Which is worse to have happen in front of coworkers and the big boss, loudly passing gas, or healthy belch?

Either event will set you up for the big stare from everyone in the car…your best way out of that situation is to break out your best Ethyl Merman impression.

Either is to be avoided at all cost. People are likely to remember your for that one act.

Farting would be worse. Belching generally smells less than passing gas, but it depends on what you have recently eaten. Other than that, both will be quite embarrassing.

I would be mortified if I did either but I would find it easier to get over burping.

Belching is better because it only involves sound. Farting involves 2 senses, sound and smell. The more senses involved, the worse a sin of commission like this is. That’s the scientific answer. On the other hand, developing a series of answers to have at the ready to mitigate the effect may reduce reaction. Good luck.

Re being prepared to respond to your own social discomfort at an unavoidable eruption, one of my best was this. I sing in a large chorale. I unexpectedly released a long and noisy explosion of gas. There was a dead silence all around me. I waited about 5 seconds and then said, in a very small voice, “I’m sorry.” Everyone laughed and we went back to what we were doing.