I'm not sure if I've mentioned my disdain for handkerchiefs before on this blog. If not, allow me to introduce it. I mean, what is a handkerchief? Besides gross, of course.
A man I work with has the gosh-awful-loudest sneezes I've EVER heard. After startling me (which I also hate) with his ACHOOs that are audible from across the room, he proceeds to pull a handkerchief out of his pocket, to blow gross nasal contents into it and then...throw it in the trash where it belongs? Oh, no. He puts it -- that's right -- back in his pocket.
I haven't recently discovered handkerchiefs, by the way. I know plenty of people, mostly men, who carry them. But seeing this man at my office repeatedly (brace yourself as I define exactly what he is doing) blow his nose, fold his hanky, and put his own boogers and snot BACK INTO HIS POCKET is more than I can condone. People, there is something wrong here! This man is saving his own nose crap.
I researched "handkerchief" on Wikipedia (so we know it's factual information), and the website says a hanky is used for "personal hygiene purposes such as blowing one's nose." Would someone please tell me what is hygienic about pulling apart a used handkerchief (stuck together by germs from previous uses, mind you) and trying to find a new, clean spot that hasn't been sneezed on? I mean, it makes no sense! (That germ shoutout was for you, Lartosh.)
Wikipedia also says that King Richard II of England invented the handkerchief for " the lord King to wipe and clean his nose." Again I ask, what is classy -- nay, royal -- about saving a day's worth (please let it be at most a day) of nose junk?
In conclusion, I will continue to use the simple, hygienic, disposable tissue when blowing my nose. Handkerchiefs are probably better for the environment, but they aren't better for my work environment. When I blow my nose, I will put its contents where they belong...in the trash. Long live the tissue!
Ha! I am 99.999% sure you're talking about my dad. He works in the engineering department (in his 60s, black & gray hair). His sneezes have awakened the dead, and he's used a hanky as long as I can remember.
ReplyDeleteThat is hilarious.
hankys gross me out.
ReplyDeletejust reading about that grosses me out! even thinking about reading it grosses me out...just say no to hankerchiefs
ReplyDeleteAmen. I second all notions presented in this post. I would include a "please use some germ-x" after you use a tissue...that's what I have my kindergarteners do. They might die from over exposure to hand sanitizer, but oh well!
ReplyDelete