# Nose Picking, Ass wiping **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 5, 2014, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nose-picking-ass-wiping/694849 "2014-08-05T08:47:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MrQwertyasd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@MrQwertyasd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrQwertyasd)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nose-picking-ass-wiping/694849/1 "2014-08-05T08:47:29Z")
Are bogeys (boogers if you are American) meant to be picked, or did we evolve to dispose of them by letting them drop out naturally ? If so, why is nose picking looked down on rather than seen as a natural grooming ? Why don’t we have self cleaning arses, instead of mucky bums that attract flies and would put our savanah dwelling ancestors at risk of detection by keen-nosed predators ? ---
**Author:** ![buddha\_david](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@buddha\_david](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/buddha_david)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nose-picking-ass-wiping/694849/2 "2014-08-05T09:53:21Z")
> [@MrQwertyasd](#): > > If so, why is nose picking looked down on rather than seen as a natural grooming? Probably for the same reason that [picking lice from your mate’s fur and eating them](http://www.conservenature.org/learn_about_wildlife/chimpanzees/chimp_grooming.htm) will get you kicked out of Denny’s. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nose-picking-ass-wiping/694849/3 "2014-08-05T10:57:33Z")
I blow my nose into a tissue a couple times a day instead of letting things fall out naturally. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nose-picking-ass-wiping/694849/4 "2014-08-05T13:24:09Z")
> [@MrQwertyasd](#): > > Why don’t we have self cleaning arses, instead of mucky bums that attract flies and would put our savanah dwelling ancestors at risk of detection by keen-nosed predators ? Our arses _are_ basically self-cleaning, or at least don’t require much cleaning. The reason modern humans wipe is that we wear clothes. If you walked around naked on the savannah you wouldn’t bother - and predators would track you by your other body odors anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Rucksinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/898d66/32.png) [@Rucksinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rucksinator)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nose-picking-ass-wiping/694849/5 "2014-08-05T15:09:30Z")
Do people who don’t wear clothes (I’m thinking people living in remote tribes in South America or Africa, etc.) not wipe? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nose-picking-ass-wiping/694849/6 "2014-08-05T15:18:57Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Our arses _are_ basically self-cleaning, or at least don’t require much cleaning. The reason modern humans wipe is that we wear clothes. If you walked around naked on the savannah you wouldn’t bother - and predators would track you by your other body odors anyway. Modern diet also plays a part in the need to wipe. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nose-picking-ass-wiping/694849/7 "2014-08-05T15:31:38Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Modern diet also plays a part in the need to wipe. Yeah, modern diet plays a role (not enough fiber?) and also our position when using the toilet. Going into a squat, as you would if you were naked out on the veldt, separates the cheeks. Instead, we sit with our cheeks compressed into a hole and things smear a lot more on the way out. You can simulate a squatting position by putting your feet up on a step stool when using the toilet which won’t do much to move your buttocks out of the way but _will_ line your colon up how nature intended and assist with easier bowl movements. ---
**Author:** ![Darth\_Panda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ee7513/32.png) [@Darth\_Panda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darth_Panda)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nose-picking-ass-wiping/694849/8 "2014-08-05T15:34:53Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > If you walked around naked on the savannah you wouldn’t bother - and predators would track you by your other body odors anyway. Now they can just use your FourSquare check-ins… ---
**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:** [August 5, 2014, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nose-picking-ass-wiping/694849/9 "2014-08-05T15:38:19Z")
The next time anyone bitches about **JC** ’s posts, I’m linking to this thread. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nose-picking-ass-wiping/694849/10 "2014-08-05T17:22:08Z")
> [@MrQwertyasd](#): > > . . . meant to be . . . did we evolve to . . . Do you really think evolution works that way? There’s nothing purposeful in the workings of evolution. You might as well ask why we didn’t evolve wings or X-ray vision. ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nose-picking-ass-wiping/694849/11 "2014-08-05T17:29:41Z")
> [@MrQwertyasd](#): > > Are bogeys (boogers if you are American) meant to be picked, or did we evolve to dispose of them by letting them drop out naturally ? > > If so, why is nose picking looked down on rather than seen as a natural grooming ? If you make a list of all the natural grooming habits that we go through, how many of those are acceptable to do in public? Most bodily functions are considered something you should do in private. Nose picking really isn’t unusual on that list except that it’s the one thing that some people seem to attempt to do in public. > [@MrQwertyasd](#): > > Why don’t we have self cleaning arses, instead of mucky bums that attract flies and would put our savanah dwelling ancestors at risk of detection by keen-nosed predators ? Your bum must work differently from mine. I wipe to keep it perfectly clean, but if I stopped wiping, I don’t see myself attracting flies - especially out on the savannah where any waste is going to dry quickly and rub off. Others have also mentioned that diet and posture differences may have helped way back in the past, but still… if you’ve ever been to a farm and looked at the mess some of those animals get themselves into, I think humans are downright tidy. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nose-picking-ass-wiping/694849/12 "2014-08-05T17:34:53Z")
I don’t think any animal has a self-cleaning arse. And even if you could have a self-clearning arse, predators could still smell you a mile away. ---
**Author:** ![here\_and\_there](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f07891/32.png) [@here\_and\_there](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/here_and_there)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nose-picking-ass-wiping/694849/13 "2014-08-05T19:24:11Z")
> [@MrQwertyasd](#): > > Are bogeys (boogers if you are American) meant to be picked, or did we evolve to dispose of them by letting them drop out naturally ? There was an Italian film in the 70s, I think ( or was it in the 60s ? ), and it was considered a pioneer movie for its time. The entire film showed everyday Italians in the streets, and their habits. One part of the film was about drivers in traffic lights and traffic jams. Really a lot of people pick their noses while waiting in the car. So yes, picking your nose is the natural way. As for the film, I remember it was in colour, and quite funny… > [@](#): > > If so, why is nose picking looked down on rather than seen as a natural grooming ? Like… hmmm… farting? Maybe because it is healthy for those doing it… not for those seeing it… > [@MrQwertyasd](#): > > Why don’t we have self cleaning arses, instead of mucky bums that attract flies and would put our savanah dwelling ancestors at risk of detection by keen-nosed predators ? Adding to the things others have mentioned… 1. Walking is important for digestion. Our bodies are made for walking, not for sitting all day. 1. Psychological situations… stress… anxiety… happiness… joy…relaxation… All these play I very important role and change the way our digestive system works. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nose-picking-ass-wiping/694849/14 "2014-08-05T19:32:32Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Yeah, modern diet plays a role (not enough fiber?) and also our position when using the toilet. Going into a squat, as you would if you were naked out on the veldt, separates the cheeks. Instead, we sit with our cheeks compressed into a hole and things smear a lot more on the way out. Speak for yourself. Grown-ups know how to spread their cheeks and achieve a relatively clean dump. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nose-picking-ass-wiping/694849/15 "2014-08-05T19:54:30Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > Speak for yourself. Grown-ups know how to spread their cheeks and achieve a relatively clean dump. The important thing is that you felt personally invested and defensive enough about your pooping to try and make an attack out of it 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nose-picking-ass-wiping/694849/16 "2014-08-05T20:06:45Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > The important thing is that you felt personally invested and defensive enough about your pooping to try and make an attack out of it 😛 If by invested and defensive you mean proud, then HELS Yeah! ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nose-picking-ass-wiping/694849/17 "2014-08-05T20:15:14Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Do you really think evolution works that way? There’s nothing purposeful in the workings of evolution. Sure, there’s no forward planning, but the end results still have to make sense and be somewhat fit for purpose - an organism that can’t expel or clear nasal mucus is at a disadvantage. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2014, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nose-picking-ass-wiping/694849/18 "2014-08-05T20:40:43Z")
Actually,the human ass is very different from any other animal’s, including our simian relatives. We stand upright in a bipedal stance, and do so by a unique method – we’ve got a monstrously huge pair of gluteal muscles to haul us up. Most bipedal creatures either use a long tail (like the dinosaurs), or have more of the body positioned aft of the legs (like ducks and geese). Other creatures may stand or sit upright for brief periods without any of these, but people are upright a majority of the time without a counterbalance. This results in a deep gluteal fold/sulcus, which can trap waste, even if you squat to eliminate instead of sitting on a western-style toilet. And you really do want to wipe afterwards, rather than relying on it to dry up and fall off. They’ve done research and found that fecal matter on the skin tends to favor infections, and it’s better to clean it off. Other animals don’t have the same problem – they haven’t got a deep fold there. Not even horses. It’s fortuitous that we have opposable thumbs, which enable us to wipe (although if we didn’t, and died out as a result, we wouldn’t be here to comment), but I suspect there are other aspects of primate behavior that enabled our ancestors to keep relatively clean. ---
**Author:** ![BaldDudePeekskill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5e925/32.png) [@BaldDudePeekskill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BaldDudePeekskill)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2014, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nose-picking-ass-wiping/694849/19 "2014-08-06T22:33:04Z")
> [@here\_and\_there](#): > > There was an Italian film in the 70s, I think ( or was it in the 60s ? ), > and it was considered a pioneer movie for its time. > The entire film showed everyday Italians in the streets, and their habits. > One part of the film was about drivers in traffic lights and traffic jams. > Really a lot of people pick their noses while waiting in the car. > So yes, picking your nose is the natural way. > > As for the film, I remember it was in colour, and quite funny… > Like… hmmm… farting? > Maybe because it is healthy for those doing it… not for those seeing it… > Adding to the things others have mentioned… > > 1. > > Walking is important for digestion. > Our bodies are made for walking, not for sitting all day. > > 1. > > Psychological situations… stress… anxiety… happiness… joy…relaxation… > All these play I very important role and change the way our digestive system works. … That was Mondo Cane (a Dog’s World)…odd film, but great theme song (and my parent’s wedding song, “More” ---
**Author:** ![MrQwertyasd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@MrQwertyasd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrQwertyasd)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2014, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nose-picking-ass-wiping/694849/20 "2014-08-07T08:14:36Z")
Hmmm, interesting angle. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nose-picking-ass-wiping/694849.md?page=2)