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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to ask someone to stop sniffing

183 replies

PhoneyToney · 04/06/2019 20:32

I was on a tour of a local attraction and one of the guides was sniffing every 10 seconds or so.

I was brought up to consider sniffing as rude and wasn't allowed to do it around my parents.

I found the sniffing to be unpleasant and distracting. I tried to ignore it but couldn't and after 10 minutes or so with no end in sight I asked them to stop. They said they had a medical condition ( I don't remember what ). I didn't say anything further - I didn't know what to say. They reduced the frequency and left soon afterwards.

Was the sniffer BU? WIBU to ask them to stop? What if they just had a cold? What if they had been farting or had tourettes?

OP posts:
lastqueenofscotland · 04/06/2019 20:35

I can’t believe you asked them to stop?!?!?
Just offer someone a tissue like a normal person.

mabelmylove · 04/06/2019 20:35

Wow...

Housewife2010 · 04/06/2019 20:36

It's awkward, but people should behave themselves. I was visiting a friend and her new baby last week. Her mother who was staying had a bad cold. She regularly snorted the entire thick contents of her nose into her head and it was so revolting. I obviously couldn't say anything, but was rather shocked. They are a very nice educated family and it wasn't the behaviour I expected.

foreverhanging · 04/06/2019 20:36

You weren't allowed to sniff in front of your parents? Like, ever?

spanielove · 04/06/2019 20:36

They may have Tourette's, my dad has it and his involves loud sniffing too. He can't help it, it's an involuntary tick and very distressing for the sufferer as they are aware of it!

You sound like a dick.

OkMaybeNot · 04/06/2019 20:37

Jesus Christ, you probably ruined that poor person's day. They must have felt absolutely mortified.

And how is sniffing rude?!

tearinmybeer · 04/06/2019 20:37

This is the most British thread ever.

negomi90 · 04/06/2019 20:39

I have to work (with the public) when I have a cold. I take decongestants, but that's often not enough in the midst of a cold. I sniff a lot, to prevent snot streaming down my face.
It may annoy you, but its far worse for the person doing it (they're doing it for a reason).

bobstersmum · 04/06/2019 20:39

Lots of very bored people starting threads tonight!

DesparateDino · 04/06/2019 20:39

As much as its annoying you can't tell people to stop sniffing.

We we on a 6 hour train journey from Barcelona to Paris the other day and this man had the worst cold ever. Coughing and sneezing without covering his mouth once. He made the most disgusting noises. Worst journey ever. Anyway, no one asked him to stop sniffing.

BlueJava · 04/06/2019 20:39

I'm going against the trend here and I'm with you OP. I find it disgusting, I usually offer a tissue though.

Sparklesocks · 04/06/2019 20:40

Ouch. Yes I think YWBU to say it!

Housewife2010 · 04/06/2019 20:40

"bobstersmum

Lots of very bored people starting threads tonight! "
Lots of very bored people reading and commenting on them.

spanielove · 04/06/2019 20:41

@BlueJava Yes it may be disgusting when someone has a COLD and can blow their nose, but OP stated that the poor person said they had a medical condition, so presuming they can't help it.

Redhanger · 04/06/2019 20:41

I’m full of the cold at the moment and am constantly sniffing even after blowing my nose to the point that nothing else will come out!

I feel awful and self conscious about doing it at work and would be really upset if someone said something to me. If I was in a customer facing role and maybe felt I couldn’t blow my nose as I was speaking I’d feel even worse.

buttertoasty · 04/06/2019 20:42

My hayfever has been insane today and I haven't been able to breathe through my nose since mid day. Cried all my makeup off before I left the house.

If someone told me to stop sniffing I would slap them.

Housewife2010 · 04/06/2019 20:42

negomi90
Why don't you turn away and blow your nose? It's far more pleasant for the public than a sniffing person.

JustHereforHarriet · 04/06/2019 20:43

Out of interest, if you had to choose, is it more impolite for someone to sniff up when congested or to blow their nose in front of you?

EAIOU · 04/06/2019 20:43

Is this a wind up? If not, YAVVVVVU.

JustHereforHarriet · 04/06/2019 20:45

A girl at school used to hate it so I still feel really awful every time I do it (and only do it if I have to) even in front of my own family.

AnActualWoman · 04/06/2019 20:46

Wow, I'd have hissed at you to fuck off tbh then flat out denied it if you complained.

Watsername · 04/06/2019 20:50

People who sniff frequently aren't doing it for fun. It's either a cold or allergy (which they can't help), or something like Tourette's (my DF and both DS's have sniffing tics).

If it was Tourette's the person will have been able to suppress very slightly for a short while and then it will have exploded into a ticcing fit in private. Tics are suggestible and you may have inadvertently caused days/weeks/months of increased sniffing. Best never to mention someone's tics.

Please NEVER do this again. YWBVVU.

AliceRR · 04/06/2019 20:51

I kind of think good on you for saying it TBH although I’d be annoyed if someone said it to me!

There was a woman who sat by me a few times on the train on my way to work. She sniffed loads every time! I wouldn’t have asked her to stop sniffing but I considered offering a tissue and wondered whether that would be overstepping. Whatever it was wasn’t a one off so she should have had a tissue but then there could have been something going on I don’t know about. I just assumed it was hayfever.

Chamomileteaplease · 04/06/2019 20:52

Surely it is obvious that it is far preferable to have someone blow their nose than to SNIFF?????

Sniffing is one of the most annoying, disgusting things ever.

Or wipe the nose even? It's not hard!

At least if the person is blowing their nose you know they are trying to manage the problem rather than doing nothing about it.

I can't believe there are people saying it is ok to sniff. Amazing the things you learn about other people's opinions Grin.

Iltavilli · 04/06/2019 20:52

If you were brought up to consider sniffing rude (not hacking cough, not hoiking mucous) and have no sympathy for someone with a medical condition, then you were raised with an appalling intolerant attitiu