Still waiting for the bus in Nashville
Copyright 2025, Joseph Edwards. All rights reserved

Worn Stone Steps

Joseph F Edwards

Apr 19, 2025

In 1965 and 1966 I was a student at the University of Lausanne. I had just received my diploma from the University of Lyon so my sojourn in Lausanne was for the pure joy of learning and being embedded in the academic community there. I spent a lot of time in the Ancienne Académie, an old building where for hundreds of years students and professors had worn cups in the stone steps connecting the various floors of the building. When I say cups, I mean deep depressions in the stone steps, probably 2 - 3 centimeters, or an inch or so. It was enough to cause one to stumble if one was not careful. I am looking for images of those or similar steps around the time that I was there. It wouldn't have to be in Lausanne, but I would want to see about the same thing. I’m almost certain that those steps have been replaced by something that architectural authorities would consider to be safer, but I’m telling you some of these fixes steal a part of our soul; they destroy an ancient witness.

Anyway, so much for the rant. I am asking for help in finding some images of these and similar steps. Contact me if you can help. Thanks.

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All good fiction must be true.

Satire is the oxygen of political discourse.  A vibrant, functioning democracy cannot be sustained without it.

May we never once deprive 

another of our kind, 

of what they need—

for peace, for comfort, for the pursuit of happiness.

Let the least among us thrive.

Do not write to expectations; write what is there and must be written.

You make  beautiful, pleasing sounds when you pluck the strings of your instrument, but you do not make music until you pluck the strings of someone's heart.

For several years following World War II -- in fact for well over two decades after the war -- men and women of all stations carried a square of cloth called a handkerchief into which they blew the contents of their nose throughout the day, and even during the night if they were unable to sleep because of an uncomfortable accumulation of mucus in their nasal passage.  Men generally carried handkerchiefs made entirely of cotton.  Women of a higher station, and those who aspired to such, blew their mucus into a dainty and more delicate cloth made of silk.  Farmers and fishermen and men of other muscular occupations would usually carry their handkerchief in one of their hip pockets and their wallet in the other.  Most of these men would leave a part of the handkerchief dangling outside the pocket to make it easy to extract.  Men of a more refined lifestyle generally wore more refined clothing, and they carried their handkerchiefs folded into a flat wrinkle-free square fully inserted into a hip pocket such that no part of it was visible until it was removed and used to receive some of the contents of its owner's nose.  

Men at the top of the social scale who dressed rather formally in their daily pursuits often displayed the top of a dainty silk handkerchief that they carried in the left outside breast pocket of their suit coats or formal jackets.  These dainty silken cloths had no relation whatsoever with noses or the contents of noses.  They were there for show, full stop.  Indeed some of these very special men would not even publicly blow their noses into their hip pocket hankies, for fear of breaching some unspoken and imagined rules of decorum regarding humanity's dealings with its nasal mucus.  

Very few of these dandies have ever resided in Appalachia, and this has piqued the interest of social scientists throughout the world.  What is it, they ask, that makes Appalachians accept with equanimity every man's method of dealing with whatever is in his nose?  So serious was this question that as it entered the mainstream of public discourse lawmakers and journalists and paper companies joined in and promoted their respective positions.  The most plausible answer is simple:  The population of Appalachia consists primarily of Brits, three or four generations removed, and Brits will blow their nose however they wish, and will happily allow their neighbor to do the same without complaint or accusation.

Some lawmakers, although none from Appalachia, proposed legislation making it illegal to blow one's nose in public in any town or city with a population of greater than one thousand souls.  Others proposed laws making it illegal to blow one's nose period, without regard to population or where the nose happened to be.  Under this proposed legislation, if one blew one's nose, even in one's own home, one committed an offense.  

Of course the journalists made hay of all this public discussion.  They finally had a topic that involved every human on the planet.  This thing had reach, and it had legs!  But neither the lawmakers nor the journalists were able to bring about much change in the matter.  It was the paper companies who slowly and methodically changed the nose-blowing behavior of most humans in the western world.  

As early as twenty years before World War II paper companies had begun manufacturing facial tissues which they promoted to women as useful for the removal of makeup.  Soon a secondary use emerged, and it quickly became primary.  By the early 1930s many people had begun to use facial tissues as disposable handkerchiefs for blowing their nose.  At first this took place in venues where a box of tissues could be placed, but when one was out and about one still used a cloth handkerchief to receive and store whatever resulted from blowing one's nose.  And then, between the mid-1960s and the mid-1970s the paper companies brought about the Great Change.  They began selling facial tissues in pocket-sized packets.  The world tried them, cast aside their mucilaginous, slimy, filthy cloth handkerchiefs that contained two or three days of accumulation of nose blast, and never looked back. 

The Appalachians joined in this change from cloth to paper, but it never was a big deal for them.  And truth be told, some of our elder Appalachians never used either cloth or paper even before the Great Change, but instead used their thumb or index finger, or both, to expel the content of their nose.  They did this by pressing firmly against one side of their nose while blasting through the other side.  

Someone who was practiced in the art could do this with just one hand, holding it above the nose and using the thumb on one side of the nose for the first blast, and then the index finger on the other side for the next.  This almost always worked. Following the final blast the nose blower would usually have to wipe away some residual mucus, but no problem.  A quick swipe with the back of the hand across the wet area, and then discreetly wiping that hand across the side of one's pants, and one was ready for whatever was next on the agenda.  Life was good.

***

Follow-up:  Several beta readers of this discussion have insisted that I include some guidance about the legal ramifications of blowing one’s nose directly onto the public sidewalks, or perhaps in other venues such as public parks and playgrounds, and maybe even public swimming pools.  Everybody on the planet knows about the problem of bodily fluids and swimming pools, so I felt that these reader concerns were well-founded and that it would be appropriate to address them in an addendum.  To do this I consulted a friend of mine, A.I. Gemini.  Here is the question I put to my friend and the response that I received almost immediately.

Me:  Are there jurisdictions where it is still an offense to blow one's nose onto the sidewalk?

A.I. Gemini:  It's unlikely there are any jurisdictions with laws specifically outlawing blowing your nose on the sidewalk. However, there might be ordinances or regulations that could indirectly make it an offense depending on the context. Here's why:

Public Nuisance Laws: Many jurisdictions have laws against public nuisance, which can encompass actions that offend or endanger the public. Blowing your nose on the sidewalk could be considered a nuisance if it creates an unpleasant or unsanitary situation for pedestrians.

Littering Laws: Some areas have littering laws that might encompass bodily fluids like a used tissue. If you blow your nose onto the sidewalk without disposing of the tissue properly, it could be considered littering.

Disorderly Conduct Laws: These laws target disruptive or offensive behavior in public spaces. Blowing your nose loudly or in a way that disgusts others might be seen as disorderly conduct.

It's important to consider the specific situation and local regulations. Here are some additional points:

Enforcement: Even if such ordinances exist, enforcement is likely to be discretionary. A police officer might offer a warning or ask you to dispose of the tissue properly instead of issuing a citation.

Social Norms: The bigger concern might be social etiquette. Blowing your nose on the sidewalk is generally considered rude and inconsiderate. It's always best to dispose of a used tissue in a trash bin.

Recommendations:

Carry tissues with you and dispose of them properly after use.

If you need to blow your nose unexpectedly, try to find a discreet location or excuse yourself to a restroom.

Be mindful of others and maintain good hygiene practices in public spaces.

By following these simple practices, you can avoid any potential legal issues or social awkwardness while keeping public spaces clean and pleasant for everyone.

Me:  Thank you. You have suggested that blowing one's nose on the sidewalk might be considered offensive, perhaps dangerous, unpleasant, unsanitary, disgusting, rude, and inconsiderate. In short, a breach of social etiquette. I believe it would help my readers if you could elaborate briefly on these terms.

A.I. Gemini:  Certainly! Here's a breakdown of the terms used to describe blowing your nose on the sidewalk:

Offensive: This means causing someone to feel a sense of disgust, anger, or disapproval. Blowing your nose in public, especially in a messy way, can be offensive to people nearby.

Dangerous: While not inherently dangerous, blowing your nose on the sidewalk can indirectly contribute to the spread of germs, especially if the used tissue is left behind. This could pose a health risk to others, particularly those with weakened immune systems.

Unpleasant: This refers to something that is not enjoyable or desirable to experience. The sight, sound, or smell of someone blowing their nose on the sidewalk can be unpleasant for others.

Unsanitary: This describes something that is not clean or hygienic and could potentially harbor germs. A used tissue with nasal discharge is unsanitary and should be disposed of properly.

Disgusting: This is a stronger term than unpleasant, referring to something that is extremely offensive or repulsive. Blowing your nose on the sidewalk might be considered disgusting by some people.

Rude: This refers to behavior that shows a lack of respect or consideration for others. Blowing your nose in public without proper disposal of the tissue demonstrates a disregard for the comfort and well-being of those around you.

Inconsiderate: This means failing to think about the potential consequences of your actions on others. Blowing your nose on the sidewalk is inconsiderate because it creates an unpleasant and potentially unsanitary situation for others.

Social Etiquette:

Social etiquette refers to the unwritten rules of social behavior that guide how we interact with others in public settings. Blowing your nose on the sidewalk goes against these social norms by creating an unpleasant and unsanitary situation for those around you. There are more respectful and considerate ways to handle this situation, such as carrying tissues and disposing of them properly in a trash bin.

Me:  Again, thanks for the detail. I do want to follow up briefly. What would your response be if the nose blower is not using any kind of tissue or handkerchief but is rather discharging the contents of his or her nose directly onto the sidewalk?

A.I. Gemini:  In that scenario, the situation becomes even more concerning for several reasons:

Increased Risk of Disease Transmission: Blowing your nose directly onto the sidewalk significantly increases the risk of spreading germs and potentially causing illness. Respiratory viruses and other pathogens can easily be transmitted through contact with mucus.

Heightened Disgust Factor: Witnessing someone blow their nose directly onto the sidewalk is likely to be far more offensive and disgusting to bystanders compared to using a tissue.

Greater Public Health Risk: Mucus left on the sidewalk becomes a breeding ground for bacteria and can attract insects, further increasing the potential for spreading germs and creating an unsanitary environment.

Potential Legal Implications: While unlikely, some jurisdictions might consider such behavior a more serious violation of public nuisance or disorderly conduct laws due to the increased offensiveness and health risk involved.

Here's what you can do if you encounter this situation:

Maintain Distance: If possible, politely step away from the person to avoid any potential contact with the mucus.

Discreet Suggestion: If you feel comfortable, you could politely suggest the person dispose of their bodily fluids in a more sanitary way, perhaps by pointing them towards a nearby restroom.

Alert Authorities: If the person's behavior is particularly disruptive or poses a significant health risk, you could consider contacting local authorities to address the situation.

It's important to prioritize your own safety and the safety of others by maintaining a distance and avoiding direct contact. Remember, even a seemingly minor action like blowing your nose on the sidewalk can have negative consequences for public health and social interaction.

Me:  Okay. You've been very helpful. Thank you.

A.I. Gemini:  You're welcome! I'm glad our conversation has been helpful. Is there anything else you'd like to discuss or explore today? We can delve deeper into these topics of social etiquette, public health, or perhaps explore entirely new areas that interest you. I'm here to learn and assist you in any way I can.

Me:  I think I am done for the evening, but I do have some more topics to discuss with you soon.

We are experiencing a tsunami shift toward the use of AI (artificial intelligence) in human affairs. Can this happen without a catastrophic rupture in our culture continuum? What areas of human affairs will be most affected? I would offer the following as being likely to experience vast changes in a short time:

1. Human occupations and employment rates

2. Agriculture and food logistics

3. Diplomacy, international affairs, and international law

4. War

5. Health care, especially diagnostics

6. Communications

7. Publishing

8. News delivery structures

9. Religious organizations and spiritual pursuits

10. The family

11. Visual, performing, and literary arts

12. Domestic law

13. Education

14. Population distribution

As a thinker put it in a comment on one of my recent posts, "Okay Joe, but real question—if the cultural “continuum” is breaking, does that explain why I don’t know how to sew a button but can code a website? 😂 Seriously though, are we losing something vital—or just evolving into a new kind of chaos?" I consider this to be an extremely perceptive question. In my reply I suggested that perhaps we should modify the question to ask "...are we losing something vital, and evolving into a new kind of chaos?"

I appreciate the word "chaos" in this exploration, for I believe it to be inevitable in what is coming just around the corner. Humans have dealt with chaos throughout history, and continue to do so. But this may be different. The commenter asks if we will have to deal with a new kind of chaos, something that we cannot address based on past experience. It is precisely this question that creates acute apprehension in those who think and write about the effects of AI on our culture. I don't believe that anyone has the answer, but I certainly believe that we should be asking these questions and trying to develop some answers.

I highly recommend this article about an AI CEO as a starting point:

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/behind-the-curtain-top-ai-ceo-foresees-white-collar-bloodbath/ar-AA1FCQbw

#AI #CulturalContinuum #FutureOfWork #Society #ShankyBottom #BigQuestions

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