I continue to be perturbed about life's little weirdnesses. Certainly, my view on the world is a little bit off kilter, but I wonder if anyone else ever notices just how strange people can be sometimes. The more I consider, the more I see behaviors that I have taken for granted for years that make no sense to me whatever. One of these is what I call the 'Sniff the Milk' syndrome. We've all experienced it, I think, in varying degrees. I know I have, and I am astounded that it never used to strike me as odd. The scenario runs something like this:They: "The date on this milk carton says October 10. Today's the 25th. Do you think it's still good?" Me: "Considering that 15 days have elapsed, I'd bet no, but it's your stomach..." They: "I'll just give it a sniff and see if it still smells good..." (pause for sniff, then the sound of someone's gorge rising..) They: (choking back the gag reflex)"Oh my God! This is so disgusting! Here! Smell it!!"The question is, how many of us then dutifully take the proffered carton and inhale, rather than making the more appropriate statement, "like hell I will"? What is it in human nature that makes so many so willing to be so grossed out? It happens over and over again. Most often with items recently removed from the refrigerator ("Have you ever seen mold this disgusting? Look!"), but not by any means limited to them ("Want to see my colonoscopy photos?").
I have taken a stand on this very silly behavior. I will not sniff. I will not look. I will not be cajoled into deliberately doing something that I know beforehand will just make me sick. Life's to short to sniff stupid things, damnit!
