Dumbass Sayings: “Shooting The Shit”

Hitting shit from a bird's
ass is the sign of a true
marksman.

When you’re talking about clothing or your last vacation with another man they’ll call it “Shooting the shit.” Only men can do this by the way. When was the last time anyone ever “Shot the shit” with a woman. When two women talk to each other they basically never call it “Shooting the shit.” Shooting the shit is a male way to describe conversation. We don’t want to be compared to giggling schoolgirls at a slumber party so we have to make it sound masculine by involving the act of shooting things. Then we throw in a little bit of inappropriate language like the word “shit” to make it sound super manly. How did this term come about? Well when you cross “Shooting the breeze” and “Talking shit” you get “Shooting the shit.” Clearly that makes sense… You can’t say “Talking the breeze” because that would sound waifish and fruity. The problem I have with this saying is it’s used totally wrong. “Shooting the shit” isn’t another way to say “talking”, it’s another way to say “explosive diarrhea.” When I say I’m “Shooting the shit” Ten times out of ten I’m on a toilet after eating too much McDonald’s. That is the proper usage of this term.

Ask McFartnuggets: “Why Do People With Tourette Syndrome Sometimes Say The N-Word?”

Basal ganglia.

Dear McFartnuggets:

I met a guy with Tourettes Syndrome today and he kept saying the N-word. I knew it wasn’t his fault, but I was still offended. I know that people with Tourettes can’t control what they say, but what in the brain decides to make it racial? Why does Tourette have to go there? -- Randall from Baltimore

Dear Kenny:

First of all, are you sure you actually met someone with Tourette Syndrome? Because the actual saying of the n-word is considered “Coprolalia”. Coprolalia is a Latin term merging the words for “feces” and “talking”. It’s the technical definition of “Talking shit.” Coprolalia is merely one possible symptom of Tourette Syndrome, but anyone can do it. Less than 30% of all people with Tourette actually experience Coprolalia so who knows maybe the guy you saw didn’t have Tourette Syndrome. Maybe he was just some jerk saying the N-word and pretending to have Tourette Syndrome.

Assuming this person really did have TS, there’s no telling why exactly he was saying the N-word. Until more is known about TS I can’t really answer that question, but I can speculate. I would guess that subconsciously the brain knows what words are the most offensive and whatever triggers Coprolalia in TS pulls those offensive words out. Since the N-word is far and away the least socially acceptable word in English, it makes unfortunate sense for that to be a favorite. Remember, it’s not the person’s choice at all if it’s TS. If they’re solely suffering from Coprolalia then they are choosing. Just make sure you find out exactly which it is before judging.

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