# Why does someone blow his/her nose then look at the product **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 21, 2012, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-someone-blow-his-her-nose-then-look-at-the-product/641659 "2012-11-21T00:16:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-someone-blow-his-her-nose-then-look-at-the-product/641659/1 "2012-11-21T00:16:24Z")
In the tissue? Do you do this? Why? ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-someone-blow-his-her-nose-then-look-at-the-product/641659/2 "2012-11-21T00:20:41Z")
Of course! You find all sorts of interesting things there! ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-someone-blow-his-her-nose-then-look-at-the-product/641659/3 "2012-11-21T00:23:13Z")
I do this. Not entirely sure why. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-someone-blow-his-her-nose-then-look-at-the-product/641659/4 "2012-11-21T00:23:25Z")
The color can indicate if you have an infection. Also, a fascination with icky stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-someone-blow-his-her-nose-then-look-at-the-product/641659/5 "2012-11-21T00:29:09Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > The color can indicate if you have an infection. Yes. It’s useful as a brief health check to see what’s coming out. > [@](#): > > Also, a fascination with icky stuff. Yes. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-someone-blow-his-her-nose-then-look-at-the-product/641659/6 "2012-11-21T00:34:53Z")
When I do it, it’s to make sure it’s ALL in the tissue. Then I make another pass with the tissue until it comes away clean. ---
**Author:** ![Silophant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a698b9/32.png) [@Silophant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silophant)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-someone-blow-his-her-nose-then-look-at-the-product/641659/7 "2012-11-21T00:40:38Z")
Growing up, I got nosebleeds at the drop of a hat. Moving my head suddenly could trigger them, and blowing my nose certainly could. The symptom’s gone away, mostly, but the habit’s still there. So, for me, to make sure my nose isn’t bleeding. ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-someone-blow-his-her-nose-then-look-at-the-product/641659/8 "2012-11-21T00:47:24Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > In the tissue? Do you do this? Why? Nope. I don’t do this, although I have seen others do it and, yes, it is disgusting. I don’t understand the compulsion to do such a thing in public, well, at all really, but in public? Why? ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-someone-blow-his-her-nose-then-look-at-the-product/641659/9 "2012-11-21T00:50:46Z")
Yes, I do. I want to know the color, and then I have to choose which system of medicine to use to interpret the results. ---
**Author:** ![chacoguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-someone-blow-his-her-nose-then-look-at-the-product/641659/10 "2012-11-21T00:55:32Z")
How vulgar! This is why I snirk. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-someone-blow-his-her-nose-then-look-at-the-product/641659/11 "2012-11-21T00:59:10Z")
I’m another one who gets nosebleeds very easily. If I look, it’s because I suspect my nose is bleeding. ---
**Author:** ![luv2draw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/46a35a/32.png) [@luv2draw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/luv2draw)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-someone-blow-his-her-nose-then-look-at-the-product/641659/12 "2012-11-21T01:00:30Z")
Yes, as already mentioned, it’s a quick little health check. As is looking in the toilet bowl… ---
**Author:** ![ReticulatingSplines](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@ReticulatingSplines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReticulatingSplines)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-someone-blow-his-her-nose-then-look-at-the-product/641659/13 "2012-11-21T01:00:38Z")
Yeah, I do it. I just like it. I also peek in the toilet. Sue me. EDIT: Oh shit, ninja’d! ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-someone-blow-his-her-nose-then-look-at-the-product/641659/14 "2012-11-21T01:42:03Z")
I can understand it if you’re given to nosebleeds. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-someone-blow-his-her-nose-then-look-at-the-product/641659/15 "2012-11-21T01:54:58Z")
I refrain from doing it in public, but sure I check. Like already stated, it’s a health check, same as the toilet bowl. Of course, I don’t to that where other people can see, either. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-someone-blow-his-her-nose-then-look-at-the-product/641659/16 "2012-11-21T01:57:13Z")
I made an MTV logo, wanna see? ---
**Author:** ![Crab\_Rangoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Crab\_Rangoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crab_Rangoon)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-someone-blow-his-her-nose-then-look-at-the-product/641659/17 "2012-11-21T02:04:04Z")
I feel compelled to look. I have no idea why - but not in public (at least I don’t think I do - huh - now that I think about it, I’m not sure, it’s so automatic). I do check for blood - I used to get nosebleeds a lot - not anymore, but still have the habit of looking. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-someone-blow-his-her-nose-then-look-at-the-product/641659/18 "2012-11-21T02:07:13Z")
That’s why I hate the autoflush toilets at work: gone before you get to inspect. I also hate them because if you lean forward far enough, to tie your shoe for example, your ass gets flushed. ---
**Author:** ![tomcar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tomcar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomcar)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-someone-blow-his-her-nose-then-look-at-the-product/641659/19 "2012-11-21T02:12:45Z")
I am not going to stuff something in my mouth without looking at it first 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2012, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-someone-blow-his-her-nose-then-look-at-the-product/641659/20 "2012-11-21T02:20:38Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > In the tissue? Do you do this? Why? Checking for possible infection and/or bleeding. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-does-someone-blow-his-her-nose-then-look-at-the-product/641659.md?page=2)