I think that’s the crux of it. You don’t think it’s gross enough, I do.
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.
And some of us do. Like we’d question someone who dumped a dirty diaper or dumped an ashtray.
That’s my point.
I don’t either. Because we’ve both made our points. And I don’t think it’s just me getting repetetive here.
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 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.
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?
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.
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.
"A common symptom associated with PINWORM 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.
No, actually I think you’re a certified obsessive-compulsive paranoid freak.
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, 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.
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.
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?
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…
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.
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…
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.)
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.
lainaf’s post covers that:
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.
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.
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.
