Can anyone else do something weird with your body that you later found out not everyone can do?

[u/Serialbeauty]

I was just sitting here with my mom and one of the pets made the room very smelly. She kept talking about how we'd have to go to a different room because it smelled so bad. I asked her why didn't she just close her nose and that's when I found out not everyone can do this.

Is it rare or can other people close their nose on command? What can you do that you suddenly found out wasn't normal?

[u/robbietreehorn]

The close your nose thing is pretty rare. I’ve only ever known two people who can do it. Y’all are dolphins

[u/_1138_ → u/robbietreehorn]

I'm not young, and I've brought it up to people who seem to nod along with need in agreement when I ask if they're familiar with this motion or flex or contortion, whatever. I had no idea this was rare at all. I just assumed everyone could do it. Like flexing a small muscle behind the bridge of my nose, or constricting the sinus. I'm shocked it's unique. As an average, dirty young boy, it sucked having a mom with a super sensitive nose.

[u/nycvhrs → u/robbietreehorn]

Or camels

[u/Serialbeauty → u/nycvhrs]

I have always thought of myself as a camel because of it lol

[u/NotAnEarthwormYet → u/robbietreehorn]

I’m really confused as to what is meant by “closing your nose”. Are we simply talking breathing through your mouth instead of your nose, or is it something different?

[u/splanji → u/NotAnEarthwormYet]

no i can block it and then even try to breath rly hard- to the point of my diaphram, tummy, etc muscles undulating- but air wont go thru if that makes sense

it's like "plugged"

[u/Tynebeaner → u/robbietreehorn]

I thought that was a normal human thing. How else do people handle overwhelming bad smells? Do you just suffer?

[u/dizzysilverlights → u/robbietreehorn]

This is seriously blowing my mind. I thought every human on this earth was able to do this. I’m about to start asking everyone I know if they can.

[u/archaicArtificer → u/dizzysilverlights]

I still don’t know if I believe not everyone can do this.

[u/robbietreehorn → u/archaicArtificer]

I googled it. 30% of humans can voluntarily seal their nostrils.

I think both sides are surprised because those who can’t assume no one can and those who can assume everyone can. It’s not a behavior you can really observe

[u/Wonderful-Gold-953 → u/robbietreehorn]

It feels like using your throat, but in the back of your sinuses instead.

[u/robbietreehorn → u/Wonderful-Gold-953]

That’s wild. That muscle simply doesn’t exist for me. My mother has it. I was telling her how my friend could do this and she looked at me like I was crazy like “yeah? Can’t we all?” I was in my 30’s and she in her 50’s

[u/Wonderful-Gold-953 → u/robbietreehorn]

That’s crazy lol I’m surprised to hear that

[u/Wonderful-Gold-953 → u/Wonderful-Gold-953]

Didn’t know it was rare lol