Why is blowing your nose in company so socially acceptable?

Mango Joe

This might seem like an odd question at first because really we are all so used to this concept and it happens so regularly in all groupings, work situations and various other contexts.

But isn't it quite odd that someone sitting across a table from you or beside you in work can suddenly produce a soggy tissue and nosily and strenuously start ejecting substantial quantities of slimy mucus from their nasal orifices into said tissue by exhaling repeatedly?

Does this bother you?

Would you prefer if people stepped away a distance to do this. or perhaps went somewhere private?

Is there certain situations where this is not ok but people do it anyway, like right at a restaurant table during a nice meal?

These are the serious questions, and they must be asked.

I do find it a little odd but doesn't bother me.

I'm a picker, not a blower.

irishgrover

Mango Joe wrote: »

This might seem like an odd question at first because really we are all so used to this concept and it happens so regularly in all groupings, work situations and various other contexts.

But isn't it quite odd that someone sitting across a table from you or beside you in work can suddenly produce a soggy tissue and nosily and strenuously start ejecting substantial quantities of slimy mucus from their nasal orifices into said tissue by exhaling repeatedly?

Does this bother you?

Would you prefer if people stepped away a distance to do this. or perhaps went somewhere private?

Is there certain situations where this is not ok but people do it anyway, like right at a restaurant table during a nice meal?

These are the serious questions, and they must be asked.

It is more acceptable than someone sniffed, or snorting back up a loan of snot, or to having snot cascade out of ones nose.

Is it required that people should remove themselves from company in order to blow their nose? That might be overkill.

However it can be annoying when people are constantly blowing their noses in your presence.

People who nose blow and then consciously or subconsciously open their hankie / tissue to have a good visual examination of the contents should be taken out and shot...

DaeryssaOne

It's not socially acceptable it's bloody disgusting. I understand if it takes you by surprise and you suddenly have to stop your nose running with a quick blow into a tissue but there are some people who constantly do this.

I used to work with a guy who would without fail, blow his nose at the table in the canteen after his breakfast and lunch and then inspect what had come out on the tissue. Revolting for everybody sitting around him.

Bluefoam

You need to live in a plastic bubble...

Effects

DaeryssaOne wrote: »

I understand if it takes you by surprise and you suddenly have to stop your nose running with a quick blow into a tissue but there are some people who constantly do this.

Maybe because their nose is constantly running?
When you are sick, does you body only produce fluids to a schedule that you dictate?

Mango Joe

Effects wrote: »

Maybe because their nose is constantly running?
When you are sick, does you body only produce fluids to a schedule that you dictate?

There's many bodily fluids where it's not socially acceptable to suddenly start ejecting them from your body while sat beside people in the canteen at work though isn't there???

Effects

Mango Joe wrote: »

There's many bodily fluids where it's not socially acceptable to suddenly start ejecting them from your body while sat beside people in the canteen at work though isn't there???

Most people can control when they eject those bodily fluids from themselves though.

Gynoid

At least we don't have public spittoons. Large metal containers into which the office clerk attending to you, or the person in front of you in the bank queue will suddenly, loudly and vigorously launch a massive gob of spittle. With not the blindest bit of inconvenience to themselves.
Now that is a disconcerting experience. Give me a regular oul snotser any day over that

Kimbot

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I do find it a little odd but doesn't bother me.

I'm a picker, not a blower.

Mining for green gold are we :P

Stevieluvsye

DaeryssaOne wrote: »

It's not socially acceptable it's bloody disgusting. I understand if it takes you by surprise and you suddenly have to stop your nose running with a quick blow into a tissue but there are some people who constantly do this.

I used to work with a guy who would without fail, blow his nose at the table in the canteen after his breakfast and lunch and then inspect what had come out on the tissue. Revolting for everybody sitting around him.

Would you find snot rockets in public acceptable?

jam_mac_jam

Its absolutely disgusting and should never be done unless completely necessary. The nose sounds, snorting and swallowing of snot that I have to listen to all day in work would disgust anyone. Its all year round, not just when they are sick.

And I am sorry but its usually men. Especially the snorting, Jesus Christ that makes me want to vomit. why would you swallow your own snot and make me listen to it.

Need to vomit now.

Wabbit Ears

Its not socially acceptable or polite to do it in company unless completely unavoidable. Polite is to excuse yourself to the bathroom and do it there or at least in another room.

Some people have allergies. They’re just trying to breathe haha

topper75

Deleted User wrote: »

I do find it a little odd but doesn't bother me.

I'm a picker, not a blower.

Wasn't that Rice youngfella seeing his daughter?

maninasia

Mango Joe wrote: »

This might seem like an odd question at first because really we are all so used to this concept and it happens so regularly in all groupings, work situations and various other contexts.

But isn't it quite odd that someone sitting across a table from you or beside you in work can suddenly produce a soggy tissue and nosily and strenuously start ejecting substantial quantities of slimy mucus from their nasal orifices into said tissue by exhaling repeatedly?

Does this bother you?

Would you prefer if people stepped away a distance to do this. or perhaps went somewhere private?

Is there certain situations where this is not ok but people do it anyway, like right at a restaurant table during a nice meal?

These are the serious questions, and they must be asked.

It's a good question , it's actually impolite in East Asia.

Speaking while eating on the other hand is just fine.

That's culture for ya!

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts

If somebody is, say, in work with a cold, surely blowing their nose is preferable to constant snuffling and a runny nose? I mean, people don’t stay off work with colds as it’s not serious enough so what are they to do?

Cina

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts wrote: »

If somebody is, say, in work with a cold, surely blowing their nose is preferable to constant snuffling and a runny nose? I mean, people don’t stay off work with colds as it’s not serious enough so what are they to do?

That's exactly what people should do if they have a cold.

Beeping Kitchen Appliances

Mango Joe wrote: »

Why is blowing your nose in company so socially acceptable?

It s'not.

jimgoose

People should repair to the nearest restroom, if possible, before having a good phlegmmy honk. It is a bit bloody disgusting.

Obvious Desperate Breakfasts

Cina wrote: »

That's exactly what people should do if they have a cold.

No, they really shouldn’t. Colds are unpleasant but it’s a mild, self-limiting illness. It will probably get passed on to somebody else who then has a few days of a mild, self-limiting illness. We’re not talking about flu here.

Staying off work due to a cold? You don’t know you’re alive, seriously.

ArnoldJRimmer

Couldn't care less if someone does it in public as long as its into a tissue/ handkerchief

Anyone who sits there repeatedly sniffing rather than blow their nose deserve to be executed though. The world can do without people who are that annoying

Immortal Starlight

I was out for dinner on Saturday night. There was a man sitting near us at the next table. He spent most of the couple of hours we were there hacking snot from his nose back his throat and then blowing his nose making loads of noise. Absolutely disgusting.

Mango Joe

So are we all decided that blasting slime, ooze or other mucus out of any of your orifices should be done in private, or at the very least some distance away from people and not in social settings like canteens, restaurants, the next desk over in work etc?!

petes

Nothing worse than every couple of seconds hearing someone sniffle their snot back up.

B.A._Baracus

You think blowing your nose in public is bad?
I was in Easons on o'connell street a few weeks back. Right by the magazines by the door and some old dude lets one rip loudly.

... and when I say loudly oh man I loudly.