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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:
HK2009 · 04/06/2019 20:53

I hate people blowing their noses in public -
I'd much prefer the sniffing!

Iltavilli · 04/06/2019 20:53

*attitude

PivotPivotPivottt · 04/06/2019 20:54

People sniffing gives me rage to the brink of years. Always has done since I was a child. I would never ask anyone to stop but if I was in your tour group I'd probably have been secretly cheering for you inside Blush.

AnnaJKing · 04/06/2019 20:54

Well if I blow my nose, blood soon comes shooting out and doesn’t stop for 20 minutes or more... so I’ll keep sniffing if I have to, thanks.

PrincessMaryaBolkonskaya · 04/06/2019 20:54

I was on a course last week with a sniffer. She was wiping her nose on her fingers and sniffing for the entire morning. I didn't say anything though, two rudes don’t make a right. I might have offered her a tissue if I’d had any.

indigo13 · 04/06/2019 20:55

YANBU! Sniffing is disgusting and it is rude

PivotPivotPivottt · 04/06/2019 20:56

Tears not yearsHmm

Watsername · 04/06/2019 20:57

indigo13 would you rather the person who can't help their sniffing due to a medical condition be kept locked away from the public? They can't help it - they're not being rude deliberately!

EdWinchester · 04/06/2019 20:58

I loathe sniffing but wouldn't say anything unless it was someone I knew well.

NoTheyAreNotTeenagers · 04/06/2019 21:00

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?

I've often wondered this, especially as I have hay fever. So sniffing or a disgustingly long, liquidy nose blowing?

Then shake hands as you leave?!?

EdWinchester · 04/06/2019 21:04

In my fantasy world, no-one would sniff and people would nose-blow in private.

WhenISnappedAndFarted · 04/06/2019 21:07

Wow I can't believe you said that

AnActualWoman · 04/06/2019 21:14

Some of you would love working with me.

I've always had ent issues and about every minute or so have to do that horrible backwards-throat-sniff thing to clear the extra 'stuff' that gathers in my throat

Munchkingoat · 04/06/2019 21:18

My poor youngest has various tics, sniffing being one that crops up regularly. He absolutely cannot help it and has had it for 4/5 years now although this tic does come and go. His father (exdh) has given him a horrible complex about it. He's a cunt

EnglishRose13 · 04/06/2019 21:18

I can't stand sniffing and this would have driven me mental but I don't think I'd had said anything.

WillowSummerSloth · 04/06/2019 21:21

Sniffing is horrible!! Gives me the total rage. Just blow your nose!

fussygalore118 · 04/06/2019 21:22

Oh God I hate people constantly sniffing. Drives me bonkers. I'm the same with the noise of ppl eating. I know its probably my issue.. but God its revolting

Purpleartichoke · 04/06/2019 21:23

Because people walk around sniffing for fun.

Saying anything wasn’t just rude, it was cruel.

Preggosaurus9 · 04/06/2019 21:29

YANBU it's rude and disgusting and not needed.. just use a tissue ffs.

MrHaroldFry · 04/06/2019 21:39

Oh my! That person might be very unwell OP , or they might just have Hay Fever. I do think it was very unkind of you.
If you can be anything in this world, be kind. It costs not a jot.

Onceuponacheesecake · 04/06/2019 21:41

Seriously?
I have hay fever, I'm sniffing constantly and will be for the next 8 weeks. Thankfully most my colleagues suffer too so we can sniff together....

alcoholyoulater · 04/06/2019 21:42

Chamomileteaplease Your attitude to sniffing is my attitude to nose blowing. It makes me gag when I hear it and think people should go somewhere private to do it. Much rather a sniff (or a wipe). Although not the type described by a pp as even reading that made me feel sick 😒 (sorry pp)

BeesandGees · 04/06/2019 22:04

I don’t think you were unreasonable at all. I would have done the same. I can’t imagine why anyone would want to sniff snot back into their body - yuk. I am amazed I seem to be in the minority here. What next, farting in public becomes acceptable........

indigo13 · 04/06/2019 22:20

Watsername - whats it got to do with the tiny few who have tourettes etc? It's obvious we're talking about the masses who have a cold/ runny nose/ hayfever 🤮

TheSmallClangerWhistlesAgain · 04/06/2019 22:21

I find nose blowing less angry-making than sniffing and constant throat-clearing noises. Even when my dad manages to make a noise like a trumpeting bull elephant when he does it.

Not long ago, I moved seats somewhere because of a woman in front of me who kept clearing her throat with a sound like a chainsaw starting up. And don't get me started on snorting.