# Do you pick your nose with your non-dominant hand? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 17, 2014, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pick-your-nose-with-your-non-dominant-hand/686311 "2014-04-17T03:22:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pick-your-nose-with-your-non-dominant-hand/686311/1 "2014-04-17T03:22:23Z")
I’m wondering if it was just me. I’m right handed, and the index finger of my left hand seems ideally suited for digging my nose and ears. My right hand fingers feel fat and misshaped. Is it just me? ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pick-your-nose-with-your-non-dominant-hand/686311/2 "2014-04-17T03:27:45Z")
That dating profile going well, then? ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pick-your-nose-with-your-non-dominant-hand/686311/3 "2014-04-17T03:28:28Z")
> [@Penfeather](#): > > That dating profile going well, then? I’m saving up that thread for my next vacation’s reading. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pick-your-nose-with-your-non-dominant-hand/686311/4 "2014-04-17T03:37:25Z")
Non-dominant. Huh. I’ve never even though about that. It’s not on purpose. Looking forward to the butt-scratching and testicle-cupping polls! ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pick-your-nose-with-your-non-dominant-hand/686311/5 "2014-04-17T03:39:49Z")
> [@Martian Bigfoot](#): > > Non-dominant. Huh. I’ve never even though about that. It’s not on purpose. > > Looking forward to the butt-scratching and testicle-cupping polls! Sometimes, I dig them with my right hand by accident, and it feels all wrong and I switch hands. I thought about adding butt scratching but I heard there is a cultural bias. Indians (from the Asia) only eat with their right hands because their left hand is reserved for wiping their butts and they don’t use toilet paper. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pick-your-nose-with-your-non-dominant-hand/686311/6 "2014-04-17T03:52:05Z")
I prefer to use someone else’s finger. ---
**Author:** ![Arrogance\_Ex\_Machina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/arrogance_ex_machina/32/192_2.png) [@Arrogance\_Ex\_Machina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrogance_Ex_Machina)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pick-your-nose-with-your-non-dominant-hand/686311/7 "2014-04-17T04:42:56Z")
Poll is missing Either/Both at the same time -option. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pick-your-nose-with-your-non-dominant-hand/686311/8 "2014-04-17T04:44:42Z")
> [@Arrogance\_Ex\_Machina](#): > > Poll is missing Either/Both at the same time -option. I’m sure you can guesstimate which one you use more often, unless you use right hand/right nostril, left hand/left nostril. Usually when I try to dig both nostrils at the same time then neither finger fits. ---
**Author:** ![Arrogance\_Ex\_Machina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/arrogance_ex_machina/32/192_2.png) [@Arrogance\_Ex\_Machina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrogance_Ex_Machina)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pick-your-nose-with-your-non-dominant-hand/686311/9 "2014-04-17T04:53:10Z")
> [@Superhal](#): > > I’m sure you can guesstimate which one you use more often, unless you use right hand/right nostril, left hand/left nostril. Usually when I try to dig both nostrils at the same time then neither finger fits. In all seriousness, I think it actually is right for right and left for left most of the time - hard to say since I don’t really pay attention to this sort of stuff usually. It just … happens. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pick-your-nose-with-your-non-dominant-hand/686311/10 "2014-04-17T06:25:09Z")
BOTH! I use both hands. (Some of those boogers are just that tough!) ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pick-your-nose-with-your-non-dominant-hand/686311/11 "2014-04-17T12:12:06Z")
Right hand for left outer nostril. left hand for right outer nostril. right hand for inner right nostril. left hand for inner left nostril. Congratulations, you now know more about me than anyone ever wanted to know. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pick-your-nose-with-your-non-dominant-hand/686311/12 "2014-04-17T12:17:27Z")
Depends on the nostril, what side of the nostril, etc. You need both to do a proper job on both nostrils. The hand that gets the booger gets the honor of rolling it and flicking it away. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pick-your-nose-with-your-non-dominant-hand/686311/13 "2014-04-17T12:30:08Z")
I pick with the right. Fortunately that’s the hand I eat with too. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pick-your-nose-with-your-non-dominant-hand/686311/14 "2014-04-17T12:34:45Z")
If I ever meet any of youse, you’ll understand my reluctance to accept your offered handshake. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pick-your-nose-with-your-non-dominant-hand/686311/15 "2014-04-17T14:21:41Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > If I ever meet any of youse, you’ll understand my reluctance to accept your offered handshake. You can pick your friends. You can pick your nose. But you can’t pick your friend’s nose… or can you? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pick-your-nose-with-your-non-dominant-hand/686311/16 "2014-04-17T14:22:54Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > If I ever meet any of youse, you’ll understand my reluctance to accept your offered handshake. Eating boogers is good for you. ---
**Author:** ![blindboyard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blindboyard/32/2833_2.png) [@blindboyard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blindboyard)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pick-your-nose-with-your-non-dominant-hand/686311/17 "2014-04-17T15:01:29Z")
You’re all sick and slimy. Yuck. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pick-your-nose-with-your-non-dominant-hand/686311/18 "2014-04-17T17:58:47Z")
> [@Superhal](#): > > Eating boogers is good for you. I heard it helps boost the immune system. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2014, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pick-your-nose-with-your-non-dominant-hand/686311/19 "2014-04-17T23:35:28Z")
> [@blindboyard](#): > > You’re all sick and slimy. Yuck. I bet your farts smell like flowers and kittens too. You shouldn’t be eating so many of them. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2014, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pick-your-nose-with-your-non-dominant-hand/686311/20 "2014-04-18T00:27:00Z")
I’m left handed, and pick with my right. It makes it more convenient to place the booger on the wrist of the next person I shake hands with. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-pick-your-nose-with-your-non-dominant-hand/686311.md?page=2)