why is it that when someone says it stinks, everyone starts sniffing instead of trying not to breathe in?

Answer 1

for the same reason people always look when you say "don't look now but..."
Its human nature to be curious. That's how we learn things.
People sniff when "it stinks" because they want to know what YOU think stinks....maybe something stinky to you may be nice to someone else.
Its all in the way you LOOK! --->
at it. (made ya look).

Answer 2

Sniffing is a way of verifying that it isn;t their own smell, or trying to recognize it. Certainly there is a human instinct to do the opposite of common sense.

I was in an office one day and yelled across 50 people, "Hey dipsh!t" and everyone turned around. Same thing.

Answer 3

So they can trace where the smell came from and totally ridicule the person who farted. But if it's from something else, then usually it's trying to find out where it came from

That way if you know what stinks then you can take action to get rid of the offending object (if you're able to)

Answer 4

Its human nature to be inquisitive, even to the point of causing discomfort. Some may call it a human failing.
Put up a "Wet Pain" sign and stand back and watch. A bit more extreme is "Don't touch it....its HOT". Alas, we humans are our own worst enemy....heh.

Answer 5

Just automatic reaction. Plain and simple. When the brain wants to react to What smells.

Answer 6

I don't, the second I smell something, I walk away. I don't want to keep smelling it. I don't get that about people either. I am the different one for not wanting to smell something bad.

Answer 7

good one...LOL...this is so true...LMAO...thank you for that...I needed a good laugh...people don't want to breath in through there mouths because they say they might be eating S H I T instead of smelling it...

Answer 8

just like when u ask someone don't look at me and everyone starts to look at you. its a natural phenomenon, people try to investigate unintentionally.

Answer 9

I wish I knew but it must be the same reason that people say "this is gross- taste it."

Answer 10

good question....i guess cause they wanna make sure they didn't step in something.