Anal: Why?

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Possibly just to make Anthony look at it. But no - why is somebody described as anal if they have an obsession with a particular thing - esp facts. I assume the term comes from Anally Retentive, but why should shit be involved?

― Pete, Tuesday, 11 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I strongly suspect that Freud is to blame, just as he's to blame for most other social maladies.

― Trevor, Tuesday, 11 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I think it's because the age at which kids start getting curious about their own arseholes (4 yrs I think) sees them also start getting obsessed with putting things in a neat order. or something.

― scott, Tuesday, 11 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

so when you say someone is anally retentive you're saying that they're holding onto certain traits which characterize the 'anal stage of development' which most people grow out of.

― scott, Tuesday, 11 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Also, people just like having a reason to use the word "anal".

― duane, Tuesday, 11 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Heard the term *tightass*? =holding it in until you explode some derive satisfaction from doing this

― Roy, Tuesday, 11 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

two weeks pass...

Anal is actually Lana spelled backwards.

― Pennysong Hanle y, Wednesday, 26 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Let's not forget "Anally Expletive", which is when a child shits all over the place and paints the walls with it, sometimes eats it and probably grows up to enjoy copaphragia (or however it's spelled-- shit eatin' fetish). This is an official term, too. This is the Oscar Madison side and the retentive side is Felix Unger.

Now, since someone mentioned LANA is anal backward, I just thought I'd let you know I knew a LANA in college whose brother was named ALAN. Honest! We used to joke about the other brother she never mentioned who surely was named ANAL. Yup, it's true. If anyone else knows Lana Frye, speak up.

― Nude Spock, Wednesday, 26 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

If I remember right -- Freud thought that the decision re what do it w/ your own shit (keeping it inside or expelling it) is a way a child learns to control his enviornment. When trauma occurs during this age, the child is likely to remain fixated on this stage of development (anal control), which will influence later behavior. Anal people are fixated on neatness, keeping the shit away from sight.

― Mark, Wednesday, 26 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Someone make a cheap and bad joke about Kevin Shields!

― Mitch Lastnamewithheld, Wednesday, 26 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

The anus is the scissors of th e rectum.

― Mike Hanle y, Thursday, 27 September 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

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