“instinctively stop using your left hand for stuff.” :smack:
The few rare times that I’ve been in the “middle of nowhere” predicament, I chose to use my underwear for wiping and go commando style. You can even tear your drawers into strips in case you need more for later. Leaves are just too scratchy, and who knows what kind of worms or parasites might be waiting on a leaf.
Even us lefties?
RR
Now there’s a very interesting thought. From what I’ve seen culturally, you wouldn’t get away with using your left hand for anything important (meaning that people would view you as a gross bastard).
Does anyone know the answer to that one?
The fact that these people won’t eat or even touch another person with the left hand is proof that they know their left hand is contaminated with fecal matter. And BTW, no amount of washing will get the shit out from under their fingernails.
In India there is obsession with “regularity.” Pretty much everyone, regardless of social class, makes it a point to make the toilet the first order of the day. People will not brush their teeth, shower, eat, or go to work in the morning without first moving their bowels. Go out in a big city in India at 5 or 6 in the morning and the whole world smells like sewage, because everyone’s pooping all over the place. One very strong motivation for this impulse, I suspect, is that Indians do not want to be caught away from home when the urge comes on.
Forgive my ignorance, but does this taboo on using your left hand extend to tasks such as surgery, cooking, construction, massage, etc. Is there some cleansing ritual that must be undertaken before a surgeon can operate (apart for washing one’s hands and doning appriate gloves)? Are gloves adequate?
Let me address this.
(a) Yes, traditionally one wipes with the left. I’ve done it. It is no where near as awful as our more provincial posters here imagine (e.g. ‘impossible to get shit out from the fingernails’ is just rubbish. Poo is like any other substance, subject to vigorous washing.) with the proper facilities.
(b) However, the urbane elites have adopted modern conveniences, be they toilet paper or nice little water devices to delicately clean your bottom. I am rather attached to the latter, although in public restrooms of lesser establishments they are to be avoided. In a water-lacking area, there is something to be said for the more efficient direct application than the resource wasting use of toilet paper. Current posters’ cultural prejudices notwithstanding.
© In re surgeons and the like, like all surgeons every where there is that special ritual called pre-op prep. Strange as it seems, bacteria on the hands is not solely a MENA region problem. Use of left hand is not an issue for work, only for greetings and eating - even here how that works depends on region and context.
I find that when i’m stuck out somewhere with the need, moss or (certain types of) grass is the best. However my preferred method, when practical, is to take my pants completely off, and when done to scoot along the ground like a dog does.
In mentioning India, Im reminded of documentaries i’ve seen where the untouchables clean the public toilets…by hand. Nastiest thing I’ve ever seen, scooping mounds of poo into a big bowl to carry to the disposal area. I can see why they are considered untouchables.
Growing up in the US I was always a “TP” user, then I went to Saudi Arabia and discovered the “little water devices” Collounsbury mentioned. I would never consider myself to be “clean” after only TP again. Here at home since I don’t have one of those gadgets I use Baby Wipes. The wife thinks I’m crazy, but there’s no comparison.
Try it, you’ll never go back.