Sneezing Wednesday, August 16, 2006
#1
Posted 16 August 2006 - 07:18 PM
The Aborted Sneeze
The other day I was at the barber shop (the one at the bus station, I love the stylist there) when, all of a sudden, I felt a sneeze coming on. I quickly pulled away from the barber's sharp scissors for a second, startling the hell out of him, before the sneeze was aborted. Then, given the fact that we speak two different languages (he speaks some sort of primitive bus station dialect that I can't quite pick out) I had to raise my finger to my nose like some sort of cartoon character.
The Sneeze Jokesters
Then there are those jerks you meet (usually they are only acquaintances at best, more often just strangers) who will 'bless' you after one sneeze, then again after a second and then after the third say, "Okay, no more for you!" The 'joke' is not always the same but the 'laughs' are. Usually since this person is a stranger you feel obliged to at least give them a courtesy chuckle.
The Sneeze Thespians
The worst is the people who milk their sneezes for all they're worth with a grand, "AHHH... AHHHH... AHHHHHHH... CHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!" These people, again usually strangers in public, are the worst kind of people. If you are at home among family and friends then do what you must. The people in public (most usually, in my case, on the subway) who feel the need to make a giant presentation about a simple sneeze are just annoying. They flail their body around and take giant breaths of air beforehand. They usually conclude the whole production with an exaggerated sigh of relief, "Ahhhhhhhhhhh!" Get over yourself. No one cares about your sneezes. Or you.
The Protocol Dilemma
Then there is the whole personal choice you have to make when some sneezes. Do you say: "God bless you?" I feel goofy doing that given the fact that I'm not religious and I also don't subscribe to the belief that the soul leaves the body when you sneeze. There's, "Bless you," which is what I normally opt to say even though the 'God' is more or less implied. Then there's 'Gesundheit' which I will also use about forty percent of the time but I always feel odd saying it since I'm not German. Since 'Gesundheit' is merely a wish for good health it usually feels the most appropriate. A friend of mine told me a story about how she offered a 'Gesundheit' to a co-worker who had just sneezed in the cubicle or desk beside her. The co-worker actually had the audacity to say, "You know, I'd prefer to be blessed."
The worst thing a human being can do in the event of a sneeze taking place is to say nothing at all. This is why the dilemma previously mentioned is of little consequence in the long run. Not acknowledging a sneeze, to me, is impossible. I can't even fathom how some people can do it. The same way I can't understand how a human being can just toss garbage on the ground when they're done with it, I can't even begin to understand how you can hear someone sneeze and say nothing. It fascinates me. Even knowing that the whole situation is just ludicrous, it's mind-boggling to me to comprehend how someone can just ignore the whole thing.
Even if that is what makes the most sense.
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#2
Posted 16 August 2006 - 07:58 PM
I know this might sound a bit strange but what sneeze would you call pulling hairs out of the nose with pliers or shoving tissue up it?
This post has been edited by Deepsycher: 16 August 2006 - 07:59 PM
#3
Posted 16 August 2006 - 08:44 PM
deepsycher - pliers? why???
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#5
Posted 16 August 2006 - 10:15 PM
I'm all for doing away the whole "Bless you" nonsense all together. It all spawned from some ridiculous superstition from the Dark Ages, can we just abandon it already? It's your body trying to clear away an irritant in your sinuses, not Satan casting an evil spell up your nose.
Sorry, but a sneeze doesn't make me feel concerned for your well being. Now, if you sneezed out some really chunky blood, then I'd say something. But it would have to be really chunky.
This post has been edited by Zewb: 16 August 2006 - 10:18 PM
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#6
Posted 16 August 2006 - 11:19 PM
As for sneezes, I don't say anything. I think I used to when I was younger, but I don't usually bother. Doesn't seem to be a point. When I sneeze and somebody says bless you, I actually get caught off guard and sort of stammer out a thank you as an afterthought.
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#7
Posted 17 August 2006 - 01:37 AM
#8
Posted 17 August 2006 - 03:02 AM
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#9
Posted 17 August 2006 - 04:57 AM
I also do what DS does, just turn my head away and apologize/'excuse me'.
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#10
Posted 17 August 2006 - 06:09 AM
I also do what Dee & Kirby do, even though the "new and improved code of behaviour" here is more and more trying to tell you that you should feel as guilty as a serial killer for sneezing. Then you should apologize and hope that everyone in the room shows mercy and forgives you without saying anything else. Showing mercy is not encouraged by "new and improved code of behaviour", by the way.
You sneeze, say "excuse me" whilst building your gallows and nobody says "Gesundheit". Boody impolite, if you ask me. It all sounds a little bit too hypocritical.
This post has been edited by Gobbler: 17 August 2006 - 06:12 AM
Quote
#13
Posted 17 August 2006 - 07:19 PM
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#14
Posted 18 August 2006 - 02:19 PM
Then there are those jerks you meet (usually they are only acquaintances at best, more often just strangers) who will 'bless' you after one sneeze, then again after a second and then after the third say, "Okay, no more for you!" The 'joke' is not always the same but the 'laughs' are. Usually since this person is a stranger you feel obliged to at least give them a courtesy chuckle.
I'm one of those jerks. But mine goes "OK now you're just looking for attention". Then I run out of the room laughing like a mad man.
OR
I'll say "Are you sick?"
Sneezer replies, "No why to you ask?"
Me: "Well you're sneezing a lot. Are you contagious?"
Sneezer: "I'm not sick"
Me: "Its obvious you're sick, why are you putting on a brave front? Is it terminal?"
Sneezer: "What are you talking about, I'm not sick!" (They move closer to me to make sure I hear'em)
Me: "Get away from me, I don't want what you have! I DON’T WANT TO DIE!"
Then I run out of the room like a mad man.
OR
My favorite is to just run out of the room if I don't know the person. It's even more fun if it's in public screaming germs, germs!
This post has been edited by SeanJ1: 18 August 2006 - 02:29 PM
#15
Posted 19 August 2006 - 09:33 AM
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