# What happens if you cant pick your nose? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 28, 2002, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-you-cant-pick-your-nose/111169 "2002-05-28T12:52:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![scm1001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@scm1001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scm1001)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2002, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-you-cant-pick-your-nose/111169/1 "2002-05-28T12:52:34Z")
sorry for the grossology, but visiting a sick comotose relative, and then picking my nose there, made me wonder. Does your nose get full and blocked, or does it fall out naturally. What if you are lying in bed in a coma? ---
**Author:** ![Victory\_Candescence](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Victory\_Candescence](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Victory_Candescence)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2002, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-you-cant-pick-your-nose/111169/2 "2002-05-28T17:21:24Z")
I’m sorry to hear about your relative. I hope they do better soon. To answer your question: **(possible TMI alert)** I don’t pick my nose, so I can answer you. Blowing your nose regularly keeps the passages unblocked. If you don’t blow your nose or pick it, the secretions will eventually be ejected out naturally in the course of breathing. (This doesn’t happen to me, because I blow my nose before it gets to this point.) Hopefully, a doctor, or expert of “nose-ology” will be along soon to make sure I’m not [pun] talking about of my nose. [/pun] ---
**Author:** ![Victory\_Candescence](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Victory\_Candescence](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Victory_Candescence)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2002, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-you-cant-pick-your-nose/111169/3 "2002-05-28T17:23:56Z")
Oh, yeah. I just wanted to point out that my previous post was a WAG. ---
**Author:** ![Neptune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5a626/32.png) [@Neptune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neptune)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2002, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-you-cant-pick-your-nose/111169/4 "2002-05-28T18:01:40Z")
I’m thinking that 99% of animals that have noses are unable to pick them. Noses would be useless to all those creatures if they got blocked after a few months or years. There’d never have been a chance for noses to evolve. ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2002, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-you-cant-pick-your-nose/111169/5 "2002-05-28T21:14:20Z")
Well perhaps boogers have evolved a higher growth rate as a defense mechanism against primates’ ability to pick them. ---
**Author:** ![Absolute](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b2d939/32.png) [@Absolute](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Absolute)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2002, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-you-cant-pick-your-nose/111169/6 "2002-05-29T00:11:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by scm1001 \* > \*\*Does your nose get full and blocked, or does it fall out naturally. \*\* Since I see relatively few people walking around sans nose, I don’t think the latter happens terribly frequently. ---
**Author:** ![brachyrhynchos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brachyrhynchos/32/376_2.png) [@brachyrhynchos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brachyrhynchos)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2002, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-you-cant-pick-your-nose/111169/7 "2002-05-29T00:12:19Z")
Assuming a nose doesn’t use digital technology to overcome high booger growth rates, we still have involuntary explosive expulsions to get rid of the offending intrusions, which is nothing to sneeze about. Sorry about your relative too, **scm1001**. I imagine a nurse or aide includes the nose as part of their daily care. I hope your relative gets better. ---
**Author:** ![mmmiiikkkeee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/edb3f5/32.png) [@mmmiiikkkeee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mmmiiikkkeee)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2002, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-you-cant-pick-your-nose/111169/8 "2002-05-29T01:17:44Z")
No most animals can’t pick their noses, but have you ever seen a cow’s nose up close? Take a look at the bucking bulls next time the rodeo is on; they must spew a few **cups** worth of bull snot out onto the arena floor during those 8 seconds. Also look at little (\<6 YO) kids, and how the “stuff” just runs down their faces and mouths before they learn to at least wipe it off. Similar things probably happen to the nose as the ears… which not nearly as many people pick I think. What ever they produce just dribbles or flakes out, leaving a yucky-looking residue behind until you clean it away. ---
**Author:** ![scm1001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@scm1001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scm1001)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2002, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-you-cant-pick-your-nose/111169/9 "2002-05-29T10:40:49Z")
thanks for the sympathy. Actually, reading back I can’t believe I posted the question that way as it seems quite heartless, associating his pain with my trivial question. I hardly knew my cousin, but thats no excuse. ---
**Author:** ![kjbrasda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/74df32/32.png) [@kjbrasda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kjbrasda)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2002, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-you-cant-pick-your-nose/111169/10 "2002-10-04T05:47:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Neptune \* > \*\*I’m thinking that 99% of animals that have noses are unable to pick them. Noses would be useless to all those creatures if they got blocked after a few months or years. There’d never have been a chance for noses to evolve. \*\* 😃 Well, animals _do_ pick their noses, just not with fingers… “yummy!” ---
**Author:** ![Dijon\_Warlock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9a28c/32.png) [@Dijon\_Warlock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dijon_Warlock)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2002, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-you-cant-pick-your-nose/111169/11 "2002-10-04T05:51:46Z")
Indeed. Anyone who’s lived around cows will tell you that one of the most common places to find their tongues is shoved up one nostril or the other. Glad you asked, aren’t ya? ---
**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:** [October 4, 2002, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-you-cant-pick-your-nose/111169/12 "2002-10-04T08:28:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mmmiiikkkeee \* > **Also look at little (\<6 YO) kids, and how the “stuff” just runs down their faces and mouths before they learn to at least wipe it off…** …on the curtains. ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2002, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-you-cant-pick-your-nose/111169/13 "2002-10-04T12:12:59Z")
You don’t gross out the people around you. ---
**Author:** ![Algernon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a183cd/32.png) [@Algernon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algernon)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2002, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-you-cant-pick-your-nose/111169/14 "2002-10-04T12:33:40Z")
Pick your nose? I didn’t even know anyone got an option. I’d certainly have picked a smaller one. ---
**Author:** ![Omnipresent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8c91f0/32.png) [@Omnipresent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omnipresent)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2002, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-you-cant-pick-your-nose/111169/15 "2002-10-04T12:41:52Z")
If you can’t pick your nose, get your wife to do it for you. That falls under “for better or worse” category!!! ---
**Author:** ![MagicEyes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@MagicEyes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MagicEyes)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2002, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-you-cant-pick-your-nose/111169/16 "2002-10-04T19:01:15Z")
That reminds me of a little verse I learned as a child (I believe this came from my very dignified, proper mother): You can pick your nose, and you can pick your friends, but you can’t pick your friend’s nose! 😛 ME ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2002, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-you-cant-pick-your-nose/111169/17 "2002-10-05T16:08:27Z")
Hitler’s favorite joke Man: My dog has no nose! Other Man: How does he smell? Man: Bad! ---
**Author:** ![possumrex](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/74df32/32.png) [@possumrex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/possumrex)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2002, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-you-cant-pick-your-nose/111169/18 "2002-10-06T17:39:24Z")
Actually it is not necessary to either pick or blow one’s nose. Next time simply grasp the lower lip and pull out and with your other hand you thump your nose, dislodging the boogers. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2002, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-you-cant-pick-your-nose/111169/19 "2002-10-06T17:46:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by brachyrhynchos \* > \*\*I imagine a nurse or aide includes the nose as part of their daily care. \*\* Ahhhhhh…now, _there’s_ the job _I_ want. _Uke to Attractive Lady in Bar_: “Yes, I’m one of the most important staff members at the Mount Sinai Hospital…you might say that every patient is relieved when I stop by their beds…” ---
**Author:** ![samarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4da419/32.png) [@samarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samarm)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2002, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-you-cant-pick-your-nose/111169/20 "2002-10-06T23:52:50Z")
( **scm1001** : Sorry to hear about your cousin. I hope he gets better soon.) It may just be me, but every now and then a lump of ear wax will just fall out of my ear of its own accord. I would imagine the body has a similar way of getting rid of debris from the nose if it is left “unpicked”. If you think about it, there is nothing physically stopping stuff from just falling out if it builds up enough, is there? **Ukelele Ike** : Wonder what work experience you would need to apply for that job? 🙂 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-happens-if-you-cant-pick-your-nose/111169.md?page=2)