TERRIBLE advice to BF. BF wrote in and said, "Sometimes I have to fart because of sex. How can I manage this?" and Dan said, "Don't fart around the ladies."

Okay, and I can't believe I'm giving this advice in (anonymous)public:

Farts are noisy because of the movement the outgoing air creates in your buttcheeks, and they are stinky if they are diet-related. If the gas build-up is really due to movement/activity and not diet, then the farts should not be overly stinky.

Therefore, if you can eliminate the noise, you can eliminate the problem. I had to learn this trick when dealing with digestive issues when pregnant and having to share a restroom with very thin walls with professional colleagues:

Reach on back there, and use your hand/fingers to gently hold open the doors to allow the air to pass out freely. There may be a quiet "shoosh" noise, but if you have any sort of background noise music/traffic/etc you should be fine, or a well-timed nose-sniff should do.

You are welcome.

Blast from the past. 4th election after this one, and good 'ol Dorris got elected twice.

Just go in the bathroom and flush/fart simultaneously. Or run the water really loud. Or fercryingoutloud, change your diet.

I know this is years old, but just as a rule of thumb for the straight guys:

Guys and girls are raised quite differently. For girls, bodily functions are something to be ashamed of, hidden, done in private, and even denied, at all costs. It probably has something to do with the guise of being "ladylike", which is still pushed on girls and women today, in 2011.

Basically, a lot of women consider it impolite to do things like fart loudly in front of them, scratch your balls in an obvious way, etc. Yes, it's silly, and yes, she will become more relaxed about it as the relationship grows. But it's just good etiquette, when it comes to farting, to either hold it in, or do it in the bathroom. Even if she can hear you through the walls, she'll probably appreciate that you were polite enough to do it in the bathroom instead of in her bed.

I don't think it's really a case of women wanting to pretend that bodily functions don't exist. It's just good etiquette, like going into the bathroom to blow your nose or scratch your balls or whatever. Farting is just one of those things that's considered rude to do openly while in a new relationship. Women aren't offended by the gas itself, but by what they see as an impolite and inconsiderate gesture.

If in doubt, hold it in until you can get to the bathroom, then let it go, even if the walls are thin. This is especially true for men who have bad diets or intestinal problems, as that can be pretty unsexy.

And you don't have to keep up the ritual of holding it in forever; if the relationship lasts, such ideas about etiquette become silly and uneccesary, and you can be more open with each other.

I should add that I didn't intend to sound patronizing or anything. It's just been my experience that men are pretty baffled about this whole issue, and don't understand why it should a big deal, or what they should do about it. So I thought I'd explain a bit.

Also a note about IMAN:

Sudden and severe personality changes in anyone should always be investigated by a qualified mental health professional. If your spouse- or anyone close to you- goes through a drastic change like this, even if it's related to religion, you should encourage them to discuss it with a doctor/therapist/psychiatrist/etc.

Phrase it in a very gentle and non-confrontational way, of course. For example, "I'm glad you're so happy now that you've found religion. But I'm very concerned about the effect it's having on our relationship. Could we get counseling to see if there's a way for us to get through this together?"

Many people just don't undergo rapid and severe changes like this, even if they've found Jesus. It can be a symptom of an underlying problem, like depression, mania, trauma, a hormonal imbalance, or another physical or mental illness (even a brain tumor).

This guy, or anyone else in his position, is entirely justified in seeking a divorce. But even so, he should try to get help for his wife, to make sure it's not a health problem. And if it is, perhaps the marriage can still be saved. If you ever find yourself in a position like IMAN's, try to find help before burning bridges.