mucosa working overtime
as we left the apartment this morning, some bloke walking by executed a farmer's blow onto the sidewalk. this sent the wife into hysterics about how disgusting that was, how people should know better, etc. i agree that i don't necessarily want to see someone rocketing snot right in front of me, but i contended that it wasn't nearly as offensive to me as someone littering or not picking up after their dog and that compared to some of the other things i've seen in this city, this paled in comparison. she said that it might be fine to do while playing sports but not as a casual thing, and had to end the conversation because she couldn't believe how little it bothered me. i don't know why, but it just didn't.
i am grateful, though, becuase this gave me an excuse to do some research on what this maneuver is called beyond "farmer's blow" which is what i grew up with. here's some of what i found (including a couple that could be categorized as offensive): snot rockets, bush oysters, bushman's blow, one-gun salute, hatching a hippie, South African nose blow, Jewish handkerchief (also Italian, Norwegian and Saskatchewan handkerchief).
Comments
i never knew there were proper terms for this. thanks for sharing! can you research names for public pooping?
Posted by: shr | February 18, 2005 12:05 PM
I never knew the term but I see it all the time from baseball players in particular. How is it any worse than someone hocking a huge loogie on the street?
Posted by: mas | February 18, 2005 01:22 PM
i've also heard it referred to as gym teacher's hankerchief.
Posted by: matt | February 18, 2005 01:54 PM
I saw a guy do this in the parking lot of a restaurant the other night. problem was he had a hanger-on and proceeded to wipe his nose on his hands which he then wiped on his pants. if you don't succeed with one quick shot, you end up a disaster like that guy.
Posted by: Phil | February 18, 2005 01:57 PM
Fireman's hose is the term I always knew. It's disgusting and kind of wierd to see it on a city street, although nothing in New York should be shocking, right? Or at least, nothing short of crapping in a plastic bag should be shocking.
But when you have to blow your nose and don't have tissues, your options are limited.
Posted by: jake | February 18, 2005 01:59 PM
oh, and i remember watching a DC United game where Etcheverria (sp?) did it while on camera and the announcer said something to the effect of "well, he's done that before!"
Posted by: Phil | February 18, 2005 01:59 PM
If you end up having to wipe it on your pants, you should have just blown your nose into your sleeve in the first place. At least wipe your snotty hand on the hood of someone's car.
Posted by: jake | February 18, 2005 02:01 PM
I can't say exactly why this particular vile display disgusts me so much, but it does. Last week I saw a guy do it while he was flying down the street on a skateboard. My stomach actually turns when I think about it! And honestly, I am no easy queasy.
Posted by: the wife | February 18, 2005 03:46 PM
Following up on Phil's comment, I've seen a bunch of soccer players do this. guess your nose-clearing options are pretty limited on the pitch.
Posted by: matt | February 18, 2005 04:03 PM
And now that I have more information than I can use I think I will go out to eat and leave you to discuss your snot rockets....always entertaining
Posted by: the mother in law | February 18, 2005 05:29 PM
I discovered a variation while driving an 84 Chevy Impala from Maine to Vegas. Without power steering one must keep both hands on the wheel of the unaerodynamic Impala when passing semi-trailers. Thus when you accidentally sneeze with both barrels loaded (if you will) and no way of obstructing your nostrils the resulting windshield disaster is called an "ohmygogd."
Just holding my nose and saying "ohmygod" is enough to trigger a pavlovian handkerchief offering from Mrs. Weasel.
Posted by: wisdomweasel | February 21, 2005 03:13 PM
I discovered a variation while driving an 84 Chevy Impala from Maine to Vegas. Without power steering one must keep both hands on the wheel of the unaerodynamic Impala when passing semi-trailers. Thus when you accidentally sneeze with both barrels loaded (if you will) and no way of obstructing your nostrils the resulting windshield disaster is called an "ohmygogd."
Just holding my nose and saying "ohmygod" is enough to trigger a pavlovian handkerchief offering from Mrs. Weasel.
Posted by: wisdomweasel | February 21, 2005 03:13 PM
I'm w/ the Wife on this one. I HATE when people spit or snot on the sidewalk. AT LEAST launch your muscus into a bush or the street, why you got to be snotting up where my feet walk? I'd kinda rather see a crap on the sidewalk than a lugie. Just my opinion...
Posted by: Claire | February 23, 2005 05:41 PM