# On a scale of 0 to 5, how gross is putting half-eaten cookies back in a communal container? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 29, 2013, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-a-scale-of-0-to-5-how-gross-is-putting-half-eaten-cookies-back-in-a-communal-container/667508 "2013-08-29T16:38:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2013, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-a-scale-of-0-to-5-how-gross-is-putting-half-eaten-cookies-back-in-a-communal-container/667508/21 "2013-08-29T20:12:02Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > I’ve changed the title for you as you requested, **Skald.** And per Rhymer Rule 18-q, I will be sending you a fifty percent of half of a sixth of a twelfth of a gross of double-chocolate chip cookies. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2013, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-a-scale-of-0-to-5-how-gross-is-putting-half-eaten-cookies-back-in-a-communal-container/667508/22 "2013-08-29T21:17:16Z")
> [@Ms\_Boods](#): > > One of my senior (female for the record) colleagues did this at a buffet recently that was held for candidates interviewing for a position in the department. Sampled a number of the dainties by taking a bite, putting it back on the plate, then moving on to the next one. Awesome. As with the manager in this thread who took a bite and put the cookie back in the communal container, I have to ask - what the fuck is wrong with people? How do you get to be an adult working at a job and not know that you just don’t _do_ that?!? I think this is one of those things that technically isn’t all that likely to make you sick or anything, but it’s still something that you just don’t do unless you were raised by wolves. How gross is it? Pretty damned gross. And inconsiderate. Off-the-scale inconsiderate. ---
**Author:** ![Mauvaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mauvaise/32/11084_2.png) [@Mauvaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mauvaise)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2013, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-a-scale-of-0-to-5-how-gross-is-putting-half-eaten-cookies-back-in-a-communal-container/667508/23 "2013-08-29T21:24:02Z")
At work or other ‘public’ setting, at least a 4. At home with family, this rates a 0. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7bcc69/32.png) [@Mighty\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Girl)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2013, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-a-scale-of-0-to-5-how-gross-is-putting-half-eaten-cookies-back-in-a-communal-container/667508/24 "2013-08-29T21:39:10Z")
1. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2013, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-a-scale-of-0-to-5-how-gross-is-putting-half-eaten-cookies-back-in-a-communal-container/667508/25 "2013-08-29T22:41:53Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > And per Rhymer Rule 18-q, I will be sending you a fifty percent of half of a sixth of a twelfth of a gross of double-chocolate chip cookies. That made my head hurt. ☹ > [@Ms\_Boods](#): > > One of my senior (female for the record) colleagues did this at a buffet recently that was held for candidates interviewing for a position in the department. Sampled a number of the dainties by taking a bite, putting it back on the plate, then moving on to the next one. Awesome. Holeeeeeeeeeeeee shit! :eek: I nevereverinamillionyears thought I’d say this, but: I’m so glad I work with germophobic people. I can’t even imagine the social shaming that would happen if someone here did this. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2013, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-a-scale-of-0-to-5-how-gross-is-putting-half-eaten-cookies-back-in-a-communal-container/667508/26 "2013-08-29T22:49:13Z")
what are you complaining about? there is a meaningful test here. those that eat the rejected half eaten cookies are people that really appreciate your cookies, they are your buddies. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2013, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-a-scale-of-0-to-5-how-gross-is-putting-half-eaten-cookies-back-in-a-communal-container/667508/27 "2013-08-29T22:52:02Z")
I voted “1” based on the description of the “1” rating following it. I’d eat the other cookies. Hell, I’d probably eat the half-eaten cookie myself, depending on circumstances. On a more general, non-personal scale of grossness, I’d call it someplace in the 3-4 region. Not as bad as spitting in the cookie jar (a 5), but something that is definitely socially unacceptable. ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2013, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-a-scale-of-0-to-5-how-gross-is-putting-half-eaten-cookies-back-in-a-communal-container/667508/28 "2013-08-29T22:52:55Z")
I voted 4, assuming that I didn’t see the person put it back in the container, and I would wonder what cookies it touched on the way in. BTW, the cookies you made are called “happy cookies” when I was in college. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-a-scale-of-0-to-5-how-gross-is-putting-half-eaten-cookies-back-in-a-communal-container/667508/29 "2013-08-30T03:51:15Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I didn’t witness it, but from the admin’s tale, at least one of the offenders took a bite, then returned it; she only kept her mouth shut because **it** was a manager. I like that. Most people say “he” or “she” for manager, but “it” is much better for people tossing partly eaten cookies back in the container. Yes, I know you mean, “it was the manager who did it.” It’s gross because the manager isn’t two years old. Yuck. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2013, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-a-scale-of-0-to-5-how-gross-is-putting-half-eaten-cookies-back-in-a-communal-container/667508/30 "2013-08-30T11:59:52Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > what are you complaining about? there is a meaningful test here. those that eat the rejected half eaten cookies are people that really appreciate your cookies, they are your buddies. Who said I was complaining? I’m not the one who threw out the two half-eaten cookies. ---
**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:** [August 30, 2013, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-a-scale-of-0-to-5-how-gross-is-putting-half-eaten-cookies-back-in-a-communal-container/667508/31 "2013-08-30T15:12:47Z")
Putting a half eaten cookie back is gross. Just like someone getting jelly out of a jar with a dirty knife. Crumbs and butter don’t belong in the jelly jar. Nor do cooties belong on cookies. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-a-scale-of-0-to-5-how-gross-is-putting-half-eaten-cookies-back-in-a-communal-container/667508.md?page=1)