# Bad bad bad Touch-me-not **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 11, 2023, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-bad-bad-touch-me-not/992971 "2023-11-11T05:47:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2023, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-bad-bad-touch-me-not/992971/1 "2023-11-11T05:47:53Z")
**Don’t touch my stuff** I hate it. You’re trying show the grandkids a cute doggy picture on your phone. Why do they have to grab the phone to look at it, with their grimy, grubby, virus spreading, don’t know where they’ve been fingers. Same with adults. “No you don’t have to hold my phone to read that thing I’m showing you. Just look up from your phone, open you eyes and read it!” I have the text enlarged enough. I’m dismayed by germs. No. I lie. I’m a germaphobe. 100% I don’t like myself being touched. I have to be touched sometimes and I grit my teeth and bear it. But, dang it! You’re not allowed to touch my stuff. So there! ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2023, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-bad-bad-touch-me-not/992971/2 "2023-11-11T06:03:44Z")
I’m not a germophobe but I endorse this mild near-pitting. If I want you to hold my phone, I’ll offer it to you. If I don’t offer it to you, I don’t want you to attempt to take my phone out of my grasp because that’s just hella rude. Likewise, I’m not going to take your phone unless it’s clearly offered, or (at an absolute minimum) after I’ve asked and gotten your permission. Space and private property, people! ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2023, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-bad-bad-touch-me-not/992971/3 "2023-11-11T12:00:12Z")
oh … I read the title and thought “_Look, Ol’ Beck is back in the dating game_” … 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2023, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-bad-bad-touch-me-not/992971/4 "2023-11-11T14:34:23Z")
“See with your eyes, not with your hands.” ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2023, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-bad-bad-touch-me-not/992971/5 "2023-11-11T15:48:04Z")
1. Gonna disagree somewhat. Phones are small, and sometimes the visuals are dimmed if the phone isn’t perfectly angled. Plus, small screen; if you’re 5 feet away, i can’t see shit. 2. You’re an admitted germaphobe. Rather than dwelling on their grimy hands that weren’t washed after digging for worms or picking their noses, give them the phone and immediately whipe it down when you get it back. You’ve got to have a pack of wipes by you at all times! ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [November 11, 2023, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-bad-bad-touch-me-not/992971/6 "2023-11-11T18:42:53Z")
Sanitizer wipes are always with me. And _of course_ I’m wiping immediately after getting the phone back. I had a cool cover on my phone that looked like the old game-boy hand held. I completely disappeared it wiping the phone. No, I’m not crazy. I’ve been checked. 😊 ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2023, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-bad-bad-touch-me-not/992971/7 "2023-11-13T18:38:57Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > No, I’m not crazy. I’ve been checked. 😊 It must be nice to be able to say that. I can’t. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2023, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-bad-bad-touch-me-not/992971/8 "2023-11-14T22:05:25Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > I have to be touched sometimes and I grit my teeth and bear it. Date Night must be a Hoot! ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2023, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-bad-bad-touch-me-not/992971/9 "2023-11-14T22:16:14Z")
Only the Shadow man knows! ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2023, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-bad-bad-touch-me-not/992971/10 "2023-11-19T19:09:50Z")
Bumping my own thread. I was reading the thread about maybe being exposed to COVID. The OP mentions quick hugs to their friend on meeting and leaving. Why do people do this? I’m not a hugger. My kids? yes. Grandkids? Well, that’s debatable and on the premise they’re clean for the moment. A death? Yes I’ll quickly hug you and tell you my sorrow for your loss. But, just a meet up with friends? Big Nope. We have nurses at dialysis that make a move to hug. Nope. My siblings? Well. I’d have to determine that when it is eminent. Not gonna promise. I don’t get the hug culture. At all. Not in this virus infested world. (Go wash your hands, right now) ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2023, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-bad-bad-touch-me-not/992971/11 "2023-11-19T20:09:17Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Why do people do this? “[Touch starvation](https://www.webmd.com/balance/touch-starvation)” is a thing, and we seem to need and enjoy tactile contact with others, although some people need/desire it more than other people. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2023, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-bad-bad-touch-me-not/992971/12 "2023-11-19T21:50:16Z")
Ahh…that seems a thing I can see on young people especially.