Someone Online Wondered What Disgusting Things People Do And 30 People Told Them

People are gross, that’s no secret. What we mean by that is that our bodies can do (and simply have) so many disgusting things — from sweating to producing snot to burping to name a few — we’re gross, aren’t we? These are just the common things every body does and/or has. Additionally, there are some other things people can do that would count as disgusting. 

Let’s take a look at today’s list — it contains people’s confessions about the revolting habits they have. All of them were shared on the Mumsnet forum when a user asked, “What disgusting thing do you do?”

Over 600 folks decided to spill their guts (yes, this rather gross saying was deliberately chosen for today’s topic) about it, and so, we picked the most interesting ones and created this list. 

As you can see, some folks actually have very, let’s say, questionable habits. Like biting off both your nails and toenails. What’s that about? How does one even manage to bite off their toenails? That’s some impressive body flexibility! Well, to each their own, we guess. 

Since we don’t want to spoil anything other than that, we encourage you to look up the list yourselves (and don't forget to upvote the most interesting takes!) 

Furthermore, since you already opened this list, have you ever considered why you’re so intrigued to read about others’ gross habits? After all, the icky feeling was wired into our brains as a way for our ancestors to know which foods they should and shouldn’t eat. Basically, the disgust kept people safe from harmful bacteria in rotting food, toxic water, and things like that. 

Over time, it spread to more things than just food — people started being grossed out by a variety of other things, from certain animals to diseases, bodily injuries, or even a violation of morals and cultural rules (for example, saying you’re disgusted by homophobia). 

So, why do we still like consuming content — like this list — about things that gross us out then? And it’s not even a new thing. Gross content-seeking reaches even the times of Shakespeare. Just take a look at the playwright’s tragedies — they’re pretty full of gore. 

As an example, let’s take Titus Andronicus. The play contains murders, intimate violence, a live burial, insanity, and even cannibalism. Sounds like a wild ride, doesn’t it? Well, apparently people enjoyed it, especially when it initially came out. This just shows that we aren’t strangers to seeking things that are disgusting as a form of entertainment for centuries now. 

But, why though? Well, again, it has to do with the way we’re wired. Apparently, this emotion is formed in a way that manages to seize our attention more effectively than neutral stimuli do. But it not only gets our attention — it makes us enjoy it, too. 

Basically, it's something called “benign masochism” —a tendency to seek “negative” experiences for enjoyment.

As psychologist Nina Strohminger explains: “Any negative feeling has the potential to be enjoyable when it is stripped of the belief that what is happening is actually bad, leaving behind physiological arousal that is, in itself, exhilarating or interesting.” 

That’s why we like such things as spicy foods, rollercoasters, and things like that — they “put us in danger” without actually doing so. Enjoying disgusting content fits right in here, too. 

Since you opened this list, we presume you enjoy said disgusting content. The only question is, what kind? Is it only along the lines of this list or does it go beyond that? Share with us in the comments!