THE OLD PHILOSOPHER SEZ,

It makes sense when you know the rest of the story...

 HOW FERTILIZER BECAME SHIT

 In the 16th and 17th centuries, before the invention of 
 commercial fertilizer, everything had to be transported 
 by ship. Therefore, large shipments of manure were 
 common. It was shipped dry, because in dry form it 
 weighed a lot less than when wet, but once water 
 (at sea) hit it, it not only became heavier, but the 
 process of fermentation began again, of which a 
 by-product is methane gas. 
 

 As the stuff was stored below decks in bundles you 
 can see  what could  (and did) happen. Methane 
 began to build up below decks and the first time 
 someone came below at night with a lantern, 
 BOOOOM! 
 

 Several ships were destroyed in this manner before 
 it was determined just what was happening. After 
 that, the bundles of manure were always stamped 
 with the term "Ship High In Transit" on them which 
 meant for the sailors to stow it high enough off the 
 lower decks so that any water that came into the 
 hold would not touch this volatile cargo and start 
the production of methane. 
 

 Thus evolved the term "S.H.I.T," which has come 
 down through the centuries and is in use to this 
 very day. 
 

 You probably did not know the true history of 
 this word. 
 

 Neither did I. I always thought it was a golf term.