Etiquette - boogers
April 10th 2008 05:58
Ok, I appreciate that there is a rule that says you must always inform a friend (inconspicuously of course) of the presence of ANYTHING dangling from or peeking out of their nose.
I don’t mean after the fact either – “oh NO way!! While you were chatting up that hot guy/girl, you had the biggest god damn booger I have ever seen hanging in your left one. I didn’t tell you, because I didn’t want to draw attention to it!!!”
Clearly, on such an occasion, providing this information is a completely pointless exercise. After all, no one needs to know about their booger in PAST tense. Friends need to know when they HAVE a booger.
I think we are all in agreement on that. We must inform our friends. But where does that leave us with strangers??
Anyone who dives knows how often other divers remove their mask, only to leave an enormous booger leering menacingly at nearby innocent bystanders. Nervously we all wipe our (own) noses, with a sleeve or the back of our hands, or with the little pinch of the nostrils – all of which are probably utterly useless in eradicating protruding mucous.
But whose responsibility is it to inform the ‘nasally augmented’ of their adornment?
I can see it plainly – Christ, you are talking to me and it wobbles as you speak – I’m having a hard time focusing on anything you are saying because my mind is screaming that it had better not get on me or I will go bananas.
It truly is difficult to discuss how awesome a dive was, with someone who exists only as that dude with the booger. Do I have the courage to say “Hey mate, you have the most humongous snarbie hanging from your nose”? Won’t he be more humiliated because I am a girl telling him? Shouldn’t someone else tell him?? Where is his buddy?
The social etiquette of the ‘booger alert’ is not clear enough where strangers are concerned. There have been no mutual agreements, no guidelines given and there are no precedents.
We urgently need to set some firm rules around the appropriate procedure. I’m campaigning to make it one of the skills in the Open Water Course.
Perhaps a question in the exam - something like,
Q; A fellow diver comes to the surface with an enormous snot sticking out of their nostril, do you...
A; Inform the whole boat of the spectacle, pointing and laughing.
B; Notify the Coast Guard immediately.
C; Wait until their dive buddy catches your eye and look meaningfully at them until they address the situation.
Now, perhaps A,B, or C is the appropriate response. Maybe they are all undesirable methods of resolving the issue. I don’t know. That is precisely my point. None of us have had any training and are all completely ill equipped to take command of a booger event. The situation is far too dire to be left to the inexperienced, yet daily we are confronted by nasal secretions without so much as a social norm to guide us.
I am somewhat shame faced to say that my usual response is one of abject terror. I detest boogers and all they stand for. If you are a stranger to me and you have a booger, I am unlikely to let you know. I will simply pretend I don’t notice it. The next person may quietly tell you and leave you hating me for my inaction. I can’t help that. I didn’t invent boogers. I’m just trying to deal with them.
So, do you alert complete strangers of their visible boogers?? If so, what is your favourite tactic? Tact? Ridicule? Humour?
I don’t mean after the fact either – “oh NO way!! While you were chatting up that hot guy/girl, you had the biggest god damn booger I have ever seen hanging in your left one. I didn’t tell you, because I didn’t want to draw attention to it!!!”
Clearly, on such an occasion, providing this information is a completely pointless exercise. After all, no one needs to know about their booger in PAST tense. Friends need to know when they HAVE a booger.
Anyone who dives knows how often other divers remove their mask, only to leave an enormous booger leering menacingly at nearby innocent bystanders. Nervously we all wipe our (own) noses, with a sleeve or the back of our hands, or with the little pinch of the nostrils – all of which are probably utterly useless in eradicating protruding mucous.
But whose responsibility is it to inform the ‘nasally augmented’ of their adornment?
I can see it plainly – Christ, you are talking to me and it wobbles as you speak – I’m having a hard time focusing on anything you are saying because my mind is screaming that it had better not get on me or I will go bananas.
It truly is difficult to discuss how awesome a dive was, with someone who exists only as that dude with the booger. Do I have the courage to say “Hey mate, you have the most humongous snarbie hanging from your nose”? Won’t he be more humiliated because I am a girl telling him? Shouldn’t someone else tell him?? Where is his buddy?
The social etiquette of the ‘booger alert’ is not clear enough where strangers are concerned. There have been no mutual agreements, no guidelines given and there are no precedents.
We urgently need to set some firm rules around the appropriate procedure. I’m campaigning to make it one of the skills in the Open Water Course.
Perhaps a question in the exam - something like,
Q; A fellow diver comes to the surface with an enormous snot sticking out of their nostril, do you...
A; Inform the whole boat of the spectacle, pointing and laughing.
B; Notify the Coast Guard immediately.
C; Wait until their dive buddy catches your eye and look meaningfully at them until they address the situation.
Now, perhaps A,B, or C is the appropriate response. Maybe they are all undesirable methods of resolving the issue. I don’t know. That is precisely my point. None of us have had any training and are all completely ill equipped to take command of a booger event. The situation is far too dire to be left to the inexperienced, yet daily we are confronted by nasal secretions without so much as a social norm to guide us.
I am somewhat shame faced to say that my usual response is one of abject terror. I detest boogers and all they stand for. If you are a stranger to me and you have a booger, I am unlikely to let you know. I will simply pretend I don’t notice it. The next person may quietly tell you and leave you hating me for my inaction. I can’t help that. I didn’t invent boogers. I’m just trying to deal with them.
So, do you alert complete strangers of their visible boogers?? If so, what is your favourite tactic? Tact? Ridicule? Humour?
Fish - eating cake. Did you actually think I'd include a picture of a booger?
| 111 |
| Vote |
Shared on
Subscribe to this blog
Comment by Nomad
Awesome Food
Nomad
Comment by Damo
For the Sake of Argument
My Apologetics
Comment by Kim L
Diving About
I think you can both appreciate now, the lengths I will go to in asking the important questions....
Kim
Comment by cam_nuckols
The HOT Report
Born and Raised-Mormon
Comment by Kim L
Diving About
I think you raise a good point - it is a broader social issue and requires addressing at a 'whole of society' level.
We need our leaders and heads of state to guide us on this perplexing topic...
Maybe the UN could make a declaration???
Thanks for your ideas!!
Kim
Comment by Louie
Climate Forum
Climate Red
randomthoughts
Phil's Wellness Tips
i am going diving next week will let you know how i go.
Comment by Kim L
Diving About
Have a great dive.
Kim