# How germaphobic are you? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 29, 2013, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-germaphobic-are-you/657042 "2013-04-29T20:06:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2013, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-germaphobic-are-you/657042/41 "2013-04-30T02:22:21Z")
I got a 23%, which seems terribly high. I’m a Rennie, and we consider dirt to be a flavor. I’m a firm believer in keeping one’s immune system well-exercised by not hiding in fear of every germ. ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2013, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-germaphobic-are-you/657042/42 "2013-04-30T02:24:04Z")
2% ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2013, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-germaphobic-are-you/657042/43 "2013-04-30T02:43:21Z")
> [@gotpasswords](#): > > I got a 23%, which seems terribly high. I’m a Rennie, and we consider dirt to be a flavor. I’m a firm believer in keeping one’s immune system well-exercised by not hiding in fear of every germ. What’s a Rennie? ---
**Author:** ![Alice\_The\_Goon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Alice\_The\_Goon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alice_The_Goon)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2013, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-germaphobic-are-you/657042/44 "2013-04-30T03:11:58Z")
I got 16%. I get called a germaphobe on this board quite a bit, but really I’m not. What I am is a foodpoisoningaphobe- I’m very concerned about food safety. Not the same thing. ---
**Author:** ![Sally\_Mander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e56c9b/32.png) [@Sally\_Mander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sally_Mander)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2013, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-germaphobic-are-you/657042/45 "2013-04-30T03:19:45Z")
> [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](#): > > 39%. I thought the last question was really weird. Anyone who washes their hands after they go to the bathroom would wash their hands 5 times or more per day, unless they went to the bathroom less than five times a day. That was a little weird. I work in a hospital ER as a tech, and I wash my hands constantly. I might wash them five times in an _hour_, never mind five times a day. If I told someone how many times a day I actually washed my hands without clarifying why, they’d think I was a germaphobic loon. I also got 39%. “You aren’t a germaphobe, but you’re not dirty either. This is a good balance, be proud! This means you are aware of what is gross but you don’t let it take over your life, the little stuff doesn’t bother you.” Yep, that seems pretty much it. ---
**Author:** ![Ms.Pumpkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a87d85/32.png) [@Ms.Pumpkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms.Pumpkin)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2013, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-germaphobic-are-you/657042/46 "2013-04-30T03:34:34Z")
> [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](#): > > 39%. I thought the last question was really weird. Anyone who washes their hands after they go to the bathroom would wash their hands 5 times or more per day, unless they went to the bathroom less than five times a day. I can’t imagine using the bathroom 5 or more times a day, unless I was sick. I got 18%, and I’m surprised it wasn’t lower. Germs, shmerms. ---
**Author:** ![\_Olive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/_/4af34b/32.png) [@\_Olive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/_Olive)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2013, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-germaphobic-are-you/657042/47 "2013-04-30T04:04:23Z")
Congrats, you are 0% GERMAPHOBIC ---
**Author:** ![one\_red\_shoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/54ee81/32.png) [@one\_red\_shoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/one_red_shoe)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2013, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-germaphobic-are-you/657042/48 "2013-04-30T04:43:00Z")
58 % ---
**Author:** ![chizzuk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@chizzuk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chizzuk)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2013, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-germaphobic-are-you/657042/49 "2013-04-30T04:52:26Z")
51%. I work with children with severe autism, some measures are just basic self-defense. I’m betting washing my hands immediately when I get home, trying not to touch anything in public restrooms, and not wanting people putting their mouth on the rim of my water bottle pushed me up pretty high. Some of this is necessarily tempered by basic politeness. If you ask for a swallow of my water or a bite of my food, I will often acquiesce so as not to seem like an asshole, but will be inwardly cringing and much less likely to finish consuming it once you’ve given it back. Saliva really squicks me out. ---
**Author:** ![Buttercup\_Smith](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buttercup_smith/32/473_2.png) [@Buttercup\_Smith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buttercup_Smith)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2013, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-germaphobic-are-you/657042/50 "2013-04-30T06:34:56Z")
43%. Questions are not comprehensive though. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2013, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-germaphobic-are-you/657042/51 "2013-04-30T07:54:27Z")
17%. Sounds about right. I think public bathroom doors which are Push for entering, but Pull when heading out are the complete wrong way around, but otherwise I don’t really care about germs all that much. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2013, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-germaphobic-are-you/657042/52 "2013-04-30T09:13:51Z")
27% I couple could have been answered either way. Use my water bottle? Yes, but I’d prefer to wash off the top before drinking out of it again. I have shared water bottles before. Working outside. If it’s hot enough a few germs won’t stop me from drinking water. Roll on Deodorant? Ok, I’ll share but it bothers me more than the water bottle. I’d just wipe it off with a wet paper towel. Get the other guys body oils off and its fine. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2013, 9:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-germaphobic-are-you/657042/53 "2013-04-30T09:19:24Z")
29%. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Accident](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Mr.Accident](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Accident)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2013, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-germaphobic-are-you/657042/54 "2013-04-30T11:04:13Z")
14%, but I agree some of those questions aren’t relevant. I’m definitely not bothered by germs. After being thigh deep in raw sewage, and having it splashed into your mouth and eyes, you stop sweating the small stuff. ---
**Author:** ![R3d\_Anonymous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/aeb1de/32.png) [@R3d\_Anonymous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R3d_Anonymous)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2013, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-germaphobic-are-you/657042/55 "2013-04-30T11:05:57Z")
> [@Mr.Accident](#): > > After being thigh deep in raw sewage, and having it splashed into your mouth and eyes, you stop sweating the small stuff. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/e19adc/32.png) [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2013, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-germaphobic-are-you/657042/56 "2013-04-30T11:32:49Z")
37%. I wasn’t congratulated, but apparently I should be exclamation-marked-proud because I know what’s gross but I don’t let it take over my life. That’s because I know that you should only ever have 144 gross things. Otherwise, it takes over your life. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2013, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-germaphobic-are-you/657042/57 "2013-04-30T19:47:22Z")
Another 6 percenter. I ain’t skeered of no bugs! Well, that’s not exactly true, but I’m no germophobe… ---
**Author:** ![rhubarbarin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eb9ed0/32.png) [@rhubarbarin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhubarbarin)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2013, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-germaphobic-are-you/657042/58 "2013-04-30T19:57:06Z")
I am often repulsed by touching others, or sharing things with people, and mist especially by human hairs, fluids, and smells. But not because I’m scared of germs - just because I am uncomfortable around other people and like to keep myself separate from them. This warped my score too much for me to take this test seriously - I hardly worry about germs at all. If its not sticky and doesn’t smell funny, it’s clean enough for me (unless someone I don’t like touched it - then it’s tainted and nasty). ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2013, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-germaphobic-are-you/657042/59 "2013-04-30T19:57:07Z")
9% here. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2013, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-germaphobic-are-you/657042/60 "2013-04-30T20:03:14Z")
54 %. I do wash my hands every time I go to the bathroom. Why not? I am there anyway. I almost never use hand sanitizier or anything, and I feel awkward at kisses because I don’t know the person, not because of germs. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-germaphobic-are-you/657042.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-germaphobic-are-you/657042.md?page=4)