Nosy Adventures

An interesting aspect of the habit is the many different ways in which it is done. I did not endeavour to actually observe these behaviours, but rather was a situational victim, caught in the wrong place at the wrong time (which goes to show how many people engage in this act in public). The most prominent is the unabashed category. You’ve got to hand it to these people; they don’t let public attention affect their ‘productivity’. They go about looking for nasal foreign matter like a petroleum company exploring for oil – a deep, thorough search, with the face undergoing severe contortions. No object can escape extraction once located. Then there are the slow, lazy prodders, who stick their fingers up their noses only to forget they’ve done so. They seem to drift in and out of a dreamy state, and will occasionally fish out something and admire it as if it were a prize catch. These sorts of people won’t even realize if an onlooker is staring at them; they’re in their own world. A third category comprises those who take quick swipes at their noses, oblivious to the danger of snot projectiles. During World War II, there actually were posters that depicted soldiers flicking boogers (another term for nasal secretions). Last but not least, there are the discreet pickers (well, at least they think they are) who make several, tiny attempts to relieve themselves of nasal discomfiture. The technique generally employed is to gently raise or roll the nostrils along the edges with the fingers, hoping to dislodge the snot and let gravity do the rest. These are just some of the styles I’ve seen, although I’m sure people would have developed other methods to carry out the operation.

The reasons for engaging in the habit seem to be quite obvious – getting rid of irritating detritus that has got lodged in the nose, clearing the nasal airways to enable easier and more comfortable breathing, and in the case of children, just out of innocent curiosity or boredom (of course, the latter can apply to adults as well). However, as with any habit, there are extremes which in this case happen to be compulsive nose-picking, called rhinotillexomania, and eating one’s boogers, also called mucophagy. Now as revolting as that may sound, there are several people who do consume their snot, and also find it quite tasty. One researcher also claims that this increases the immunity of the body. There is no data on the nutritional value of boogers, though people say it is better to consume one’s snot rather than line the surfaces of nearby objects with it. Also, it is said that since mucous in its liquid form is routinely swallowed without realizing it, there is no harm in ingesting its dried form. Though I dare say I will never be able to bring myself to willingly try tasting my snot, I suddenly hit upon a thought: ever wondered why the food dished out by the local street food vendor, considered by many to be unhygienic, tastes good? We might just have discovered the magic ingredient.

What to make of nose-picking then? Let’s face facts – for all the talk of civilisation and culture, the most basal of instincts is hard to suppress. The act in itself is not evil. After all, it can be considered similar to cleansing of other body parts. However, the manner in which it is done, often without a semblance of decency, is what irks most people. To what extent do we tolerate urination, flatulence, belching, scraping dead skin or cells of the scalp, scratching one’s private areas – all similar behaviour – in public? The answer is often “No”. If at all a confined space is not available and the discomfort is unbearable, the least one can do is use a handkerchief or a tissue. The issue here is that of hygiene, which unfortunately often takes a backseat to convenience and laziness. As someone once said, “Whether or not you do it is your own business; I just don’t want you to do it in front of me”.