Wednesday, December 10, 2008

44 - Sniffing sounds

It's that time of year again where everybody, from your grandmother to your baby cousin, is sniffing (that is literally the case for me where I live). You hear it during meals, in class, in lecture halls, in offices, in the middle of examinations, in the library, in museums, on airplanes, in trains and cars and on public buses and even in the comfort of your home. It seems like nobody is immune to the sniffles during the winter and even if they were, everybody is bound to know the sound of sniffing only too well.

I prefer the trumpet-like blast of sound made by blowing one's nose with a tissue (my grandmother likes to describe this action as 'making dumplings').

Am I right in saying that everybody would vote for "blow your nose or die!" as well?

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

It's summer where I live so I don't have to hear that anymore! All I can say is, buy everyone a box of tissues for xmas(if you celebrate it, if not, make it a nice gesture!)

Stuart Chapman said...

I am at college right now, and EVERYONE has a cold, including the kid opposite me. Urghh he sounds so congested. I shall stay away from him.

And now he is.. 'making dumplings' lol. Is that a Hong Kong phrase? I must know more :P

Michael said...

Liz Sedai: Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful suggestion.

Stuart: 'Tis a Hong Kong phrase, my friend. As Hong Konger/Chinese as you can get.

Stuart Chapman said...

Well, if you come to the UK, you will hear such phrases such "Gordon Bennett" or "Gordon Henry" , when someone is frustrated. Its odd, and I do not know who these people are.

Well I am still in class, its 2 degrees outside, everyone has a cold around me. And I am bored, as I cannot complete my work. And I just blew 20 pounds on an AC adapter that DOES NOT WORK! :-(

rawrr, well the only accessable website that my computer will let me view is 'Blogger', as we complete media assignments on our blog. So thank heavens you made your blog lol Its passing the time.

Michael said...

Your profile is still not visible to me. Weird.

I'm glad my blog can pass your time. I'm monitoring London-time and I did find it strange that you were leaving comments here. It's funny that your media assignments are done on blogs. Hahaha.

J.J. in L.A. said...

I didn't realize I was sniffling til I read this blog! lol! I don't seem to mind it when I'm the one doing it, but it bugs me when I hear someone else's sniffling.

And I'll never think of 'making dumplings' the same way again...

Anonymous said...

i agree. absolutely.

we all sniff. but sneezing is way TOO better than the continuous sound of *sniffs*.

Robot Nine said...

Yes, the sniffing, jeez, just stop breathing and be done with it. Serioiusly, worse than the unfortunate and temporary ill person, heve you ever had to spend a long plane ride or wait in an office or something with a person who just has a HABIT of sniffing? Every 15 to 30 seconds a totally random sniff. After a few minutes each one is horribly anticipated and grates down the spine like nails ona chalkboard. Damn.

Michael said...

J.J.: That is often the case for me too! Thanks to this blog post, I've become more aware of this habit but I'm sure I'll start sniffing when I wake up tomorrow.

hrix: Sneezing is another matter. In fact, the faces you make before, during and after sneezing are just as stupid as one's face when one laughs. Hehehe.

Alan: Yes. I often dread what's about to come whenever I see someone motion to place a whistle in their mouth, or whenever I catch sight of a woman's high heels as she enters a room, or as someone is twirling a pen around between their fingers in class because everybody knows he/she's bound to drop it. My goodness, sometimes I think I'd rather be deaf.

Randa said...

I hate the sniffles... I hate them with a passion. I hate the hacking cough more but not by much.

I really wish people would just carry the little pack of tissues in their pockets so I don't have to hear it.

I vote honking over sniffle any day.

J.J. in L.A. said...

Randa,

I do prefer sniffling to honking though. My dad and a few of my brothers do the honking thing when they blow their noses. It's disgusting! lol!

Jodi

Michael said...

Randa: The hacking cough is... horribly cacophony.

J.J.: Never heard of it being referred to honking before. Yuck.

ash said...

Thanks for the laughs! That dumpling thing was so gross, but still funny. Your grandma must be an awesome person! ;)

I hate the sniffles, too. Having a stuffy nose is worse, though. :(
I love to sneeze. It feels so good. Whenever I sneeze or blow my nose I try to do it as loud as possible because I like to irritate people and get attention.
Have you ever heard of a "snot rocket?" That term is used a lot here in Texas. I guess it's sort of like making dumplings except you don't use tissue, you plug one nostril, and you try to shoot it really far. I DO NOT know this from personal experience!!

Prash said...

Oh, I just saw that our Consulate (French) put up an article in our website about Bird Flu in Hong Kong and how to take precautions...after reading this post, I am scared more !

One advice to Hong Kongers (the same goes to Singaporeans and Las Vegasiens)...please switch off your a/c...

Michael said...

Ashley: My grandmother is one with many wise words. And I haven't heard of a snot rocket before. I've tried this once or twice. It gets all over your... everything and it's really not worth the 'fun'.

Prash: Thanks for stopping by my blog. H5N1 and SARS and such sicknesses are quite worrying. Worrying because they always seem to affect Hong Kong greatly.

Robot Nine said...

I suppose these little things pale in my mind compared to the incessant cell phone chatter in the world today, zombies walking through Wal-Marts with bluetooths humming, seemingly talking to themselves. I feel a post coming on, lol. Worse, text messaging. There is an age element, and you probably taxt a lot. I work with two younger women who sit and text and update MySpace at work til the point where if I were there boss I would fire them. And I see peolle go to restaurants, a half dozen pwople all texting other people rather than enjoying the company and meal they are paying to have. Weird. Alan

Phil said...

I have a friend who's 24 or 25 and uses a handkerchief. I can't tell you how many times I've made fun of him for that. I think it's really gross, but maybe that's just me. Personally, I believe he shouldn't carry one for the sole reason that he's not 70.

Michael said...

Alan: That's a good one, the phones thing. I've actually had that topic saved up in my drafts for a month or so. I guess I'll have to wait until it seriously annoys me before I can produce an elaborate post.

As for texting, I'm afraid I'm one of those young'uns that like to text constantly. I text all throughout the day until it's time to go to bed, and as soon as I wake up, I pick up my phone to check for new ones. Texting is part of my life and I know it's weird, but I can't help it. :P

Comic Superzero: I think a handkerchief is disgusting too. You blow your nose and then keep it in your pocket and it's just insanely unsanitary. All of it gets reserved in the handkerchief, soaked into the fabric, yeuck!

Zale said...

I know how ya feel. Everywhere I go people sniff so hard I think they're trying as hard as they can, but somehow they DON'T NOTICE WHEN THEY SNIFF! Sniffing has got to be the most disturbing noise in the world. AND WHY DO PEOPLE SNIFF!? When they sniff, all they're doing is making the snot go down their throats. It's essentially the same thing as eating boogers.