Sneezing Etiquette

[Kestra]

Or, you know, everyone's bodies are different and he just happens to sneeze differently from you. When I sneeze people think it's a cough.

 

[Gruß vom Krampus]

I've just realized something: my dad, mom, sisters, and brother are loud sneezers, though I have to give them credit for at least trying to cover their mouths whenever possible. I can always tell when I feel a sneeze coming, so I always reach for my pocket hanky like a gunslinging desperado. Sometimes I even try to "delay" the sneeze by pinching my nose and closing my mouth while reaching for the Kleenex. When I'm alone in my room, I don't bother so much. But when I'm out in public or at work, I'm a lot more cautious.

 

[IndyJones]

We call sneezing into the elbow pit "vampire sneezing". Heh.

 

[Surfin' Santa]

. . . Along the lines of "sneezing etiquette" I hate people who don't restrain their sneeze. I'm not saying to hold it all in like you want to cause yourself to stroke, but you also don't need to belt it out like hurricane raping an EF-5 tornado. I have a co-worker who does this, whenever he sneezes you can hear him pretty much anywhere you are in the building. Through walls, different corners of the building, wherever. There's actually been times people have gotten on the intercom to bless him after a sneeze. We've gotten customer complaints about his loud sneezes.

Boy, I'd hate to be anywhere near that guy when he farts.

 

[Trekker4747]

Or, you know, everyone's bodies are different and he just happens to sneeze differently from you. When I sneeze people think it's a cough.

We all do, however, have control over our lungs and bodies, and we all have control over how we sneeze to some degree. If I wanted to I could make my sneezes sound like a tie-fighter screaming down the aisles, but I know it would be bothersome to people so I don't.

 

[B.J.]

I'm wondering how my youngest (and he's a Kindergartener, thanks) will sneeze when he gets older. Right now, his sneezes are an EVENT, truly awesome to behold! He has a loud, long, several second build up, then the explosion: aaaaaAAAAAAAA-CHOOOOOOO! And my wife thought my sneezes were impressive! (They are, I just usually have 8 or 10 in quick succession.) We really don't think he's artificially building them up, either.

As for etiquette, I try to sneeze into my elbow, or at least away from everyone when I can't get to my elbow. Not sure when I started doing that, but I'm pretty sure it was within the last 15 years, which is after college for me. I really don't remember anyone doing anything but using their hands before that. I think some sort of cultural/health shift happened with that pretty recently.

 

[BennieGamali]

If i'm alone outside I just sneeze to my right. I always walk with my right side towards the.. ditch? When i'm with other people outside or inside, or when i'm inside at all, I cover my face.