this post was submitted on 05 May 2025
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[–] PugJesus@lemmy.world 61 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (4 children)

Explanation: Roman public latrines were, counterintuitively to modern Western cultural norms, places for socialization while you did your, ahem, business. Rather than desperately trying to avoid eye contact with anyone in or out of the latrines, it was common to take a seat next to someone, strike up some conversation; even play a quick game of tic-tac-toe between the seats! The Roman poet Martial even wrote a short poem making fun of a man who was lingering in the public latrines all day - not because of intestinal issues, but because he hoped (not entirely absurdly) to score a dinner invitation (free food!) by making small talk with his fellow shitters!

[–] taiyang@lemmy.world 26 points 1 month ago (1 children)

You say counterintuitive, but I dare ask: how many social media users are on the can right now? Shitting might be more of a social activity than people care to admit.

[–] cjoll4@lemmy.world 7 points 1 month ago

...

I just read your comment while sitting on the toilet

[–] cabron_offsets@lemmy.world 6 points 1 month ago

Back that azz up.

Thanks, I hate it! All of it. Especially the communal butt sponges. I'm gonna choose to believe that was a Time Traveler's prank.

[–] UdeRecife@literature.cafe 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Wonderful. Loved your explanation. Do you have sources for that Juvenal poem?

[–] PugJesus@lemmy.world 5 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

Fuck me, fixed it. It's Martial, not Juvenal, I was mistaken.

In omnibus Vacerra quod conclavibus

Consumit horas et die toto sedet,

Cenaturit Vacerra , non cacaturit.

Epigrams, Book 11, Epigram 77

A poetic translation being given as

In privies Vacerra consumes the hours;

the whole day does he sit;

Vacerra wants to dine,

he does not want to shit

[–] UdeRecife@literature.cafe 3 points 1 month ago

Thanks. No harm done. I also mix up authors names at times.

Thanks for the precise references. I love learning about ancient ways. Some parts of their lives seem so alien to us today.