There is a new law in Malawi about not fouling the air. Debate is now happening over whether this should include farting. Should farting in public be banned? Yes, it should, says Justice Minister George Chaponda - 'Just go to the toilet when you feel like farting'.

What do people think of such a law? Should farting in public be a criminal offence? How would this be enforced - I mean, gosh, if you do a 'silent but deadly', how would anyone know who to arrest?

News article here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12363852

LOL he clearly hasn't heard of the saying "It just slipped out!"

rofl I think its a common courtesy to excuse yourself to relieve yourself - in whatever way ;] I constantly tell my 9 year old DAUGHTER (mind you, DAUGHTER!!!) to stop farting on people and in front of people and to go to the bathroom ;] It's a law in our home lol

LMFAO! xD.

BAN FARTING! IT'S POLLUTION! P:

These people are coming up with the weirdest laws ever... o__O

I think there are far more important things to worry about than people farting lol. Like Global Warming or crime rates. Besides, who has access to a toilet everywhere they go? And how would they regulate it? Who would want to? lol

and how the fuck are they sposed to police that?

I think a lot of people will be calling for the "Whoever smelt it, dealt it" rule to apply :P

"Whoever made the rhyme did the crime!" ;)

It's a bit mean to people like me who have lactose intolerance... sometimes it just sneaks up on you! ;D

Haha - I don't have lactose intolerance, and farts forever sneak up on me! ;D They are not like poops, where you can wait a while and then go to the loo!

I don't understand why people can't physically hold in farts, I mean, does that mean they would just shit themselves if they had the runs?

Yeah, if I have the runs, I can't hold them in. If I can't get to a toilet immediately, I do shit myself. Not with regular poops, but with the splats! That is quite common, I believe - that is why they are called the runs!

As for farts, who knows - maybe it's a form of incontinence. Incontinence of gas!

Apparently, it's bad to hold in too many farts- it's gas that needs to be released- and it's bad for you to not let it out.

What if a baby farts? Would they fine them? The things people do crack me up. It is rude to purposely fart in public but accidents happen. What's next, ban sneezing in public?