Comments on: NatGeo’s Humanly Impossible: “Human Blockhead” Jason Rydelek Hammers 4-Inch Nail Into His Nose

By: pwscott

pwscott — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 23:33:01 +0000

I saw a magician do this at a sideshow 30years ago. I think it was impressive when I was ten. :p

By: buddhaflow

buddhaflow — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:56:40 +0000

I tried this as a kid. And did it again a few years ago, to see if I still could. Both times it was quite easy and painless, I was able to get a big damned nail pretty much the whole way in..

Of course, I’ve had chronic congestion for as long as I can remember. Wonder if there’s a connection?

By: zavatone

zavatone — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:22:00 +0000

Just because you can, does not mean that you should.

It is a nail in your nasal cavities and you put it there on purpose. No no no!

By: Minnesotastan

Minnesotastan — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 02:25:38 +0000

This stunt is much less impressive than it seems. In the absence of nasal congestion, allergies, etc virtually all adults can accommodate the passage of a Q-tip, a nasogastric tube, an endoscope… or a nail… without much difficulty. Mr. Rydelek may have taught himself to suppress his sneeze reflex, or he may have surreptitiously wiped or sprayed the nasal mucosa with a little lidocaine before the demonstration.

The “dangers” of sneezing out the nail are similarly exaggerated; the reflex inhalation would be oral rather than nasal, and the expulsion of the nail would be straight rather than angled through the nose as they show.

I’m surprised this was sponsored by NatGeo. Seems like something prepared for a network television program.