Why? For the Love of God, why?

[poofy_puff]

Well, later would never come or she'd forget to take it out, and constantly my dad finds Kleenexes all over inside the washer or even the dryer.

That's only gross if they are USED kleenexes. Otherwise it's just annoying.

[Antisocial_Worker]

The "etiquette for that" is simple:

Carry your own snot-rags to use.

Barring that, go to the rest-room and grab a paper towel or a wad of toilet paper.

Restaurant employees are not paid to handle random boogers.

I'm well aware of your last point, but thank you for reiterating. I wasn't referring to boogers, however. I was more referring to that clear, spit-like substance that can sometimes run just a tiny bit when one consumes spicy foods.

[PatchO'Black]

I must admit, I've never heard that, if one is at a restaurant and needs to blow one's nose, it should be done in the bathroom. I think that having to wind one's way to the restroom every time their nose runs a bit seems a bit impractical. However, I would say that one should try to be as discreet as possible. One shouldn't "honk" while blowing, and if such noise cannot be avoid, then it would be better to go to the bathroom first. Also, one should clean up after themselves, and remove any used tissues.

[poofy_puff]

I'm well aware of your last point, but thank you for reiterating. I wasn't referring to boogers, however. I was more referring to that clear, spit-like substance that can sometimes run just a tiny bit when one consumes spicy foods.

Would YOU want to touch some random stranger's "clear, spit-like substance that can sometimes run just a tiny bit when one consumes spicy foods".

I'll save mine for you next time I order Thai food. You can keep yours, kthx.

[Andara Bledin]

I was more referring to that clear, spit-like substance that can sometimes run just a tiny bit when one consumes spicy foods.

For the most part, that's tears.

Your tear ducts drain from the inside corners of your eyes out into your nose, which is why your nose runs when you cry and when you eat spicy foods.

^-.-^

[PepperElf]

I'm well aware of your last point, but thank you for reiterating. I wasn't referring to boogers, however. I was more referring to that clear, spit-like substance that can sometimes run just a tiny bit when one consumes spicy foods.

yes wiping is fine.
granted this is coming from someone who blows at the table but... i've never had anyone yell at me for wiping.

cos i mean hell, sometimes if your nose is runny like that, by the time you've reached the bathroom it may have started dripping... and that's not fun.

[Antisocial_Worker]

Would YOU want to touch some random stranger's "clear, spit-like substance that can sometimes run just a tiny bit when one consumes spicy foods".

No more than I would want to touch someone's actual spit, which is, I would think, to be expected with napkins.

[MoonCat]

I think it's better to blow your nose (quietly!) or wipe it then to let it run...ewww.

Similar point....I hate when people sneeze with a loud, ear-piercing yell. A woman at work does that, it sounds like she's being goosed and squealing in surprise. I can hear her all the way across a large, very noisy office. After hearing this several times I asked someone what the heck was going on back there, and was told "oh, that's just Debbie [not real name] sneezing."

[Canarr]

Well, when I find myself with a running nose while eating, I'll get out one of the kleenex I always carry, blow my nose quickly, then put it away again (without inspecting it). No muss, no fuss. I'll turn away from the table and my eating companions where possible, but no, I won't go to the bathroom every time my nose starts running.

It's winter, it's cold, people's nose will be running in public. Deal with it.

[Misanthropical]

Canarr if it's no big deal, the people doing it won't mind if I walk over to their table just as the food arrives and blow my nose. I will tell them what a great idea they had to just blow their nose at the table instead of being bothered by going into the restroom and besides, it's winter and people's noses run, so they can just deal.

[poofy_puff]

No one said don't wipe your nose if it drips. Someone said wipe your nose on your own damn hankie, not the restaurant's damn napkin.

No one said don't blow your nose in pubic ever under any circumstances OMGOMG. Someone said don't blow your nose in front of other people who are eating or about to eat.

I thought these things came under the heading "Basic Good Manners and Consideration of Others", as opposed to the heading "Things I Do Where & When I Feel Like It and Screw You If You Have a Problem With It".

But that's just me. I guess it takes all kinds of people to make a world.

[Canarr]

Manners is a good point, yes. Depends on, of course, what you deem acceptable and what not.

Say, burping. On occasion, even in a restaurant, I may raise my napkin to my mouth and discreetly release a burp. Following Misanthropical's interpretation, that is equal to walking up to someone else's table and burp into their face. Personally, I would beg to differ, but to each their own, I guess.

Nobody wants to look at someone blowing their nose, then checking their findings while eating. But neither do I want somebody at my table - or a neighboring table - getting up every five minutes to walk to the restroom and blow their nose there. Or, alternatively, listen to them sniffling all through my meal. It's a restaurant; odds are, someone in the immediate vicinity is either eating or about to eat at any time during my stay there.

Yes, consideration for others is important. But that's a two-way street, and not getting up in arms about some minor annoyance is also a form of consideration for others.

Just something to think about.

[poofy_puff]

But neither do I want somebody at my table - or a neighboring table - getting up every five minutes to walk to the restroom and blow their nose there. Or, alternatively, listen to them sniffling all through my meal. It's a restaurant; odds are, someone in the immediate vicinity is either eating or about to eat at any time during my stay there.

Yes, consideration for others is important. But that's a two-way street, and not getting up in arms about some minor annoyance is also a form of consideration for others.

Just something to think about.

Here's "something to think about":

The OP was about someone who blew their nose loud enough for the rest of the room to hear it and then they opened the receptacle to view (AS THE FOOD ARRIVED NO LESS). It was NOT about "getting up in arms about some minor annoyance". So is Misanthropical justifiably irritated by this, OR NOT? I say she IS.

Something else to think about is:

If someone is "getting up every five minutes to blow their nose" or "sniffling all through the meal", maybe, JUST MAYBE, they either 1) are too sick to be eating in a restaurant (don't start with me about how restaurant employees often work while sick) or 2) should be taking Sudafed or some other OTC decongestant in order to clear their sinuses in expectation of eating in the presence of polite strangers.

But as I said before, these things are either common sense, or the way I was brought up, or a combination of both. Not everyone was raised to have polite table manners, and not everyone has "common sense". So I guess it follows that one cannot expect to receive the same considerations that one would extend to others in similar circumstances. It's a bit disappointing, although hardly surprising, that people would rather make lame excuses for their bad manners than correct the bad manners themselves.

Instead of a non-smoking section (since hardly anywhere allows smoking at all these days), there should be a "non-personal-hygiene" section in restaurants ("NPH" for short). The hostess will ask "personal hygiene or non" when you make your reservation, and there will always be a much longer wait for tables in the "NPH" section. This will make it necessary for smaller parties to share tables in the NPH section, so Misanthropical's family and I will sit together and enjoy our meals without the added pleasure of looking at other people's bodily secretions, and everyone else can blow their noses, brush their hair, and clip their fingernails at the dinner table. Everyone's happy that way.

Bon appetit.

[Ree]

Oh, wait a minute...*Checks title of website and forum*...Nope this isn't fratching.

For a second, I got confused.

Tone it down people.

First and FINAL warning.

Oh, and here is a bit about the etiquette of nose blowing.

The OP had an issue with someone blowing their nose loudly and looking at it.

I am pretty sure she is allowed to vent about that.
I see so many violations of the "Failure to see the suck" rule, that I honestly feel like handing out infractions.

[Canarr]

The OP had an issue with someone blowing their nose loudly and looking at it.

I am pretty sure she is allowed to vent about that.
I see so many violations of the "Failure to see the suck" rule, that I honestly feel like handing out infractions.

You're right, of course. Sorry. Tuning out now.