Imagine you are sitting on a crowded bus, tube or train and someone with really bad bo comes and sits next to you, the smell is really bad and it hits your nostrils like a speeding bullet (and you aren't wearing your bullet stopper. You realize you have a long way to travel still but what do you do?
Do you carry on sitting and putting up with the horrendous stench
Do you give up your seat and stand for the duration of the journey
Or do you find something in your bag or pocket to put over your nose to try and stem the stench
Or would it depend on other circumstances?
[question posted by wolfie34]
responses and comments:
Man, that is some serious STINK! I don't think I could tolerate that because I do have a very sensitive nose, and a bad gag reflex when it comes to certain smells. If it is a smell like dirty behind... you know the kind.. or just really bad onion smell, I would really not be comfortable..and I might be asking that person to find somewhere else to sit, if was there first. I do usually carry Vicks Salve in my purse, so I might put that Vicks in my nose or just under my nose and than put a handkerchief or a kleenex over my nose to help disguise the stench. [OreoCookie3]
Now that would be a great option! Yes, that would be great to be able to turn off my nose when there is a bad offensive odor. [OreoCookie3]
This has happened to me many times on the bus. I just stay put & reapply my Ralph scents perfume very discreetly under my nose! It works believe it or not! Lori [dumblnddzzy]
Why is it sods law that they HAVE to sit next to YOU! [wolfie34]
LOL~you really painted a great picture of the stink here! I would probably get up and move. I am very sensitive to smells and if someone stinks so bad, I would have to get out of there!! [sunshine4]
A speeding bullet, hahaha. If it were bad enough, I guess I might hope I had some tissues in my purse. I could kind o fpretend I had a cold and keep "blowing" my nose and putting tissues over it. I guess it would depend on how easily I could casually get to another part of the bus, lol. Maybe when it stopped I'd take another seat further away from the offensive one. [cremechese51]
Hi Wolfie, hope all is well! Honestly if a person with that bad of a stench sat beside me I would dig through my purse to find either tissues, vicks, perfume, or something to "hide" my nose, or when the bus stopped I would move, I'd even stand if I had to just to get away from it. I have a very sensitive nose, a lot of smells bother me but I'd have to say bo is one of the worst. Hopefully I would be able to move because if not it would only be a matter of time until my gag reflex started and their would be an icky mess on the floor that might even smell worse then the bo! [PurpleTeddyBear]
Remember Sweets that most people do not wake up in the AM saying I guess I will offend everyone I see with my body odor!! People that appear dirty may have never been taught to clean themself properly or may be depressed or can not afford soaps etc..Just remember "but for the grace of God go I".. My Ma used to say if you see something wrong try to right it..When I used to go to the city alot in a certain area where the homeless were I carried small bars of soap and would give them to anyone who would take them... No one wants to be dirty..rather then be offended see if you can help in some way.. I did the same with clothes. If I got new clothes, I'd pass on some of my trendy clothing so they can feel better about their appearance. Hugs [raydene]
If it wasn't raining, I'd stick my head out the window or try to find another seat or keep facing the window and trying not to smell it. I can't stand people with body odor, it's so repulsive. [loolets]
I try to move away from the stenchy area otherwise I would make the stench even worse by puking all over the stench as it is lol. I am very sensitive and ugly smells just make me wrench lol. I can';t take it ..that and Turkish toilets lol. This is enough to drive me up the wall big time, so moving away is the only option for me. A hanky wouldn't work lol. [yanjiaren]
Well Sweetie to be really honest I would move as I would not be able to stand it at all I am sorry there is just no need for it so I would move Hugs xxx [gabs8513]
there are some things that my nose is very sensitive to and that is things like Coffee and cologne, and sometimes its so obnoxious that it gives me a headache or I feel like I'm gonna throw up. And some things I really like the smell of, like rain. One of the best parts of making a meal is the smell, so I always smell something new when I fix something from one of my international cookbooks. Mooch [oneandonemakesix]
Last week I went to the movies. Right as the movie was starting this woman sat down next to me. This annoyed me for a multitude of reasons... the first being that she was with her husband and child and instead of sitting next to them she left a seat in between the two of them and sat next to me. The second being that there were two seats on the other side of my friend. However, the movie was starting and I didn't want to be a jerk and right as she sits move over. Looks bad. The last being that she reaked of Dirt and Sweat! Unfortunately I just kinda turned myself the other way so as to not be all up in the smell. Had it been earlier I would have done it. Had it been bad I would have done it. I can't be around Baby powder. The smell makes me ill. I can't even wear or be around women who wear powder scented deodorant. Though, Dirt and sweat does not smell good, it wasn't that bad otherwise I'd definitely move. Had she smelled like baby powder or vanilla or bleach, I definitely would have moved. [raychill]
Hehhhhhh..:)It depends on situations.. If d person is ma frnd.. would really recommend him/her to use some body spray and would tell him/her it happens to me too.. But then we have to control it to make others feel comfortable with us.. If the person is a stranger, i would walk out frm tat place :) [jayanthiinba]
If it was a long trip I'd have to cover the smell up somehow because I can't stand on my feet for very long. I always keep a bottle of perfume and tissues in purse all the time so I'd probably put some of the perfume on a tissue and put it over my nose. I think I'd be tempted to hand them a couple of dollars and politely suggest they buy some soap when I was ready to leave the bus. I can understand it if the person obviously works at a labor intensive job, like construction. I can overlook that "hard work" smell, my husband comes home smelling like that every day. It's not usually that offensive. But someone who stinks badly due to long-term poor hygiene sometimes needs to be reminded that soap is very cheap and should be used on a regular basis. :D [craftcatcher]
My nose has always been very sensitive, wolfie, so I'm afraid that if I found myself in that situation I would leave my seat and stand for the duration of the ride. I had a similar situation a few months ago. I was at my bank and this really huge guy was just ahead of me in line. I soon became aware that I would faint if I had to stand there much longer. I stuck my nose inside my purse where I pretended to be rummaging for something that I could not find. Thankfully, he finally concluded his business and moved on, but he left his impression behind, yuk! [worldwise1]
Hi there. I think I have a very sensitive nose when it comes to strange and yucky smells... I know if I was sitting next to someone with really bad odours, I would definetly ask him/her to do something about it, and if no response, I would spray them and tell them that Im entitled to smell fresh air, if really comes to worse, I probably would stand for the duration of the trip, I am one that cant stand yucky smells especially B.O... Yuck!!! [Nardz13]
Hey wolfie this happens to me so often on the public bus I resorted to taking taxi. I remember I was going to choir practice and a gentleman came and stood one seat ahead of me but believe me I almost gagged right there and then. I had to open my blouse and actually pushed my face inside inhaling. Opening the windows did not help becos somehow the smell came bouncing right back to us. When he came off everyone breathed a sigh of relief and began to take deep breaths of air as the stench cleared. It felt like it stuck in my throat even now I still smell him. Yuck! [Sharon38]
my nose is very sensitive wolfie and if i was in this situation of having a smelly person sitting next to me on a bus or train i would no doubt stand up and move somewhere else. its not just me nose that the smell kicks off it also makes me gag eewww. i hate being in this situation. soap and water is cheap enough lol [lols189]
My nose is very sensitive. I would hate to give up my seat so I would face away if possible and also put my hanky over my nose. I might even put a few drops of scent on the hanky. It's scary on public transport, wondering what germs or filth people leave behind on seats. And why don't people wash when they spend time with others. If you choose to live as a recluse and choose not to wash that's your own business but why do these stinking people subject others to their stench. [MsTickle]
I actually have a very sensitive nose. I can easily smell and recognize a difference in odor in things or a place. Along with this, it also triggers my allergic rhinitis that would have me sneezing non-stop! It's really eyikes! In a situation mentioned in this discussion, most likely, with a sensitive nose that I have, I would discreetly move to another seat. But if the circumstance is that the bus is really overcrowded and there is no other seat available and everyone is standing up, packed like a can of sardines, that leaves me no choice but to tolerate the foul odor. I guess I'd have to suck it in and hold my breath and pray that there is no heavy traffic and I get to my destination pronto! hahahhahaaaa [MariaD]
Hiya Wolfie!! OMG!! I swear I have the most sensitive nose in the world!! And it literally drives me crazy! I can smell anything and everything! My husband thinks Im crazy, only because he cant smell that good...lol I cover my nose if its just that unbearable, I mean I can stand it I just dont like too. I carry scented lotion in my purse so I use that and just kind of rub the end of my nose once I have it on my hands. Works pretty good. lol My nose saved me and my hubby from some deep deep trouble once, and actually was just sitting outside tonight laughing about. My husband races horses, and I had went with him up north on one of his race nights. We had a horse on the trailor that had to be dropped off at another barn that they affilate with. On the trip up there we had stopped at McDonalds, and once we got the horse off the trailor he was Cleaning out the bag from the cab of the pick up. He had a lit cigarette in his hand while he was doing this and somehow heated up the bag to where it was burning a bit. He went inside the barn and threw the bag in the trash barrel there. We were waiting for this guy to come and sign off that we had dropped the horse. I said, "Honey, I smell burning marshmellows." He laughed a bit and was like, "There goes your nose again". I turned around and saw smoke rolling from the barrel! I yelled "The trash is on fire!!!" He grabbed the hose and filled the barrel. Now, that saved us from a huge ordeal. The consequences of starting a fire in a barn full of Horses would have landed us in jail!!! So now when I say I smell something strange, my hubby doesnt take it lightly and make fun of me like he used too. So afterall I guess it really does pay to have a nose that can smell so well!! xx [BayleighGray]
Hi Wolfie, how are you. This happened to my partner and I a short while ago and I found myself gagging. I have a small bottle of perfume in my bag and I had to use that just to mask the worst of the pong. [recycledgoth]
I would definitely have to try my luck with standing. With Asthma and other allergies, not only do I have a hard enough time breathing as it is, but I have a very sensitive nose. I can smell the germs when people sneeze. I would need to relocate as far away from that person as possible. [Rozie37]
I have a sensitive nose. It easily get irritated when I smell something too much. Then after my nose get irritated I begun to sneeze again and again. So for me, I would rather get my handkie and cover my nose rather than ignoring the smell. Of if incase my journey is not that long, I guess I would rather stand until I reach my destination. I just cant bear too much odor. LOL [mbilagan]
well i think smell very well. i love bad smell. i have a very sensitive nose. thats why i use cologne so i will smell good. [indieover35]
ohh my goddddd my nose is realy sensitive one....i always need a kerchief in my hand if any dust around [ayesha_nisha]
Wow - what a horrible thought and reminds me why I don't often use public transport! lol I am not sure what I would do but I think I may have to move as I would be afraid I would start gagging or even throw up! You know though that since the smoking ban here started a couple of years ago you can actually smell more people with odour problems as the smell of smoke doesn't mask them! Awful - I cannot understand why people would walk around like that! xxx [mummymo]
My nose is super sensitive- I could smell someone even if they sat 2 to 3 seats in front of me- This is bad! I also have problems with smells- I sneeze and get all stuffy. I would turn away and cover my nose in a nice way. Or I'd pop a piece of gum in my mouth- sometimes taste takes away from smell. Thankfully I don't ride public transportation- so I'll never run into that- [KrisNY]
I've been in that situation before and it wasn't a good experience. I tried to find something in my bag to rid the stench, but it didn't work. I had to excuse myself and find another seat because I just could not take it. My nose is extremely sensitive and lots of bad oders and things like that make me physically sick, so I had to move. [tazpromote]