Is it rude to offer someone a paper napkin when they're sitting next to you sniffing on the train?

[ScreamingBeans]

She's driving me mad. 2 hours to go. But I have no tissues.

I’d be inclined to offer the napkin as she may well really want to blow her nose.

Thank goodness, she's gone

Yes, definitely rude

It might be taken as rude or criticism. I wouldn't know whether to offer though and would be conflicted as to whether they had need of a tissue.

I don't think I'd blow my nose in public but you could at least dab rather than sniffing.

Sniffing is grim

It's rude to sit there sniffing

I was on the tube the other day and a guy had snot dripping off the end of his nose. I watched him wipe it with his hand, then use the same hand on the pole to pull himself up 30 seconds later. I wish I had a tissue to offer him 🫣

I'd be grateful not offended.

You wouldn't blow your nose in public? How does that work if you need to blow your nose?

If I have someone like that next to me on a train and they don't accept a tissue, I would want to shove one up their nose anyway as it really sets off my misophonia, especially those who slurp the snot back up their nose constantly.

I've not actually done this to anyone (yet).

How is it rude??

I once offered a lovely clean white tissue and it was refused in no uncertain terms!

On an early train one morning there was a man who kept on sniffing so I offered him a small pack of tissues. He was so happy to get them, I was glad I'd offered!

I only need to blow my nose with a bad cold, so I'd wait until somewhere more private. I'd probably dab until I could blow my nose, and if it was that bad I wouldn't be out and about. I also work from home which helps.

How is it grim? They might have problems with their nose/breathing and might not be able to help it.

I think there's been a culture change, people don't want to blow their nose anymore. In my area of London (s.e) it now seems the preference is for a loud snort kinda thing to suck it back up. I personally think this is super gross, but I've heard/seen it a lot on my 5 day a week commute from right across the spectrum of people.

😱no, that is disgusting.

Op I would gratefully accept a napkin if I was the sniffer here, not rude at all.

It could be habit, a form of Tourettes, a nasal drip

It literally could be anything

I think i would offer a tissue if i had one in a pack that they could take…

No, seems fine to me.

I went to the theatre several years ago and the play was so moving I was reduced to tears, had no tissues on me, was offered one. When the play ended I thanked the woman who gave me the tissue.

Sniffing is far ruder than offering a napkin or tissue. I'd do it, and have done. The recipient looked a bit bemused, as if the concept of blowing was being them. People are getting weirder.

Honestly id be so grateful. Sometimes the heat of the trains makes me really sniffy or someone with strong perfume/after shave and I feel awful sniffing away

DH unexpectedly got a blood nose on the tube once (nothing to do with me 😀) and neither of us had tissues or a hanky. A lovely young woman offered us a pack of tissues and we were hugely grateful. Sometimes people get caught short - it’s not rude to offer help.