, or in the future?
So many variables and considerations, and truthfully, I can’t say I’ve always reacted exactly the same way because of that.
If you are still reading, thank you. I appreciate your time and attention, and that this is not the ideal social platform for personal essays such as this or the others I have posted on this Tumblr.
What are some things you take into consideration when confronted with someone else’s sh*t? Do you have any unique responses to when you find yourself in a situation where people sh*t on you?