While in a comment conversation with Bee, an important question was brought up: will you say something about it, or pretend it is not there? When somebody has a little green thing sticking out of their nose, it is hard to look away. It’s almost like when someone has a pimple, you can’t avoid it. It’s there, creepily looking at you.
It’s embarrassing for the person who is looking at it. The booger person has no idea why you keep doing a weird shift of looking at her nose, then her eyes, then her nose, then her eyes.. while she’s trying to make eye contact with you. If you have ever been in one of these situations, you probably know how things usually go:
1) You try to look away every opportunity you get.
2) After attempting to not look at it, you find yourself doing so.
3) It becomes extremely difficult to focus on the conversation.
If you pretend it isn’t there, it will keep distracting you. If you decide to say something, you have to deal with the awkwardness that comes after.
What is the best thing to do in this situation?
I put the focus onto me.
“I’m sorry, do I have something in my teeth?” Then, I’ll insist on looking at a mirror, which usually they will tend to look at themselves and “discover” the boogey “before” anyone else.
“Oh, thank GOD! I thought there was some lettuce.” Give them a discreet moment while I make faces at myself…and then return…
“Okay, what were you saying?”
Sandi
http://www.ahhsome.wordpress.com
Sandi!
That is very true! Self consciousness is contagious huh! I’m gonna try that next time. I usually say it straight out, casually, and without making it a big deal like “hey, you have something right there . .. ok let me see . . . yup you got it.” Sometimes though, even if I don’t make it a big deal, it turns into one because of the other person getting all embarrassed and what not.. ugh.
I have trouble with this too. I always feel really awkward about it and I don’t want to embarress them. My best friend likes to bluntly point it out, but I usually just try to ignore it and fail :|. I really do like Sandi’s idea though. Perhaps I will try it out sometime. Your blog amuses me btw XD
Ave
http://asyuli.wordpress.com/
Haha your best friend sounds cool, sometimes its what has to get done 🙂 . And yeah, I’m trying out what Sandi suggested. . I’ll let you know how it goes.
Thanks a lot for stopping by! I’ll be sure to check out your blog to finish reading your “Pencils” post, my cell phone wouldn’t let me read the whole thing..
Edwin
Hi – You have to tell the person. You don’t want some mean guy saying nasty things and hurting them. Help them out. Say hey, “You have a big nasty green glob hanging out your right nostril, man. It’s like a golf ball there. Get it out.”
LOL
Cool :P. And you are lucky… my cell phone plan does not permit me to go on the internet 😐
Ave
The best way to handle this: “you’ve got a bat in your cave”.
Hahahaha! Saying it directly (in a way).. I like that. Thanks for stopping by. Now I can’t wait to get out of here and get a cheeseburger. Your blog post made me super hungry.
Edwin
Hey Edwin –
I love it. Well I tell the person. I say “Dude (Dudette), you have a big booger hanging out. Get that thing before some else sees it.” If it’s my gf at the time, I just pick I get real close to her and keep staring at it until she realizes something is wrong, lol. You know, teasing her. Hahaha great post. 🙂
Say you got gold in the mine