Blowing your nose on the phone

[Kleeny]

I work in a call centre, and have to speak to many customers everyday. recently of course, in the UK, there has been a marked increase in colds and flu and so quite a few of the customers I have spoken to have had colds, and have had sore throats and sniffing, and occasionally blowing their nose. I don't know whether you've heard anyone blow their nose over the phone but its interesting, becayse you try and imagine the blower in your mind.

I too have had a cold recently, and I have had to put several customers on hold while I sneeze or blow my nose, so they don't have to listen to my gurgling.

Some customers, when they blow, put the receiver downon a table, go and blow, then come back, some others blow right into the mouthpiece, it seems.

Anyway else have experience of this?

[countless]

My impression is that many people do not take the trouble to put the phone down when they blow or sneeze or cough.

I am talking about my colleagues now...

C

[Kleeny]

I don't know which I would prefer. I guess when I am speaking to my customers, I can see their date of birth etc, so I can envisage who is blowing. As I prefer the younger blower this makes a difference.

It also depends on whether they've just honked in ear-hole or it was nice gurgly blow. I don't think I have ever made someone listen to me blowing my nose on the phone, I have either put them on hold or said I'd call them back.

[Morningsmith]

I was once the perpetrator in a case like this (I think I was talking to my doctor's office, ironically enough), but I put down the phone. Sneezing on the phone, though, is a different story...

[bensonman]

i used to talk to this one girl on the phone she constantly blew her nose in my ear i pretended not to like it but i actually made my day of course i already knew what she looked like and the sound was a loud snotty honk

[weevill25]

my best friend and i were talking on the phone the other day and she says, "hold on a sec, lemme blow my nose." (she had a cold) and then she blows, but i can hear it really loud in my ear. so i'm like "did you put the phone down or am i on speaker?" she's all: "No i just had the phone between my ear and my shoulder"

and that was wonderful because she's really cute and sounded really sniffly

[Kleeny]

my best friend and i were talking on the phone the other day and she says, "hold on a sec, lemme blow my nose." (she had a cold) and then she blows, but i can hear it really loud in my ear. so i'm like "did you put the phone down or am i on speaker?" she's all: "No i just had the phone between my ear and my shoulder"

and that was wonderful because she's really cute and sounded really sniffly

What a fantastic, erm, aural observation for you. I have often wanted someone to blow their nose on the phone for me, whilst saying all the right buzz-words, i/e blow my nose, handkerchief, tissue etc.

[Guest nysailor17]

I did this with one of my friends (female of course) not too long ago. We were talking on the phone, and I felt my nose dripping. I grabbed a couple of tissues (Puffs Plus, white tissues) and folded them over. Mid conversation, I asked her if she wouldn't mind holding on for a sec. She said, "Yeah sure, you gotta blow your nose?" I said, "Yeah, sorry bout that". She said, "No worries, I'll hold on". I then proceeded to let out the soggiest blow. It was long and wet and gurgly. After I was done, she asked, "Are you okay, it sounded like you got quite a bit? Do you feel better?" I told her that I am okay and apologized for doing that over the phone. She said, "No it's okay, everyone needs to blow their nose, it doesn't bother me".

I can't wait to hear her blow her nose sometime. (drool)

[Guest Bubbliscious13]

In the past, I've had a few friends blow their nose over the due to colds or runny nose. I think for me, watching someone blow their nose is better than hearing it.