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Thanks,
Nate
I personally felt it was out of fashion, but what the hell, i'm gonna get out there and get myself a few hankies!
I'm gonna be a man!
I find it rather strange that instead of the usual "bacteria" you would actually go out of your way to (mis)use the vastly less common singular form, "bacterium."
It's like hearing someone say "several criterion."
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=...
It's a signal that you're playing for the other team.
I am susceptible to allergens and can be prone to sneezing at any moment, so I almost always carry(are you ready for this?) a paper towel folded in my pocket.
I used to carry a hanky but found them to be bulky. Paper towels are thinner and hold up better under strong nose blowing than tissues, but lack any degree of classiness.
I'm ready to give the handkerchief another chance.
*looks at unopened handkerchiefs in drawer*
If this is anything like the pocket knife advice...
AYE, AYE, SIR! I shall begin tomorrow!
I do the front pocket thing and generally only use it for wiping my brow (public transportation in the summer), or wiping my hands.
It's super handy. I highly recomend it.
I've been carrying mine for a few months on and off lately, and I keep them in my back right pocket (currently the only empty pocket). I put *both* in there, because I rarely use them, and once one is used, I put the used one in front (in case the second needs to be given out). But, I realized that this might not be good for the opinions of others? Thoughts?
Also, don't forget you can put fruit in your handkerchief, or use it to "protect" food. I carried mine in Salzburg 2 weeks ago, and the handkerchiefs I had turned out well to the storage of an apple in my bag.
;-)
As for carrying around a snot-rag? No. Fuck No.
I would never even dream of blowing my nose on a piece of cloth and sticking it back in my pocket.
Why on Earth ???
Why am I posting this, if you don't know...
Hey, lets wipe our asses with pine cones and put them in our pockets, too!
One piece of advice though- the article mentions lending a handkerchief. It's really bad form to do so, whenever giving a handkerchief to a lady, it's better to let her know that she can keep it- if she needs it at the moment, she'll likely need it again throughout the day. Surely you can spare $1 hanky for a lady? In fact, at funerals, I've been known to put an extra one in my jacket pocket so that should I give one away, I'll still have one if I need it for myself.
I suppose some people who are scared to use one don't carry money either--since it could have germs. :)
My only criticism is your line about the pocket square. While it is true that today they are usually silk (or worse, synthetic) and not intended for use, it is perfectly acceptable to disploy a linen (or less commonly, starched cotton) handkerchief in one's jacket pocket.
I would consider it poor form to stand around at some formal, teary event -- funeral or wedding -- while a lady cries and refuse to offer a visible handkerchief because it might get soiled. Would you refuse to offer your expensive pocket knife to save a lady in peril because you might nick the blade?
Speaking of pocket knives, I'm not sure their legal everywhere. There's a lot of consternation over knife crime in England, so that's something you'd need to check on first.
While you may not be afraid of your own germs, reusing increases the likelihood of spreading to your hands and spreading illness to others. This is why disposable tissues caught on in the first place. The warmth of your pocket just helps encourage bacteria growth, even daily replacement isn't enough.
Germs are spread more through contact (door knobs, handrails, etc.) than by air. Your more likely to catch someones cold by opening the door than being in the room with someone, despite the common phobia's.
I don't think this is any different than not washing your hands in the bathroom... ugh... why do people do this?
http://planetgreen.discovery.com/work-connect/g...
To people trying to figure out where to keep a hankie -- close at hand for emergency use. So for me, usually a front pocket, opposite my keys and knife. I keep my wallet in my back pocket or jacket breast pocket.
How much other stuff are you carrying?
-- That's actually the reason for the embroidery, if you go back a couple of generations. A gentleman absolutely never asks, but a lady's maid traditionally laundered and returned it. Of course, there aren't many ladies' maids out there these days ;-)
@ Rob Diablo: "I used to carry a hanky but found them to be bulky."
-- I go out of my way to find thin, lightweight handkerchiefs. It isn't easy, but in plain white cotton I can get them in a six-pack for $12.
@Brett: "Do you iron a handkercheif after washing."
-- Yup. It goes to Rob's point - when neatly pressed, it's less bulky. Plus it looks less like it's been recently used.
@Mark Hazard "But I like the suggestion when handing one over to say, ‘It’s clean’."
-- Quelle dommage! How far society has fallen, when one might wonder if the handkerchief one is offered has been "used". I'd rather just silently offer it and have it politely declined than acknowledge such a possibility.
In any event, I'm a pro-hanky man myself, though I use it more to cover my mouth when I cough or wipe my forehead than blow or wipe my nose.
We are working on getting our boys carrying one. In elementary school it was discouraged.
Ok.
Well, on me, I have...
Front right pocket: Cell phone, pen
Left front pocket: Passport, change, key
Back left pocket: Wallet
Back right pocket: Notebook
I also haven't gotten a decent jacket, so I don't put stuff in jacket pockets because I put my hands there.
Thanks though.
Granted, most of Japan is unbearably humid during the Summer and they are obsessive about NOT relying on AC. But that's no different than the South not to long ago, and perfectly illustrated by the choice of picture for the article!
Nathan
I use it mostly for wiping sweat from my brow, though blowing my nose is not out of the question. You can use it as an emergency napkin, a bandage, a hand towel not just a snot rag.
At the end of the day whether I've used it or not it goes in the hamper. If it is stained from a spilled coffee or something else that won't wash out it can go into a rag pile or more likely just thrown out.
I'm not afraid of germs and don't get sick often so the eww factor everyone seems to have towards them doesn't bother me. its my sweat, my snot, my mess. if you're really worried you could also wash them in the sink after you use them as thin ones dry very quickly.
@Kevin-
While using the pocket square for a hankie isn't ideal, as I said above, I do absolutely think it could do in a pinch. I certainly agree that it would be bad form not to hand a crying lady your visible pocket square for fear of getting it soiled. In such a situation a gentleman will offer whatever he has on hand, no matter how nice.
AoM was right on with the advice to carry a pocketknife everyday, but sometimes, AoM tries too hard to bring back styles that have rightfully been cast aside (like this list of the top 10 ugly styles that should NOT make a comeback: http://artofmanliness.com/2008/07/06/vintage-ch...).
But nothing tops seeing some guy pull out a hanky, blow their nose into it with all the breathe that God gave them, wipe at their nose like a busboy wiping down a table, and shove that mucus infused fabric back into their pocket to await the next offering.
I say progress is good in certain areas. During hard times, my grandmother-in-law ate white bread and lard sandwiches as a kid. Thank God we do not have to do that today. ...Similarly, I am thankful that when I blow my nose, and empty my sinuses of all that is unholy, I don't have to save the product in my pocket so I can revisit it later.
And I do not care that I start out with a clean one every day.
I embrace progress. At least in this area.
Also, a pocket knife can be a very useful thing to have on you, but carrying anything in your pockets can ruin the lines of a good pant.
When I started venturing out on my own I started carrying handkerchiefs, I always have one on me now, though I generally can't offer one to anyone as I have a permanent runny nose it seems.
Yes, I have been known to turn around and drive back home (as much as 20 miles) if I find I have left without one.
I second that on Japan. I studied abroad there (during the summer, no less) and never went anywhere without a hankie in my pocket and a mini-towel in my backpack/briefcase. Pretty darn handy! The mini-towels I used most frequently in Japan were roughly US standard golf-towel sized. I *always* knew where my towel was...
I now frequently carry a small microfiber cloth for cleaning glasses, sunglasses, phone screens, camera screens, etc. I'm quite sure it would double as a hankie in a pinch.
On a side note the stalls are not equipped with tissue either unless it's a industrial sized roll stationed near the door, which is to serve both purposes TP and paper towel... ever tried pulling on a tissue roll with wet hands? mostly an exercise in futility.
Restaurants (other than nicer places) don't provide napkins either, everyone carries the little packets of tissue which are used instead. Again, I prefer something a bit more substantial than a thin bit of tissue, for most every thing.
Point taken, but as a gentlemen, I would submit that there is probably a better way to articulate your issue?
As Snoop Dogg would say "I keep a blue flag hang out my back side"
What kind of man can't even blow his nose? Of course I carry a hanky. And yes, I have given out many a hanky to a lady in distress, and it is a noble gesture, always well-received. My stock is a little low, need to replenish.
The author is correct about the effect on a lady, when a gentleman can provide a clean handkerchief at the appropriate time.
The handkerchief is very helpful, when caring for children. I can't remember the number of times my dad or my mom (yes, she had one in her purse) pulled out a handkerchief to soak up tears, staunch the dribble of blood from a scratch, or clean a nose after catching me using a sleeve instead of the handkerchief in my pocket. Now I use one with my children and have learned the benefits of a handkerchief over an alcohol-soaked wipe.
Great article. Thank you.
And as for other applications, I have a prime example: I watched a child go face-first into a glass wall at an arcade while running after her family. Her nose was bleeding before she stopped skidding across the floor. I immediately pulled out my (thankfully, clean and unused) hanky and applied it to stop the bleeding while my wife ran to get her family's attention. Naturally, I let her keep it. Hopefully she still has it as a memento.
1) they don't irritate the nose as much as Kleenex (ever pulled out a kleenex on a sunny day at home -a cloud of paper dust always follows - job security for Kleenex?) 2) My grandfather always had a couple in his pocket. - one had a corner knotted to his keys which he would wrap up in the hankie- likely to save his pockets. There is also a picture of him wearing one as a makeshift hat to keep the sun or sweat off his head - four corners tied with a small not. 3) Decomissioned hankies are great for filling your fountain pen with. Don't wipe the nib after filling- dab with the old hankie to remove excess ink.
"...But nothing tops seeing some guy pull out a hanky, blow their nose into it with all the breathe that God gave them, wipe at their nose like a busboy wiping down a table, and shove that mucus infused fabric back into their pocket to await the next offering."
If you blow your nose on a tissue, and there's no wastebasket around, do you put the tissue in your pocket?
And do you have the same aversion to underwear?
I don't remember when I started carrying a handkerchief, but I've done it for years. When people ask why, I tell them I carry it so I can dry a woman's tears. Good idea about carrying two of them! I may start doing that.
Of course you're right, plenty of folks out there who'd be terrified to be carrying around a rag of their own sweat.. my brother's a germophobe bordering on Howard Hughes proportions.
On the other hand I still use kleenex for blowing my nose.. with my allergies the thing could be soaked in 10 minutes.
If you're not into a handkerchief, then yes, I'd say carry a tissue. Even being a guy, I carry one or two tissues, folded nicely. If my nose gets runny or there's a lady who's crying or just happens to have a funny nose, I hand it to her and tell her, "I always bring one just in case."
But it always happens that if I forget to carry a tissue or handkerchief, my nose happens to get runny.
You can buy a set of 7-10 of them at stores like k-mart and walmart for a few bucks. They usually come with a monogram, and like mine, I bought a set of 5 with different colored embroidery for about five bucks. They're put away right now, but I'll crack them back out sometime soon.
"ones to show and ones to blow"
Once I started playing in a soul band, I quickly tired of using paper napkins (or my arm... gross) to mop my sweat onstage. I got a nice set of western handkerchiefs and feel much more civilized using them. I need to get an extra set and start carrying them daily- thanks for the reminder!
Now in my 30's, l now carry two to lend to someone else if needed. However, l do have quite bulky pockets.
Right front pocket - handkerchief, loose change, flat keys and car keys.
Left front pocket - wallet
Back right pocket - phone
Left back pocket - spare hanky,
Anyone else here have pockets as bulky as mine???
I usually carry a spare hanky too incase someone else needs it.
The usual contents of my pockets are:
Front right - handkerchief, loose change, flat keys, car keys
Front left - wallet
rear right - mobile phone
rear left - spare hanky
Anyone else carry as much as this in their trouser pockets?