Sneezing with My Eyes Open

July 30, 2004 7:46 AM

If sneezing with my eyes open is impossible, why can I do it?

...and is there anybody else out there that also can do this? I only do it so as to not take my eyes off the road when driving.

posted by codger to grab bag (16 comments total)

Random crackpot theory: you could be blinking but unaware that you're doing it. The little I know about visual cognition certainly makes me believe that it's possible to be unaware of your own blink when your attention is focused elsewhere.
posted by Eamon at 8:02 AM on July 30, 2004

...because you are more machine now than man, twisted and evil.
posted by mookieproof at 8:23 AM on July 30, 2004

If sneezing with my eyes open is impossible, why can I do it?

Because you are a freak of nature, a mutant with the uncanny power to not blink while sneezing. Professor Xavier will be in contact shortly to recruit you.
posted by kindall at 9:06 AM on July 30, 2004

Because you have a serious medical condition. People who sneeze with their eyes open run the risk of having their eyes pop right out of their sockets and just dangle there. Sounds more dangerous while driving than just blinking for an instant. Be careful....
posted by rglasmann at 9:18 AM on July 30, 2004

I get the feeling some of you aren't taking this seriously.

But really. You offend the gods by defying their rules. Cut it out.
posted by chicobangs at 9:28 AM on July 30, 2004 [1 favorite has favorites]

I can do it sometimes too. To hell with the naysayers, especially the ones who tell me I can't chew bubblegum and walk at the same time.
posted by Shane at 9:30 AM on July 30, 2004

Can you hold your nose underwater and blow bubbles out of the corners of your eyes?

I bet you can too.

Yup, you an' me, we're special.

The circus beckons. Heed its call.
posted by Shane at 9:32 AM on July 30, 2004

Can you hold your nose underwater and blow bubbles out of the corners of your eyes?

You people are FREAKS.
posted by widdershins at 1:23 PM on July 30, 2004

1. sneeze
2. keep eyes open
3. ???
4. Profit!!
posted by jazon at 1:31 PM on July 30, 2004

I can do it, or at least I think I have.

I always like it when my cat yawns. She never closes her eyes while she does so.
posted by agregoli at 1:38 PM on July 30, 2004

i can keep my eyes open when i yawn. i can yawn with one eye open and one eye closed. you can even choose which eye i keep open. your cat is rubbish.
posted by andrew cooke at 1:55 PM on July 30, 2004

To my knowledge I've never blown bubbles out of the corners of my eyes underwater, but I don't think I've ever sincerely tried.

Nobody ever told me it was impossible, you see.
posted by codger at 2:53 PM on July 30, 2004

My sister can do it, too. It's not impossible. It's one of those stupid factoids like that we "only use ten percent of our brains" that people like to quote but not verify.
posted by interrobang at 5:39 PM on July 30, 2004

People close their eyes when they yawn? I totally always keep mine open
posted by mabelcolby at 10:45 PM on July 30, 2004

I have a mutant power quite like a human-repelling force field.

When I walk into a room full of people, they seem to magically scatter.

I've noticed that it gets activated when I don't bathe for 3 days.
posted by madman at 4:40 AM on July 31, 2004

What Eamon said.
posted by vacapinta at 1:35 PM on July 31, 2004