# Sanitation: Which one of these guys would you rather shake hands with? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 28, 2014, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sanitation-which-one-of-these-guys-would-you-rather-shake-hands-with/687152 "2014-04-28T02:29:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2014, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sanitation-which-one-of-these-guys-would-you-rather-shake-hands-with/687152/1 "2014-04-28T02:29:59Z")
1. Man runs errands all day touching all sorts of various things that an average person would touch. He never used the bathroom this day and never washed his hands. 2.) Guy washes his hands and then five minutes later he goes to the restroom to pee. He doesn’t wash his hands afterword. But he also managed not to pee on them either. Which one of these guys would you rather shake hands with? ---
**Author:** ![MrKnowItAll](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrknowitall/32/87_2.png) [@MrKnowItAll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrKnowItAll)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2014, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sanitation-which-one-of-these-guys-would-you-rather-shake-hands-with/687152/2 "2014-04-28T02:37:31Z")
Oddly enough, it would be better if he _had_ peed on his hands. As it is, I’ll go with the first guy. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2014, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sanitation-which-one-of-these-guys-would-you-rather-shake-hands-with/687152/3 "2014-04-28T02:39:14Z")
Eh, warning: The thread title and the question being asked can be a little misleading when put together. [In other words: The thread title asks which is MORE gross, while the poll itself is asking which is LEAST gross.] ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2014, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sanitation-which-one-of-these-guys-would-you-rather-shake-hands-with/687152/4 "2014-04-28T03:29:46Z")
> [@MrKnowItAll](#): > > Oddly enough, it would be better if he _had_ peed on his hands. As it is, I’ll go with the first guy. I’m gonna say you’re wrong. I mean, I know pee is sanitary, but it’s one more thing on his hands that wouldn’t be if he hadn’t. Besides, I believe it’s not that urine is sanitary, but rather that it’s ‘usually sanitary’. Anyways, I’d shakes hands with the first guy. Based on your premise, he hasn’t touched anything I haven’t touched during the course of the day. Cell phones, door knobs and most recently everything involved in getting to the same place in the building that I’m in. Also, guy #2, touched the bathroom doorknob on the way out, who knows what’s on that. ---
**Author:** ![Pai325](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Pai325](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pai325)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2014, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sanitation-which-one-of-these-guys-would-you-rather-shake-hands-with/687152/5 "2014-04-28T03:33:15Z")
First guy. It just seems less gross, like it’s just generic, immunity building dirt. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2014, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sanitation-which-one-of-these-guys-would-you-rather-shake-hands-with/687152/6 "2014-04-28T03:53:54Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > I’m gonna say you’re wrong. I mean, I know pee is sanitary, but it’s one more thing on his hands that wouldn’t be if he hadn’t. Besides, I believe it’s not that urine is sanitary, but rather that it’s ‘usually sanitary’. > > Anyways, I’d shakes hands with the first guy. Based on your premise, he hasn’t touched anything I haven’t touched during the course of the day. Cell phones, door knobs and most recently everything involved in getting to the same place in the building that I’m in. > > Also, guy #2, touched the bathroom doorknob on the way out, who knows what’s on that. Yeah but, if you were to take a swath of each person’s hands then send it to a lab, which one would have more gross stuff on it? ---
**Author:** ![GreenElf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de053/32.png) [@GreenElf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenElf)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2014, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sanitation-which-one-of-these-guys-would-you-rather-shake-hands-with/687152/7 "2014-04-28T05:04:53Z")
This poll leaves me wondering why guy #2 washed his hands first, then went pee. Did he know he was going to shake your hands afterward? ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2014, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sanitation-which-one-of-these-guys-would-you-rather-shake-hands-with/687152/8 "2014-04-28T05:58:17Z")
Can’t really find it in myself to have a preference. I’ll happily shake with them both. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2014, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sanitation-which-one-of-these-guys-would-you-rather-shake-hands-with/687152/9 "2014-04-28T07:13:47Z")
> [@LawMonkey](#): > > Can’t really find it in myself to have a preference. I’ll happily shake with them both. Yup - and make sure I wash _my_ hands before eating or touching my face etc. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2014, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sanitation-which-one-of-these-guys-would-you-rather-shake-hands-with/687152/10 "2014-04-28T07:17:05Z")
I changed the title of this thread as you asked, **Shakes**. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2014, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sanitation-which-one-of-these-guys-would-you-rather-shake-hands-with/687152/11 "2014-04-28T07:57:23Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > I changed the title of this thread as you asked, **Shakes**. Thank you sir. ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2014, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sanitation-which-one-of-these-guys-would-you-rather-shake-hands-with/687152/12 "2014-04-28T17:50:16Z")
Honestly, neither would bother me. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2014, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sanitation-which-one-of-these-guys-would-you-rather-shake-hands-with/687152/13 "2014-04-28T18:05:03Z")
One time I touched a guy directly on the weiner although I knew for a fact he hadn’t washed it for hours! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2014, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sanitation-which-one-of-these-guys-would-you-rather-shake-hands-with/687152/14 "2014-04-28T20:52:19Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > One time I touched a guy directly on the weiner although I knew for a fact he hadn’t washed it for hours! :eek: Husbands don’t count! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![delsina363](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@delsina363](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delsina363)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2014, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sanitation-which-one-of-these-guys-would-you-rather-shake-hands-with/687152/15 "2014-04-28T21:00:12Z")
I hate when men do not wash their hands after they use the mens room. I am going to be very direct - If you go to the bathroom and do not wash your hands, do not come anywhere near me. Unless you have special powers that you do not have to use your hands while urinating, I will be totally grossed out. As Alec Baldwin would say "keep your sweaty balls to yourself 😃 Oh yeah, I have this whole OCD thing with handwashing, so I am probably a little bias. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2014, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sanitation-which-one-of-these-guys-would-you-rather-shake-hands-with/687152/16 "2014-04-29T07:39:02Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > Also, guy #2, touched the bathroom doorknob on the way out, who knows what’s on that. Yeah, but if he had washed his hands after peeing he _still_ would have touched the doorknob on the way out. I wash my hands after using the bathroom because being in the bathroom is a convenient opportunity to wash my hands- which ought to be done a few times throughout the day- not because I just touched a penis that I would happily allow in another person’s mouth. Can’t really vote in this poll since neither scenario would bother me. ---
**Author:** ![Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/les_espaces_du_sommeil/32/308_2.png) [@Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Les_Espaces_Du_Sommeil)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2014, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sanitation-which-one-of-these-guys-would-you-rather-shake-hands-with/687152/17 "2014-04-29T08:19:58Z")
> [@delsina363](#): > > Unless you have special powers that you do not have to use your hands while urinating, I will be totally grossed out. You don’t need special powers to do that. Do not use my hands if I’m not wearing any clothes (and I touch doorknobs and light switches with my elbows only). Granted, I can only do that when I’m at home. By the way, guy #1. No doubt about it. ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2014, 9:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sanitation-which-one-of-these-guys-would-you-rather-shake-hands-with/687152/18 "2014-04-29T09:12:33Z")
> [@delsina363](#): > > I hate when men do not wash their hands after they use the mens room. I am going to be very direct - If you go to the bathroom and do not wash your hands, do not come anywhere near me. > > Unless you have special powers that you do not have to use your hands while urinating, I will be totally grossed out. > > As Alec Baldwin would say "keep your sweaty balls to yourself 😃 > > Oh yeah, I have this whole OCD thing with handwashing, so I am probably a little bias. Newsflash … No man I know touches his balls when he pees… Unless of course they’re itchy at the time. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2014, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sanitation-which-one-of-these-guys-would-you-rather-shake-hands-with/687152/19 "2014-04-29T10:13:44Z")
> [@bengangmo](#): > > Newsflash … > > No man I know touches his balls when he pees… I sometimes press up on my lower ball sack like I’m trying to get that last bit of toothpaste out of the tube. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2014, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sanitation-which-one-of-these-guys-would-you-rather-shake-hands-with/687152/20 "2014-04-29T10:18:51Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > I sometimes press up on my lower ball sack like I’m trying to get that last bit of toothpaste out of the tube. You don’t just shake it?? But . . . [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sanitation-which-one-of-these-guys-would-you-rather-shake-hands-with/687152.md?page=2)