Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Sniffing in public

41 replies

allinall · 31/07/2015 18:16

Has this become a really common thing? I'm making a long journey today by train, tube and train again. Everywhere I go people are sniffing and snorting loudly, disgustingly. They don't ever blow or wipe their noses, just sniff.

It's just so vile I want to gag. I don't think I'm a really sensitive flower, but this is really horrible. The man behind me is sniffing every ten seconds or so. I'm just waiting for the next one. Someone else in the carriage is at it too, but a bit further away. I can't change seats, too crowded.

So, am I being unreasonable to find this rude, nauseating and ...new? I've not noticed it so much in the past.

OP posts:

BringMeTea · 01/08/2015 08:19

YANBU. Sniffing is a trigger sound for me. I have misophonia. I really, really wish I didn't. Travelling with an ipod is essential. I am pretty sure more people are sniffers these days though. Rude and gross. I have allergies too. I don't habitually sniff.

tass1960 · 01/08/2015 08:33

I have been known to offer a tissue to a sniffer - usually gratefully accepted ...

Littleen · 01/08/2015 09:04

I have Tourettes, and sniffing is one of my tics. So I sniff alot - just little sniffs, not the "let's draw in snot in to our throat" kind of sniff. But people often seem to avoid sitting next to me on public transport, because they think I'm contagious.

There's a thousand reasons to why people sniff, for example my friend has an inner ear problem that cause fluid to drip into the back of the nose, so she sniffs, as there's no snot to blow out.

Let's not judge the sniffers, ladies :)

The5DayChicken · 01/08/2015 09:12

Well, I'll be carrying on sniffing. I have allergies and, as I've said, find public nose blowing disgusting. Your body has a system for dealing with these fluids. Completely unnecessary to germ up your hands and carry a manky tissue about with you, social norm or not.

Branleuse · 01/08/2015 09:19

i sniff if i need to. Blowing my nose is only for proper colds etc otherwise its not really productive, plus blowing my nose almost always. makes me sneeze about 10 times in a row.

mom2twoteens · 01/08/2015 21:56

Yep, once you blow your nose the mucus begins to collect again and you can end up with tissues full of slimey snot.

Sniffing's much more environmentally friendly. LOL

squoosh · 01/08/2015 22:08

Public transport without an ipod is intolerable.

Sadly even an ipod can't shield me from the rooters. The people who think it's acceptable to use a tissue to vigorously root around the depths of their nostrils and then have a good examination of said tissue once the excavation has been completed. Oh the horror.

Take your paws out of your snouts you filthy fiends!

FundamentalistQuaker · 02/08/2015 22:32

I did once offer a tissue to a nose picker on a train. \he took it and didn't look up (or pick) for the rest of the journey.

avocadotoast · 02/08/2015 22:38

Some people can't blow their noses though. Honestly. I only learned a couple of years ago (I'm 27!). It still makes me feel horribly sick to do it but I can if I really need to.

But before I could I just had to sniffle and wipe. It was quite embarrassing tbh.

wowfudge · 02/08/2015 23:15

Urgh - sniffing is revolting. I really don't get why some pps think blowing your nose is offensive. I was once on an activity holiday and one of the group sat next to me at the dinner table and proceeded to sniff disgustingly as he had a cold. I offered him a tissue. He moved when I went to the buffet table and told another person in the group that I didn't want him sitting next to me as he had a cold! Er no, it was your revolting sniffing that was the issue.

The5DayChicken · 02/08/2015 23:18

So you'd rather have him evacuate his germ filled mucus next to you? Instead of keeping it within his body where it will eventually be killed by stomach acids?

chocolatemademefat · 03/08/2015 09:24

Next time I feel the need to sniff in public i'll let it run down my face instead. Much less disgusting.

TTWK · 03/08/2015 09:35

Don't go to Japan. Blowing your nose in public is a big no no and sniffing is the polite thing to do.

FurtherSupport · 03/08/2015 09:37

This thread has made me realise I haven't seen/heard anyone blow their nose properly and loudly (like both my Grandads uses to) in years. Which is a good thing

Wiping must be more the thing these days. I agree sniffing is horrid, I am quite stressed if I realise I've left home without a little pack of tissues but if I have, what's the alternative to sniffing?

When DH sniffs you can hear it gurgle in his throat. He seems popular at work, I often wonder if he does it there too, or saves his particularly disgusting habits for me.

Flaperon · 03/08/2015 10:02

Being on the train makes me sniffly and gives me a tickly cough (allergies). I take antihistamines and always carry tissues and cough sweets but sometimes I just can't help it. Knowing that everyone around me is silently judging me and throwing glares makes it 100 times worse, especially when they sarcastically/rudely make a point of offering me a tissue to try and shame me into stopping.

Tinuviel · 03/08/2015 10:10

DS1 sniffs and always has. It drives me mad. He had glue ear when younger and a friend who is a nurse informed me that glue ear sufferers are either sniffers or blowers and to encourage him to sniff at a particular time of day (she'd done a training course on it), but it didn't make any difference.

I have spent years trying to teach him to blow his nose and he just can't do it. He also has hayfever, so sniffs more in the summer.

Flip

1 2