[paul.fr]

i have heard that so many times, but is it true?

[Simulated]

Oh wow. If it is true. Then thanks god I don't swallow that stuff.

[JimBob]

Then I should be made of chewing gum.

[kdlynn]

i can assure you that it's not true. lol. but i'm sure my brother would not appreciate me telling the story.

[Bored chemist]

So don't tell him that you told us.

[Alandriel]

Hehehehe, another urban myth goes the way of the dinosaur ......

clickety

 []

[Karen W.]

cool cause I have swallowed a heck of a lot of gum.. I like gum! LOL Helps me not eat so much!

[another_someone]

Never heard the story, but then never chewed gum.  Did go through a phase of chewing rubber bands, in the naive belief they may strengthen my jaw muscles, and maybe even my teeth.  Never swallowed the rubber bands though (although I often can't be bothered to spit out the stones from cherries when I eat them - so my intestines have to cope with them).

OK - they're coming to take me away any time now []

[Karen W.]

Watch out George.. There right behind you!! LOL LOL!

[Alandriel]

George didn't only do the pockets full of acorns...........

Chewing rubber bands though ?
LOL, now that's a new one.... How were they supposed to strengthen jaw muscles?
Did you string them behind your ears and then.......

 [] []

But back to chewing gum. Nasty stuff that when it ends up on the pavement. It does not degrade over time, not even 7 years, and is difficult (read expensive) to remove.

[Simulated]

So don't tell him that you told us.

haha. yeah come on Kadie.

[kdlynn]

ok. when my brother was two he got into my purse (keep in mind he's much younger than i am) and i had a whole pack of bubble gum in it... and he ate it. all. he chewed it for a few minutes then swallowed... two days later when he went to the bathroom he started yelling "mommy mommy come here!" and... he had blown an enormous bubble instead of um... going to the bathroom. so my mom was laughing and he was crying and i ended up going in to see what was going on... very funny.

[Bored chemist]

I wonder; did that stop him nicking your stuff?

[kdlynn]

absolutely not

[TonyCap]

Thank God it's not true.  As a kid, I think I swallowed dozens of chewing gums.   []

[kdlynn]

it does take several days though. lol. my poor little brother

[RD]

Gum is certainly persistent ...

Student dig unearths ancient gum 
 
A 5,000-year-old piece of chewing gum has been discovered by an archaeology student from the University of Derby.
Sarah Pickin, 23, found the lump of birch bark tar while on a dig in western Finland.

Neolithic people used the material as an antiseptic to treat gum infections, as well as a glue for repairing pots.

Ms Pickin's tutor, Professor Trevor Brown, said: "It's particularly significant because well defined tooth imprints were found on the gum."

He explained: "Birch bark tar contains phenols, which are antiseptic compounds."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6954562.stm