# Who else gets creeped out by this common practice. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 31, 2009, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-else-gets-creeped-out-by-this-common-practice/491392 "2009-03-31T02:56:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![HumanMonkeyGod](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c67d28/32.png) [@HumanMonkeyGod](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HumanMonkeyGod)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2009, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-else-gets-creeped-out-by-this-common-practice/491392/61 "2009-03-31T19:12:47Z")
> [@elmwood](#): > > Think it would have something to do with any wax that would get sprayed onto the cake from the candles? I was also thinking wax droplets or something…but you can see if a cake’s had candles usually. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2009, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-else-gets-creeped-out-by-this-common-practice/491392/62 "2009-03-31T19:21:45Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > I think they meant these people have kids, and the parents sleep together. That wouldn’t make sense though, because that’s the norm in most families. You’ve never heard of co-sleeping? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2009, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-else-gets-creeped-out-by-this-common-practice/491392/63 "2009-03-31T19:27:46Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > Yep. I never had a problem with cakes someone had blown out the candles on until I saw that episode. Sweet alien Jesus that was nasty. It literally made me want to barf up all the birthday cake I’ve ever eaten in my entire life. Since your stomach acids have been working on it, it’s probably safer to eat. I mean, re-eat. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2009, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-else-gets-creeped-out-by-this-common-practice/491392/64 "2009-03-31T19:41:39Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > If you’re around in a few hours, I’ll even show you the reverse. I can has cheezy poops? ---
**Author:** ![legalsnugs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/45deac/32.png) [@legalsnugs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/legalsnugs)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2009, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-else-gets-creeped-out-by-this-common-practice/491392/65 "2009-03-31T19:59:51Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > Well, pretty much **everything** that you encounter in a day has germs on it unless it’s been sterilized (and I’m not talking run through a dishwasher, I mean lab sterilization). What matters is how many germs and how bad they are. Thanks. That was kinda my point, but I haven’t seen the show so I didn’t know what it said about plain old non-exhaled-on cake. I’m with \*\*scumpup \*\*- let the OCD/germaphobes do what they want; it leaves more cake for me! Who wants sterilized cake anyway? Okay, I would eat sterilized cake, too. ---
**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:** [March 31, 2009, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-else-gets-creeped-out-by-this-common-practice/491392/66 "2009-03-31T20:00:23Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Yes, the Chorus Girls watched my wife pick up the cake nobody else would eat, and waited for her to chow down before saying anything. Reminds me of the time my son took a mouthful of soup, then put it back in the bowl because it was too hot. No one said anything until _after_ his grandma had finished it for him. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2009, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-else-gets-creeped-out-by-this-common-practice/491392/67 "2009-03-31T20:05:02Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > That wouldn’t make sense though, because that’s the norm in most families. > > You’ve never heard of co-sleeping? Yep. Boyo Jim was asking because he wondered how they could even have children or sleep together if they are that worried about germs. kittenblue answered that yes, they do both, not that the kids sleep with them. > [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Do these kind of people EVER have sex? Do your brother and wife have kids? > > Poor guy – unless he cheats or dumps her, he will never again have oral sex. > [@kittenblue](#): > > And they have kids. And sleep in the same bed. Beyond that, I don’t want to know! ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2009, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-else-gets-creeped-out-by-this-common-practice/491392/68 "2009-03-31T20:08:45Z")
> [@legalsnugs](#): > > Thanks. That was kinda my point, but I haven’t seen the show so I didn’t know what it said about plain old non-exhaled-on cake. I’m with \*\*scumpup \*\*- let the OCD/germaphobes do what they want; it leaves more cake for me! Who wants sterilized cake anyway? > > Okay, I would eat sterilized cake, too. See, I’d eat cake that a friend had blown on (unless I knew he had hepatitis or something, as previously mentioned), but a kid? Oh no. Kids are filthy. I just think of it as encouragement to stay on my healthier eating plan. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2009, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-else-gets-creeped-out-by-this-common-practice/491392/69 "2009-03-31T20:09:00Z")
There is no fucking way to avoid all germs. Even if you live in a plastic bubble, you got all sorts of germs inside you. Stressing out over germs will kill you faster than 99% of any germ will. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2009, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-else-gets-creeped-out-by-this-common-practice/491392/70 "2009-03-31T20:44:09Z")
Think surface area, people. If the birthday boy or girl has been a bit exuberant in their candle blowing, simply take a knife and slice the top layer of frosting off. Geesh. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2009, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-else-gets-creeped-out-by-this-common-practice/491392/71 "2009-03-31T20:50:37Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > Think surface area, people. If the birthday boy or girl has been a bit exuberant in their candle blowing, simply take a knife and slice the top layer of frosting off. > > Geesh. NNNNOOOOOOO! Better to slice the child’s head off so it doesn’t ruin the cake! ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2009, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-else-gets-creeped-out-by-this-common-practice/491392/72 "2009-03-31T20:55:22Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Stressing out over germs will kill you faster than 99% of any germ will. What if I’m stressing out over finding only 1% remaining in my punctured knapsack of _C. Botulinum_? Eh? Figure _that_ one out, math whiz! ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2009, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-else-gets-creeped-out-by-this-common-practice/491392/73 "2009-03-31T21:14:43Z")
> [@billfish678](#): > > Number One’s lemonade stand business isnt booming either…go figure Actually, Number One Nephew thinks outside is icky and is much more interested in his electronic games and doodads. I figure, in about 10 years, he’ll be posting quips on the 'Dope. However, even he’ll eat cake his brother has gotten to. 'Cause, hey, cake! ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2009, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-else-gets-creeped-out-by-this-common-practice/491392/74 "2009-03-31T21:28:17Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > If you’re around in a few hours, I’ll even show you the reverse. Now that was a good answer! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2009, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-else-gets-creeped-out-by-this-common-practice/491392/75 "2009-03-31T22:36:31Z")
Well, I wouldn’t want people going around gratuitously blowing over \*everything \*I ate, but that doesn’t translate to freaking out over a piece of birthday cake. I agree that’s crossing over into OCD territory. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![gaffa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e68b1a/32.png) [@gaffa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gaffa)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-else-gets-creeped-out-by-this-common-practice/491392/76 "2009-04-01T00:05:55Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > It’s not possible to avoid germs. You get germs in and out all day, no matter how careful you are. That’s why we have these things called “immune systems.” People are much better off just letting their immune systems do their jobs instead of torturing themselves with worry over every doorknob and water faucet. THis reminds me of a wonderful bit in Ralph Leighton’s book [Tuva or Bust](http://www.amazon.com/Tuva-Bust-Richard-Feynmans-Journey/dp/0393320693/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238543744&sr=8-1) about traveling via train through the old Soviet Union to get to Tuva. The train chambermaid brought them glasses of sweetened tea, and later he looked to see how she washed the glasses. She just swished them in warm water - pretty much the ideal medium for bacterial growth. The end result? Everyone had a mild sore throat then was perfectly fine the rest of the trip. **Not** being germophobic provided them with an inoculation against anything they were likely to encounter on the rest of their trip. ---
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-else-gets-creeped-out-by-this-common-practice/491392/77 "2009-04-01T00:10:21Z")
To speak in my defense - I did say that I’ll eat the cake; I’m just uncomfortably aware of a kind of icky thing. I’m certainly aware that germs are everywhere, and I’m equally aware, as I imagine most people with similar hangups are on some level, that it’s _completely irrational_. It makes less sense than my irrational phobia of open water. No matter how picky I am about food I consume and how frequently I wash my hands, I’m still deluged by viruses and bacteria and other people’s skin cells and various other foreign bodies. I know that nothing can change that, and that the chances of anything remotely unpleasant happening because of it is minimal, but there’s the human brain for you: illogical and rather ridiculous. I know it’s stupid, but I still can’t shake the “eewwww” feeling. ---
**Author:** ![pbbth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@pbbth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pbbth)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-else-gets-creeped-out-by-this-common-practice/491392/78 "2009-04-01T00:14:20Z")
I would not eat birthday cake that was blown on by: -people with communicable diseases -animals -Hitler Any other cake is welcome in my belly. ---
**Author:** ![flex727](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/258eb7/32.png) [@flex727](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flex727)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-else-gets-creeped-out-by-this-common-practice/491392/79 "2009-04-01T00:14:41Z")
Ask your SIL if she eats peanut butter. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2009, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-else-gets-creeped-out-by-this-common-practice/491392/80 "2009-04-01T00:17:09Z")
> [@gaffa](#): > > THis reminds me of a wonderful bit in Ralph Leighton’s book [Tuva or Bust](http://www.amazon.com/Tuva-Bust-Richard-Feynmans-Journey/dp/0393320693/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1238543744&sr=8-1) about traveling via train through the old Soviet Union to get to Tuva. The train chambermaid brought them glasses of sweetened tea, and later he looked to see how she washed the glasses. She just swished them in warm water - pretty much the ideal medium for bacterial growth. The end result? Everyone had a mild sore throat then was perfectly fine the rest of the trip. **Not** being germophobic provided them with an inoculation against anything they were likely to encounter on the rest of their trip. :dubious: I worked in pediatrics for years and had colds all the damned time. I’ve been pretty healthy (WRT bacteria/viruses) ever since getting out of that department. I’m not crazily anti-germ but since I’ve worked with a lot of patients with compromised immune systems, I’ve tried to be careful with hand-washing and following other workplace precautions. It’s all well and good to claim that you need to challenge your immune system, but at some point you might well screw over someone who can’t afford that. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-else-gets-creeped-out-by-this-common-practice/491392.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-else-gets-creeped-out-by-this-common-practice/491392.md?page=5)