# To the woman down the hall who's "allergic" to the soap in the ladies' room... **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 11, 2004, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-woman-down-the-hall-whos-allergic-to-the-soap-in-the-ladies-room/244678 "2004-05-11T19:38:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-woman-down-the-hall-whos-allergic-to-the-soap-in-the-ladies-room/244678/101 "2004-05-18T06:10:03Z")
> [@lezlers](#): > > I get that you think not washing your hands as nasty. Really. I swear. You’ve stated it, what, 46 times now? I think it’s nasty too, depending on the circumstances. My problem isn’t with you thinking it’s nasty. You’re certainly entitled to your opinion. My point is that I think it’s a bit over-the-top to question strangers about their personal hygiene habits in public restrooms. I think that’s the crux of it. You don’t think it’s gross enough, I do. > [@](#): > > You and the sites. The sites don’t mean dick to me. You want to know why? Because _I never once said people shouldn’t wash their hands after using the restrooms_. Then why did you mention how much toilet paper you use, and why did others mention cites about how urine is really sterile? What was the point of that? You’ve not addressed that. > [@](#): > > I honestly don’t know how much clearer I can state my opinion. I _don’t_ think hand washing is a “good enough” thing to question strangers about, no. And some of us do. Like we’d question someone who dumped a dirty diaper or dumped an ashtray. That’s _my_ point. > [@](#): > > That’s been my point. I know we agreed to disagree and so I don’t know why I keep responding. I don’t either. Because we’ve both made our points. And I don’t think it’s just me getting repetetive here. > [@](#): > > And I’m not talking about it _not_ being nasty. I’m just saying it’s NOT gross enough to “warrant raised eyebrowns and an inquiry.” And to some of us, it is. Is dumping a dirty diaper on the ground enough reason to “harass” a stranger? Or if you see them dump an ashtray? > [@](#): > > Not flushing the toilet, maybe. Not wanting to look at someone else’s shit in a toilet is a “good enough” reason, but not wanting to catch someone else’s germs is not a good enough reason? Okay. That’s fine. We all have our own standards on what is gross enough, obviously. > [@](#): > > The way you’re carrying on, you’d think people are licking their hands and wiping them across your face or something. Good god, get a little perspective. You’ve been exaggerating my response from the git-go. I just was trying to get one point across, but at each turn I’m told that it’s not that bad after all (urine is sterile, you used a lot of toilet paper, what if someone used handi-wipes?) and then I’m told that I’m equating not washing to being a demon from hell. I’ve never done that. I’m just trying to say that it’s gross and nasty. Why is it that I get the feeling that I’d get far less resistance from some of you over calling someone on dumping a dirty diaper or their ashtray on the ground? ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-woman-down-the-hall-whos-allergic-to-the-soap-in-the-ladies-room/244678/102 "2004-05-18T12:53:38Z")
> [@chula](#): > > A point I don’t think has been made yet: How do you know the woman didn’t use a hand sanitizer? The manner in which she replied to the question about washing her hands gave the clear impression that she was making up an excuse on the spot. You’d probably have to have been there. Personally, if I were allergic to the soap I would bring the hand sanitiser into the ladies room with me - out of sheer embarrassment that anyone might think I didn’t wash my hands. ---
**Author:** ![Excalibre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@Excalibre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Excalibre)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-woman-down-the-hall-whos-allergic-to-the-soap-in-the-ladies-room/244678/103 "2004-05-18T13:07:26Z")
> [@alice\_in\_wonderland](#): > > I still want to know why _PINWORMS_ are so gosh darn bad. Frankly, I’m not that interested in reading through 3 pages of mumbo jumbo to find out that the biggest thing that _PINWORMS_ do is gross people out. > > So - what is it? What major health threat, appart from being grossed out to death, do pinworms, uh, pardon me _PINWORMS_, present to the average Joe? Eww. Not to enter this discussion which, frankly, I fear (yeah, people should wash their hands. No, you shouldn’t bitch at people for not doing it. But if someone continuously doesn’t do it, human resources should talk with 'em.) But anyway, I gotta say: I hope to never, **ever** come down with _PINWORMS_. Can we not all agree that having _PINWORMS_ would be incredibly unpleasant, whether or not it kills you? Alice, I dunno how you feel, but I’d personally much rather err on the side of not having worms come out of my butt. ---
**Author:** ![DoperChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9a28c/32.png) [@DoperChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DoperChic)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-woman-down-the-hall-whos-allergic-to-the-soap-in-the-ladies-room/244678/104 "2004-05-18T13:38:33Z")
> [@alice\_in\_wonderland](#): > > So - what is it? What major health threat, appart from being grossed out to death, do pinworms, uh, pardon me PINWORMS, present to the average Joe? "A common symptom associated with [PINWORM](http://www.biosci.ohio-state.edu/~parasite/enterobius.html) infections is perianal itching. " While I obviously can’t speak for anyone but myself on this matter, and the itching alone would hardly qualify as a major health threat, IMHO, having my butt itch all the time would be enough of a pain in the ass (pun intended) for me to do everything within my power to avoid getting them. Wow that was a long one… ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-woman-down-the-hall-whos-allergic-to-the-soap-in-the-ladies-room/244678/105 "2004-05-18T13:40:53Z")
> [@Excalibre](#): > > Alice, I dunno how you feel, but I’d personally much rather err on the side of not having worms come out of my butt. I don’t usually make posts like this, but that’s sig line material if I’ve ever seen it. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Cymbeline](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_cymbeline/32/9244_2.png) [@Green\_Cymbeline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Cymbeline)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-woman-down-the-hall-whos-allergic-to-the-soap-in-the-ladies-room/244678/106 "2004-05-18T15:05:04Z")
> [@Yosemite](#): > > So if you think I’m some sort of anal-rententive freak… No, actually I think you’re a certified obsessive-compulsive paranoid freak. > [@Featherlou](#): > > What I’m not getting is why people are so resistant to the idea that human hands are a rich source of infectious agents. I, for one, was never resistant to this idea. I am fully aware that there are germs on my hands. There are always germs on your hands, whether you wash or not. Your body is covered with them, and they live inside your body too. There’s billions of them inside your mouth alone. My point is, so what? They haven’t killed me yet, I’m perfectly healthy, and I am not an obsessive hand-washer. > [@alice\_in\_wonderland](#): > > I still want to know why PINWORMS are so gosh darn bad. Frankly, I’m not that interested in reading through 3 pages of mumbo jumbo to find out that the biggest thing that PINWORMS do is gross people out. So - what is it? What major health threat, appart from being grossed out to death, do pinworms, uh, pardon me PINWORMS, present to the average Joe? Alice, pinworms are akin to lice or scabies; it’s common for little kids catch them because they’re kids. They aren’t going to kill you, the worst that will happen is you’ll be a little itchy. The idea of a parasite on or in you is a little upsetting, yes; but they’re not going to permanently harm you in any way, and they are extremely easy to get rid of. > [@Yosemite](#): > > All I’m saying is that it’s gross and nasty not to wash your hands. Just like it’s gross and nasty to dump out an ashtray, or discard a dirty diaper on the ground, or smear snot. Your comparison about the ashtray or the diaper is ridiculous, because littering is illegal; pissing without washing your hands is not (well maybe if you work in food service). Apples and oranges. I guess when it really comes down to it, I really don’t understand what the worst thing is that is going to happen to me if I pee, wipe without touching myself, and don’t wash my hands? What is going to happen to me? What horrible diseases am I going to catch, or spread to you? There are probably more germs on your keyboard, your mouse, your steering wheel, or your toothbrush, than there are on my hands after I pee. ---
**Author:** ![chula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a4c791/32.png) [@chula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chula)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-woman-down-the-hall-whos-allergic-to-the-soap-in-the-ladies-room/244678/107 "2004-05-18T15:51:07Z")
> [@ruadh](#): > > The manner in which she replied to the question about washing her hands gave the clear impression that she was making up an excuse on the spot. You’d probably have to have been there. It’s interesting that you have such confidence in the infallibility of your interrogation techniques. Perhaps you could help out in some Iraqi prisons. Are you really discounting the possibility that her reaction simply showed her shock at your rudeness? ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-woman-down-the-hall-whos-allergic-to-the-soap-in-the-ladies-room/244678/108 "2004-05-18T15:53:43Z")
It wasn’t me who asked the question, dumbass. RTFP. You weren’t there, so you can’t judge how thoroughly unconvincing her reply was. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-woman-down-the-hall-whos-allergic-to-the-soap-in-the-ladies-room/244678/109 "2004-05-18T16:03:44Z")
> [@nyctea scandiaca](#): > > Alice, pinworms are akin to lice or scabies; it’s common for little kids catch them because they’re kids. They aren’t going to kill you, the worst that will happen is you’ll be a little itchy. The idea of a parasite on or in you is a little upsetting, yes; but they’re not going to permanently harm you in any way, and they are extremely easy to get rid of. Interestingly (and part of the motivation for my question), is I recall reading about a tribe (group? clan?) in either South America or Africa that, when met by western explorers/missionaries, were found to have massive parasitic worm infections in their intestines/stomachs, etc. The western explorers promtly treated these people for their infections and they (the tribe/clan/crew) promptly came down with a whole series of auto-immune issues - basically they all got sick. I’ll see if I can find the article around here somewhere. Anyhow - my point is that, while disgusting, parasitic infections aren’t necessarily a deadly infection, and, as such, are perhaps not the best way to encourage hand-washing. You wanna scare people into washing their hands tell them they can get Ebola off the toilet seat… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-woman-down-the-hall-whos-allergic-to-the-soap-in-the-ladies-room/244678/110 "2004-05-18T16:12:29Z")
**Yosemite** : Have you ever gone camping or backpacking? ---
**Author:** ![chula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a4c791/32.png) [@chula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chula)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-woman-down-the-hall-whos-allergic-to-the-soap-in-the-ladies-room/244678/111 "2004-05-18T16:34:45Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#): > > **Yosemite** : Have you ever gone camping or backpacking? Of course not. That’s _nasty_. _Nasty_ and gross. :rolleyes: I often find myself in situations where I can’t wash my hands after I use the bathroom (though I don’t go camping much). :eek: I hang out in bars where the soap dispensers are rarely refilled. I have traveled and lived in developing countries where soap in a public restroom would be a big luxury. If I thought that it was such a big fucking deal I wouldn’t be able to function. Washing your hands after using the bathroom is a good habit. Not doing it once in a while is not a big deal at all, and is very unlikely to have any consequences. It’s akin to not brushing your teeth, or any other personal hygiene habits. You really can’t expect to be able to control other people’s personal habits, no matter how disgusting ( **yosemite** : that’s a synonym for _nasty_) you think they are. One person not washing her hands doesn not amount to the major public health threat you guys make it out to be. ---
**Author:** ![ioioio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ioioio/32/316_2.png) [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-woman-down-the-hall-whos-allergic-to-the-soap-in-the-ladies-room/244678/112 "2004-05-18T16:40:30Z")
There are two ways to gain knowledge that is not readily apparent by observation: (1) read about the subject, or (2) listen to those who have expertise in the subject. If you choose to do neither of these, you are not likely to have an informed opinion on the subject. To ask, “How will it hurt _me_ if I don’t …?” misses the point, which is that we cooperate as a society to control infection and disease. Perhaps 99.9999…% of the time, there are no consequences of a skipped hand washing. However, it is unarguable that the lack of hand washing sometimes is responsible for the spread of infection. It is not practical to test everyone’s hands after they’ve used the toilet to determine who is or is not contaminated; so, as an educated society, we simply ask that everyone perform the simple act of washing their hands. It’s simple and it works. Yes, we share the world with ubiquitous “germs” (usually referring to bacteria and viruses). Most of these are harmless. Some are not. Some may be harmless to most people, but can sicken people with low immunity (infants, the elderly, people already sick). Quite a few of the nasty bugs are spread via feces; this is why societies spend a lot of money on public sewage systems. It’s also why individuals practice basic sanitary procedures to minimize the possibility of fecal contamination. In addition to “germs,” infected feces also spread parasites, such as amebae and worms. I’ve dug out my college parasitology book, Craig and Faust’s _Clinical Parasitology._ This book is over 800 pages long; it is difficult and sometimes sickening. The lay person is unlikely to read it, which means that to get the benefit of this knowledge you need to listen to someone who has read it (or similar material). My one-sentence summary of the book is, “Wash your hands frequently, especially after using the toilet.” I quote from the book’s preface: “Human behavior remains a major obstacle to control and eradication.” Concerning the _PINWORM…_ > [@](#): > > The most common means [of transmission] is direct anus-to-mouth by finger contamination. > … > Minute ulcerations may develop at the sites of attachment of the developing and mature > _Enterobius vermicularis_ in the secal and appendiceal mucosa. At times hemorrhages occur or pathogenic bacteria enter the wound and produce open ulcers or submucosal abscesses. Much more frequently the significant pathologic condition is produced by gravid females which migrate out of the anus onto the perianal and perineal skin to oviposit, setting up an almost intolerable pruritus, which results in scratching the area until it is scarified. In a majority of infected persons there is no clinical evidence of the infection. > … > Observers of the pinworm-infected children have reported a considerable proportion with poor appetite, loss of weight, restlessness, irritability, emotional instability and hyperactivity, enuresis, insomnia and masturbation. This is a tiny part of the information about the _PINWORM._ There are many other, nastier parasites, and I haven’t even touched on bacterial and viral infection spread by fecal contamination. My point is that if you’re not willing to read the literature yourself, then listen to the experts and WASH YOUR DAMN HANDS. ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-woman-down-the-hall-whos-allergic-to-the-soap-in-the-ladies-room/244678/113 "2004-05-18T16:45:52Z")
> [@nyctea scandiaca](#): > > There’s billions of them inside your mouth alone. My point is, so what? They haven’t killed me yet, I’m perfectly healthy, and I am not an obsessive hand-washer. Let’s leave you out of this for a moment—what about all the others who pick up the cooties that you spread all around with your dirty hands? And all the germs that you spread to door knobs and counters and so forth. For instance, if someone shakes hands with you and doesn’t wash them right after (because God Forbid they wash their hands or avoid shaking hands with you—that might offend you), they’ve got all the stuff _you_ didn’t wash off your hands on _their_ hands. > [@](#): > > Your comparison about the ashtray or the diaper is ridiculous, because littering is illegal; pissing without washing your hands is not (well maybe if you work in food service). Apples and oranges. This is why I keep on having to repeat myself, and then get accused of being some sort of repetitive freak. Because you DON’T PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT I’M SAYING. I said that they were all “gross” and something that most people would find objectionable. Where did I talk about which one was illegal? We’re talking _gross_ and nasty here. **lezlers** , for instance, admitted that she’d speak up if someone didn’t flush the toilet before leaving the stall. Not flushing isn’t illegal, but it is gross and nasty, isn’t it? As is smearing snot. Nasty, huh? But not illegal. But somehow it’s okay to speak up about those things, but speaking up because someone won’t wash isn’t? Why? > [@](#): > > I guess when it really comes down to it, I really don’t understand what the worst thing is that is going to happen to me if I pee, wipe without touching myself, and don’t wash my hands? What is going to happen to me? The cites I give (the ones that no one seem to want to acknowledge) don’t just talk about what it’ll do to _you_, but what it’ll do to others around you. _OTHERS_. Get it? If this was _only_ about you and what you caught or did not catch, why would I get in such a lather? Why would the OP? She’s not wringing her hands with concern over what the lady who won’t wash her hands will get, she’s just sick of everyone else **catching stuff** from people who don’t wash. ---
**Author:** ![chula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a4c791/32.png) [@chula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chula)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-woman-down-the-hall-whos-allergic-to-the-soap-in-the-ladies-room/244678/114 "2004-05-18T16:51:37Z")
> [@lainaf](#): > > To ask, “How will it hurt _me_ if I don’t …?” misses the point, which is that we cooperate as a society to control infection and disease. No, no one thinks “How will it hurt _me_ if I don’t …?” is relevant here. The question is whether one person, one time, not washing her hands represents such a dire health risk to you that it warrants being rude. ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-woman-down-the-hall-whos-allergic-to-the-soap-in-the-ladies-room/244678/115 "2004-05-18T16:52:14Z")
> [@lainaf](#): > > To ask, “How will it hurt _me_ if I don’t …?” misses the point, which is that we cooperate as a society to control infection and disease. > > … My point is that if you’re not willing to read the literature yourself, then listen to the experts and WASH YOUR DAMN HANDS. THANK YOU. As usual, someone comes along and sums it up perfectly in ways that I was apparently unable to do. ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-woman-down-the-hall-whos-allergic-to-the-soap-in-the-ladies-room/244678/116 "2004-05-18T16:55:28Z")
> [@chula](#): > > No, no one thinks “How will it hurt _me_ if I don’t …?” . Haven’t you read this thread? That’s what most of the naysayers have been saying. They talk about what it’ll do to _them_. Good grief, pay attention. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-woman-down-the-hall-whos-allergic-to-the-soap-in-the-ladies-room/244678/117 "2004-05-18T17:19:18Z")
> [@yosemite](#): > > Haven’t you read this thread? That’s what most of the naysayers have been saying. They talk about what it’ll do to _them_. Good grief, pay attention. Actually, it seems like a great percentage of the people are not asking “What will happen if I don’t wash my hands.” - most people in here, myself included, have stated that we **DO** wash, with regularity. Hell, I wash my hands about 10 times before I leave the house in the morning. I think what people are asking is “What’s going to happen if someone _ELSE_ doesn’t wash their hands, and I **DON’T** accost them in the bathroom about it.” I think a reasonable answer to that is “Not much, particularly if you avoid that person like the plague.” (Which, evidentally, you think they have.) ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-woman-down-the-hall-whos-allergic-to-the-soap-in-the-ladies-room/244678/118 "2004-05-18T18:18:39Z")
> [@alice\_in\_wonderland](#): > > Actually, it seems like a great percentage of the people are not asking “What will happen if I don’t wash my hands.” - most people in here, myself included, have stated that we **DO** wash, with regularity. How many times . . . how many times does it need to be repeated? Yes, people _are_ talking about how they don’t think it’ll hurt _them_. Look at recent posts especially. Look at the rationalizations about how urine is sterile and well, they used a lot of toilet paper anyway. > [@](#): > > I think what people are asking is “What’s going to happen if someone _ELSE_ doesn’t wash their hands, and I **DON’T** accost them in the bathroom about it.” lainaf’s post covers that: > [@](#): > > It is not practical to test everyone’s hands after they’ve used the toilet to determine who is or is not contaminated; so, **as an educated society** , we simply ask that everyone perform the simple act of washing their hands. It’s simple and it works. Saying something to someone who is not behaving in an educated manner isn’t the worst thing in the world, IMO, especially when what they are doing may cause others to get sick. > [@](#): > > I think a reasonable answer to that is “Not much, particularly if you avoid that person like the plague.” (Which, evidentally, you think they have.) As an **educated society** , we also expect people not to litter. What happens if _one_ person dumps and ashtray or a dirty diaper on the ground? Nothing. Just avoid the dirty diaper or the dumped ashtray and _you’re_ okay. No problem, right? No reason to (God Forbid) _say_ anything to (God Forbid) _embarrass_ them, right? Just step around it, it’s not your problem. This is the kind of gutlessness that I’m sick of. What’s so terrible about saying something? People get away with this kind of shit because they rely on everyone else to not embarrass them by saying something. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Cymbeline](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_cymbeline/32/9244_2.png) [@Green\_Cymbeline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Cymbeline)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-woman-down-the-hall-whos-allergic-to-the-soap-in-the-ladies-room/244678/119 "2004-05-18T19:18:14Z")
> [@yosemite](#): > > Let’s leave you out of this for a moment—what about all the others who pick up the cooties that you spread all around with your dirty hands? And all the germs that you spread to door knobs and counters and so forth. OK answer me this, then: why hasn’t everyone around me dropped dead from my “cooties”? All the people I work with, all my friends and family, my boyfriend…we’re all perfectly healthy. I just chalk up your repetitive mantra of “gross” and “nasty” to mild obsessive compulsive disorder. Your behavior matches it almost to a tee. But you need to keep in mind that your paranoia is not the norm. You have this almost paralyzing fear of germs, and you try to make others think/act the same way. Should I go around wearing a helmet 24/7 because a safe might drop on my head? No. Should I become an obsessive hand washer because there might be an ebola virus lurking about? No. I’m willing to take my chances. And as many times as I have gone backpacking or camping for days or a week, and me and all in my party survived…I’m willing to take my chances, because I am certainly not going to give that up for irrational paranoia. ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2004, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-woman-down-the-hall-whos-allergic-to-the-soap-in-the-ladies-room/244678/120 "2004-05-18T19:23:39Z")
Wow **yosemite** , you must be a laugh-riot to have at parties. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-woman-down-the-hall-whos-allergic-to-the-soap-in-the-ladies-room/244678.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-woman-down-the-hall-whos-allergic-to-the-soap-in-the-ladies-room/244678.md?page=7)