Sneezing into crook of elbow- Hate it!

[deepinhale]

Does anyone besides me have an issue with the modern etiquette of sneezing into the crook of your elbow and sleeve? I know this is now considered the most sanitary way to sneeze but it just ain't working for me. My sneezes are just too much for my elbow and sleeve to handle. Last time I tried it I looked like someone had hit me in the arm with a snot water balloon! I continue to sneeze into tissues or cupped hands. I then go immediately for the hand sanitizer so no one can question my cleanliness . Your thoughts on this?

[smooshi]

I agree, it can be kind of nasty, especially if your sneezes are messy. A good friend of mine keeps sneezing in her elbow, although her sneezes are terribly wet, and since the crooked elbow can be used as a shield, the drops of her saliva sometimes spray people BEHIND her.

And since you use tissues and sanitizer, I don't think your germs are "dangerous for the society".

Nor are mine, I guess, since I rarely actually sneeze in public.

[alias]

I completely agree. I've observed that elbow-covering is certainly not always the most sanitary. I too have rather explosive sneezes sometimes, and I do not trust the crook of my arm to contain it all. I usually sneeze in my hands or use both elbows at once. Or sometimes i use one elbow and a hand.

A lot of it also depends on if you are wearing long sleeves and how baggy they are.

And then, on a purely preferential level, I do not find sneezing into the crook of your arm to be very attractive.

[SneezySal]

I agree completely. What happens when someone makes a mess on their sleeve? They can't go and wash it of (well, not very easily). Why are health authorities not simply encouraging the use of tissues or hankies. When did that stop being the best way to catch and dispose of germs?

[VoOs]

Well, I love seeing people sneeze into the crook of their elbow. Couldn't care less if they're getting their sleeves a little wet - it's the polite thing to do, and still more sanitary than sneezing into your bare hands (I imagine very few people actually wash their hands immediately after, before touching anything). I'm a fan of polite sneezing in general. Turning away, excusing oneself, sneezing into the crook of the arm or into a tissue... It's the thought that counts, not so much whether the chance of germs being spread is actually reduced or not.

[Kshu]

I am actually a huge fan of elbow sneezing. I almost cringe when I see someone sneeze into their hands because, I agree with VoOs, I think very few people actually wash their hands right after.

[Joal 555]

I've never understood how sneezing onto your elbow (and thus clothes, unless you are sleeveless) is considered to be "hygienic". The clothes in question are then worn for the rest of the day. Or do people change their sleeves after every sneeze........

[Kshu]

Because the inside of the sleeve doesn't tend to touch as many things for the rest of the day as hands.

[VoOs]

Because the inside of the sleeve doesn't tend to touch as many things for the rest of the day as hands.

^ this.

I thought that was obvious? The chances that you'd get infected through contact with the inside of somebody's sleeve seem pretty damn small to me. And most people's sneezes aren't that wet. At least not enough to soak a sleeve with snot. Isn't most of the wetness usually saliva, anyway?

Edited December 20, 2012 by VoOs

[Joal 555]

Oh well, nothing wrong with a bit of healthy disagreement, but I find sneezing onto clothing both unattractive and unhygienic

[tma]

Well, I love seeing people sneeze into the crook of their elbow. Couldn't care less if they're getting their sleeves a little wet - it's the polite thing to do, and still more sanitary than sneezing into your bare hands (I imagine very few people actually wash their hands immediately after, before touching anything). I'm a fan of polite sneezing in general. Turning away, excusing oneself, sneezing into the crook of the arm or into a tissue... It's the thought that counts, not so much whether the chance of germs being spread is actually reduced or not.

Wonders if we are sharing a brain.

The whole politeness thing is *big* for me... just makes me all

[•.*°•☆. Q .☆•°*.•]

Well, I love seeing people sneeze into the crook of their elbow. Couldn't care less if they're getting their sleeves a little wet - it's the polite thing to do, and still more sanitary than sneezing into your bare hands (I imagine very few people actually wash their hands immediately after, before touching anything). I'm a fan of polite sneezing in general. Turning away, excusing oneself, sneezing into the crook of the arm or into a tissue... It's the thought that counts, not so much whether the chance of germs being spread is actually reduced or not.

Wonders if we are sharing a brain.

The whole politeness thing is *big* for me... just makes me all

Agreed.

And not only is it polite and less contaminating than sneezing into a hand (or hands) it also adds this little extra movement that somehow looks kinda desperate to me and well gosh if i don't find that to be cute. Also handkerchiefs, it goes with the proper gentleman thing. (Though I do believe that's a different topic all together.)

Sneezing into hands in general is kinda icky to me actually, because people use their hands to touch things and other people so often. Like one time a presidential candidate sneezed into his hand and then 5 mins later shook the hand of an interviewer. With the same hand. Just no, please. Although I have to say even that isn't as bad as this other trend that I'm noticing is on the rise -- when someone takes the front collar of their shirt and cups it over their nose/mouth so they sneeze pretty much into the inside of their shirt/onto their own chest. See, I'm big on hugs, and I don't wanna hug that.

[Juliemlr]

In general, I prefer elbow sneezing as I'm a bit of germophobe and, after all, it seems like the most hygienic way. I hate seeing people sneeze into their hands on the subway or in a shop, for example, or when you're in a situation where you have to shake hands with people. But elbow sneezing is really not attractive AT ALL. So when it comes to people I'm attracted to I definitely prefer hand sneezing. I have noticed that sneezing habits differ from country to country. Where I live, elbow sneezing has been standard for as long as I can remember, but in the country my boyfriend comes from everyone seems to sneeze into their hands. But I don't mind in his case, of course .

[Zer0]

i have really big sneezes and when i was younger (11) i started high school and people called me weird for holding my nose and stifling when i sneeze so i used my sleeves/jacket/elbow but then i was like NO!! its just not good enough, they are so big its embarrassing! i have to hold them! so i did and do and yea, it doesn't work for me ahaha

[marv77]

The issue with elbow sneezing is that most people do it really badly and are really just sneezing uncovered for the most part.

[Raven Insight]

When I do cover, I do this; and I admit most of the time, my sleeve ends up sopping wet. Which is why i end up just stifling if possible.

[Joal 555]

Which is why i end up just stifling if possible.

Good for you!

[sexyhankysneeze]

i do this because i hate getting spittle or boogers all in my hands (hayfever/colds alot=many, many messy wet sneezes) and im really bad at getting my hanky out in time

[katya]

Hate sneeze at sleeve/elbow. Just cleenex. Very soft cleenex

Or my nose turn into a red mess ((

[Raven Insight]

Which is why i end up just stifling if possible.

Good for you!

How so?

[Joal 555]

Which is why i end up just stifling if possible.

Good for you!

How so?

Because I prefer people stifling to having a wet sleeve

[Raven Insight]

Which is why i end up just stifling if possible.

Good for you!

How so?

Because I prefer people stifling to having a wet sleeve

Ah! I try, when I can. Ahaha.

[Satan]

sneezing in a sleeve is kind of unnatractive for me... i don't know about other fetishist though

[thesneeze123]

Yeah I'll be honest like I don't really care that much when someone sneezes into the crook of their elbow. I also don't really like it when someone sneezes into a hankerchief or a tissue but I do like it better than sneezing into the crook of an elbow. My personal favorites are sneezing into cupped hands, sneezing while pinching their nose, sneezing onto their wrist/ back of hand, and the sneeze where it makes the sneezer bend over at the waist and its uncovered.

I also notice that how they sneeze has a relation with the sound of their sneeze.

This is what I tend to notice:

Sneeze into elbow/hankerchief: normal "Atchoooo"

Sneeze into cupped hands: usually female, girly, high pitched "HECHIEW"

Sneeze pinched/ on wrist: stifle or half stifle, more stifle for pinched nose and half for on wrist

Sneeze uncovered w/ bent at waist: loud, violent sneeze

Anyone else notice this?

[count tiszula]

Do you know, the more I think about it the more I feel that I've never seen anyone do this in real life. Not even a young person, though I assume it is coming in in the UK. And the other variatons on it; they always make me think the sneezers must be extraordinary contortioniists. I keep waiting to learn that someone has sneezed into their spine or something....

It certainly would not have been allowed when I was young. In particular wiping one's nose on one's sleeve was regarded as the height of vulgarity. And you can see why; if the sleeve had been stained, the whole suit would have had to be drycleaned. But then I realise that you people don't really wear clothes as I would understand them.

Anyway, the whole idea is very unattractive, and why people can't just sneeze uncovered or at worst into a hankie I shall never understand.