# Stop licking your fingers!
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-licking-your-fingers/230840
**Category:** The BBQ Pit
**Created:** [February 24, 2004, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-licking-your-fingers/230840 "2004-02-24T05:35:16Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@prisoner6655321](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/prisoner6655321)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2004, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-licking-your-fingers/230840/1 "2004-02-24T05:35:16Z")
Dammit! Don’t lick your fingers when you turn the pages of MY book! Asshole. In fact, all of you assholes that have to lick your fingers to turn a page piss me off! Don’t you realize what you are doing? It’s disgusting. STOP IT!
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### Author:  [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2004, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-licking-your-fingers/230840/2 "2004-02-24T05:41:00Z")
Interesting that someone who lists rape and violence as among his interests finds a little saliva on his book “disgusting.”
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### Author:  [@SanguineSpider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanguineSpider)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2004, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-licking-your-fingers/230840/3 "2004-02-24T05:43:10Z")
I have never understood this affectation and it seems like one to me. I can turn my pages just fine without applying spit to my fingertips. I’d be annoyed, too, if someone was doing this to one of my books. Makes you wonder about libraries, eh? Ewww.
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### Author:  [@SanguineSpider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanguineSpider)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2004, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-licking-your-fingers/230840/4 "2004-02-24T05:44:54Z")
He likes Kubrick, that’s all (profile). I hope…
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### Author:  [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2004, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-licking-your-fingers/230840/5 "2004-02-24T05:46:53Z")
> [@SanguineSpider](#):
>
> He likes Kubrick, that’s all (profile). I hope…
Did you ever see _A Clockwork Orange_?
I always thought the finger licking thing was kind of oogy too.
Haj
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### Author:  [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2004, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-licking-your-fingers/230840/6 "2004-02-24T05:47:54Z")
Sanguine… don’t make me think of that…
_looks at the pile of library books she’s reading_
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### Author:  [@SanguineSpider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanguineSpider)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2004, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-licking-your-fingers/230840/7 "2004-02-24T05:50:57Z")
Sorry. And it must be said that one time, I saw an older fellow digging for gold while reading his book at the table next to mine while I was at the library. TMI, yes, and ew ew EW! Makes one want to wear gloves everywhere.
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### Author:  [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2004, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-licking-your-fingers/230840/8 "2004-02-24T05:52:24Z")
Starving Artist right now is Sheepish Artist! Yes, I’ve seen it, a long time ago, and didn’t make the connection. My apologies to the prisoner.
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### Author:  [@SanguineSpider](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanguineSpider)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2004, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-licking-your-fingers/230840/9 "2004-02-24T05:57:41Z")
“\*Get a rope… \*”
We must now flog you, **Starving**. Up against the wall; hands out, head down. Someone push play on the Glorious 9th, please.
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### Author:  [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2004, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-licking-your-fingers/230840/10 "2004-02-24T06:25:23Z")
Say, ever read _The Name of the Rose?_
La la la.
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### Author:  [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2004, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-licking-your-fingers/230840/11 "2004-02-24T07:45:31Z")
I cut out the middleman and just use my tongue to turn my pages.
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### Author:  [@Dante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dante)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2004, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-licking-your-fingers/230840/12 "2004-02-24T14:18:04Z")
May I also add a slight hijack and include tellers who lick their fingers before counting my money and giving it back to me?
“Hey thanks, could you spit on the change as well?”
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### Author:  [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2004, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-licking-your-fingers/230840/13 "2004-02-24T14:55:33Z")
Sometimes I need to lick my fingers to touch paper, because without the tackiness the smooth feeling of the paper on my dry fingers is really unpleasant, as bad as fingernails on a chalkboard. Strange, but true.
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### Author:  [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2004, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-licking-your-fingers/230840/14 "2004-02-24T15:49:53Z")
> [@Dante](#):
>
> May I also add a slight hijack and include tellers who lick their fingers before counting my money and giving it back to me?
>
> “Hey thanks, could you spit on the change as well?”
Eeeew for them! Imagine standing there all day touching money and licking your fingers. Ick.
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### Author:  [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2004, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-licking-your-fingers/230840/15 "2004-02-24T16:21:43Z")
But I just had a paczek! Mmmm, forbidden Fat Tuesday donut…_glaarllghelghh_
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### Author:  [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2004, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-licking-your-fingers/230840/16 "2004-02-24T16:31:22Z")
Maybe it has something to do with having dry skin – I literally can’t muster up enough friction to turn pages sometimes unless I lick my finger first. Sorry.
Daniel
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### Author:  [@Unauthorized\_Cinnamon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Unauthorized_Cinnamon)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2004, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-licking-your-fingers/230840/17 "2004-02-24T20:00:37Z")
> [@Revtim](#):
>
> Sometimes I need to lick my fingers to touch paper, because without the tackiness the smooth feeling of the paper on my dry fingers is really unpleasant, as bad as fingernails on a chalkboard. Strange, but true.
Me too. I have dry skin, and touching paper with my dry fingertips gives me the heebiejeebies.
But my solution is to use tons of the Body Shop’s shea butter body butter on my hands, not to lick them! (well at least not when handling others’ books/money)
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### Author:  [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2004, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-licking-your-fingers/230840/18 "2004-02-24T20:31:20Z")
And it’s worth pointing out that the reason some of you don’t have to lick your fingers is because your pores naturally ooze enough oil that the paper you touch becomes instantly covered in you-grease, giving you the friction you need.
I’m not sure that your oleaginous excretions are that much better than a little saliva :).
Daniel
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### Author:  [@Krebnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Krebnut)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2004, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-licking-your-fingers/230840/19 "2004-02-24T20:46:27Z")
People reading books, sorting through paperwork, tellers … they are EVERYWHERE! We got lickers and spitters in the grocery store, too. I seen 'em with my own eyes. Those people who can’t open a plastic produce bag without licking their fingers. There is rampant saliva all over the place! My co-workers think nothing of counting and sorting through the office paperwork amongst each other, and then they are completely baffled as to why then keep taking turns getting sick. I ask you, what is wrong with using rubber fingers or that pot of wax you can get??
Admittedly, I was a finger licker back in the day, until it was pointed out to me the ramifications and disgust factor involved. So I am reformed. I have dry fingers, what can I say? A good lick helped.
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### Author:  [@gluteus\_maximus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gluteus_maximus)
#### Post date: [February 24, 2004, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stop-licking-your-fingers/230840/20 "2004-02-24T20:58:57Z")
> [@Left Hand of Dorkness](#):
>
> And it’s worth pointing out that the reason some of you don’t have to lick your fingers is because your pores naturally ooze enough oil that the paper you touch becomes instantly covered in you-grease, giving you the friction you need.
>
> I’m not sure that your oleaginous excretions are that much better than a little saliva :).
>
> Daniel
Hmmmm…
Grease is a friction-enhancing substance, eh? That’s a new one for me! Kinda knocks down all those scenes in old movies of train bandits greasing the rails.
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