I have noticed an alarming trend in our society.  I am not sure when it happened or why it happened.  But it seems that picking your nose is now perfectly acceptable.  All through the city, well dressed, well educated, well employed, well raised people are picking their noses.  They are not washing their hands afterwards either.

We all know the saying:

You can pick your friends,

You can pick your nose,

But you can’t pick your friend’s nose.

Well, I never put much stock in it.  I put it right up there with the “Great, green globs of greasy, grimy gopher guts” song.  But, I was wrong.  And I don’t think this was always the case in civilized society.

It is commonplace.  I  see it everyday.  People in public.  People waiting for the “walk” signal.  People on the train, deep in a book.  AND EVEN people face to face talking to me.

Yes, not one, not two, but many people who have been talking directly to me, who were aware of their actions and aware that I, too, could see their actions, picked their noses right before my eyes.  At dinner tables, even.

"Check please!"

Want to know the trick?

Apparently, if you pick your nose with your thumb, it’s allowed.  It practically seems encouraged.  There is not one single hint of shame.  I think if I, while talking to any of the aforementioned culprits, had stuck, say, my index finger up my nose that they would have recoiled in horror.  However, if I had mirrored them and used my thumb, it would have been fine.  (I haven’t been able to bring myself to test this hypothesis.)

It’s all in the thumbs.

I am unclear as to why this caveat is supposed to make the germs not spread.  I’m no doctor, but I’m guessing it doesn’t.

So, I would like to reiterate because either your mother never told you, or it simply fell on deaf ears that picking your nose is:  Not appropriate.  Mm-kay?  Not appropriate.  Gross.

You can pick your friends, but the rest is out.  Stop, or I’ll sick little Sally here on you.  She knows you shouldn’t pick your nose.  And she’s adorable and terrifying.

Hey! Dancing Curmudgeon said "No!"