Brace yourself. Here comes a mini-rant.
I love and cherish my friends. I may not talk to all of them often enough, but I care deeply about them. In general, there are usually no "taboo" subjects for discussion, especially with my female friends.
Male friends are a bit more tricky. No matter how platonic the friendship, there is always a miniscule frisson of sexual tension -- unless they are gay.
However, I was talking to a male friend on the phone last night and he mentioned that he had had a bout of diarrhea the other day.
First of all, I hate that word. In my house we say "upset stomach" or one needs to "sit on the potty." If he had said "I had an upset stomach" that would have sufficed. I would've gotten the general idea, without the much more graphic and gross word diarrhea.
Maybe it's my mother's fault.
She took my brother to the doctor once when he was small and the doctor asked about his bowel movements. Mother said "I don't know." The doctor scolded her for not paying more attention to her son's bowel movements. She told him that unless we were having an issue and needed some Pepto, her kids didn't talk about bowel movements with her. We didn't. I don't ever recall discussions about bowel habits.
[Mother's reticence likely came about because my grandmother was constantly dosing Mom and her brothers with Castor oil and other horrible substances that made them run for the potty. Yuck.]
I told my kids right after they came home, unless you are having a problem, I don't want to hear about poop. If you are having a problem, let me know and I will give you some Immodium, or if you're having the opposite issue, perhaps some fresh fruit. Otherwise, keep your poop thoughts to yourself.
When I was a teenager, I was struck dumb with horror when visiting my aunt and uncle, because my aunt said to me one morning "You're looking pale. When have you had a BM?"
No-one had ever asked me that question. I wasn't even sure what a "BM" was. I asked her for clarification. We had a short but embarrassing discussion.
Like the doctor, she thought my mother's parenting - devoid of bowel discussions - was inferior. I disagreed. When I told my mother about the discussion later, she laughed.
One must have a sense of humor about these things.
Now, I am not a prude. I like a good dirty joke as long as it's not horribly tasteless.
However, I don't want to hear about diarrhea.
Ever.
Even if you're female and you're my best friend for life. Doesn't matter.
I don't care if you lose 10 lbs. in the process, or if you got food poisoning. If you have intestinal issues.... keep me out of it. If you're in my house, have diarrhea, and you need me to call an ambulance.... then OK. Mention it. I will make sure you get to the hospital.
Otherwise, I don't want to hear about it.
