If it's socially acceptable to cough in public...?

Question

then why is it so taboo to pick your nose or your butt in public?

Answer 1

Coughing is involuntary

I don't think you have much choice whether you cough or not

Answer 2

Hello ! Coughing is so different than the other two.
Coughing that is socially acceptable is the discreet koffkoff but once it becomes a hacking, non stop no more inhaling, instead becomes the asthmatic gasping type of cough, you are expected to leave the room, go the bathroom to muffle the sounds ( and die there lol)
If you dont go back to the room with watering eyes and thumping your lungs mightily, they might politely send a nice person to knock on the bathroom door.
Then that nice person will say "Are you ok?" and you are supposed to say "I'm ok" even though you're not.
With all that scripted niceties, tell me how on earth will you deal with the other two.

Answer 3

Well coughing is your body's natural impulse to dislodge saliva, or air that has traveled into the wrong wind-pipe. Since it is not in your control, it is not inappropriate. As long as you cover your mouth so as not to spew germs, or saliva at a passerby, and you clean your hands there after.

It's not a question of whether or not it's taboo or unacceptable so much as it is a question of whether it's HYGIENIC to do so.

However, to pick your nose or pick your posterior, or adjust your wedgie (underwear which has made it's way to the crevice of your rear) would imply you have just soiled your hands or caused a transference of germs, and filth to your hands. Especially sice the rear-end is where you excrement and where you flatuate. The hands are used to greet others, handle food, and interact with others. It is unclean, not hygenic, and therefore frowned upon in modern-day society in public.

Answer 4

Yes it is socially acceptable, just cover your mouth and turn your head....As far as picking your nose and your butt, well those are things that are not spontaneous like a cough...You can wait to do those in private, because they are gross when seen in public.....

Answer 5

Because coughing is a non voluntary action and picking your nose or butt is not. Some things are better left in private.

Answer 6

It is only acceptable to cough as long as you cover your mouth when doing it. Many time's I've seen people who are rude enough to just HACK out a cough,snort,and just spit the "Loogie" onto the very sidewalk where I happen to be stepping. Spit it into the street. And if you MUST pick your nose,use a hankie or some tissue NOT your finger. And even then turn away so you don't draw unnessary attention to yourself.

Answer 7

coughing clears out your lungs and is relatively involuntary, unless you want to choke yourself to death. Coughing may clear a substance from your lungs that could be life-threatening if allowed to build up. Coughing without covering your mouth is also considered to be socially unacceptable if you are within a group of people. The other two actions that you mention are not life threatening and are absolutely inappropriate in public.

Answer 8

You should cover your mouth if you cough as to not get your germs all over other people, Picking your nose and butt is just plain rude and disgusting if you have to go to a restroom and blow your nose or wipe your a...

Answer 9

Because coughing is often uncontrollable. Picking one's nose or butt is a voluntary action.

Answer 10

probably because coughing is involuntary. I say go ahead and pick your nose and butt as much as you want. Just be careful picking your nose after you pick your butt.

Answer 11

I think to cough is a natural act.

We all were taught as kids to not pick in our noses. When you cough you should cover your mouth; I hope that you cover your mouth. However, to stand there and put your fingers in your mucus is gross. No one to be around a person that is picking in their noses.