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Are you a germaphobe?

Shakiing hands is an unhealthy habit. The medieval folks wanted to show they did not bring a dagger or a sword to the meeting, good for them. Why should it stay with us?

I sometimes see older Asian folks wearing masks during flu seasons. I do not know whether they are afraid of getting an infection or are preventing others from catching their germs (or most likely, it is simply a habit that comes with living in big cities). I wish we learned it, too.
 
Germaphobe are the ones who always get sick. i.e. my DD#1...:rolleyes2:. Germs don't scare me...:praise:. has it gotten to the point that we aren't allowed to breathe in public?
 
Yes I am germophobe but my room is a mess probably laden with bacteria but because they are my own dirt I don't feel that disgusted of them.
 
If I was a true germaphobe I wouldn't be working in health care and I wouldn't have pets. I'm a frequent handwasher but forbid the purchase of antimicrobial soap. I turn the airplane seat fan on high as soon as I sit down and after I'm in any public gathering I come home and shower. I very rarely get sick, but when it comes down to it, I believe that you can take all the precautions in the world but if your immune system is weakened by stress or lack of sleep, you're going to get sick.

So yes, I'd shake your hand and then I'd run to the bathroom and wash. Then I'd leave the party early so I could get a good night's sleep.
 
No. And to be honest, I hate the whole concept of shaking hands. But I am not germaphobe. I wash my hands when I come home every time though.
 
Germs boost our immune system so yes, I would shake. I’m around germs all day long and rarely get sick.
 
Dancing Fire said:
Germaphobe are the ones who always get sick. i.e. my DD#1...:roll2:. Germs don't scare me...:praise:. has it gotten to the point that we aren't allowed to breathe in public?
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I am never sick.

You can have your fly feces on your food! I will take my cleanliness! :bigsmile:
 
Dancing Fire said:
... Germs don't scare me...:praise: ...
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It's about being aware that some germs can cause harm and taking reasonable steps to avoid that.
It's not about being scared.
 
AprilBaby said:
Germs boost our immune system so yes, I would shake. I’m around germs all day long and rarely get sick.
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Good point.
Going overboard to sterilize your environment might actually be harmful to your immune system.
It gets no 'exercise'.

I've read kids raised in homes kept extremely clean and sterile are more likely to grow up to have asthma, allergies and poor health.
Kids raised on farms surrounded with livestock feces grow up with very strong immune systems and have better health.

Everyone has to decide on their personal compromises between the extremes, but it's always good to get more information.
Only recently did I learn the importance of thoroughly drying ones hands after washing them.
I wish mom and dad taught me that as a kid.
 
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I remember my mom's friends, a couple, he, a renowned biologist, and she, a super-talented physicist. (You know houses where they would always feed you, no matter what, and the food is awesome, but cleanliness on the low end? I suspect because these people always have friends in and they are too nice to ask the guests to take the shoes off?) Anyhow, i remember their joke, "the bug is smart. He does not want to live in squalor, he dies from dirt". They both lived long and happy lives, with all their bugs, left great posterity and died of old age.
 
kenny said:
Good point.
Going overboard to sterilize your environment might actually be harmful to your immune system.
It gets no 'exercise'.

I've read kids raised in homes kept extremely clean and sterile are more likely to grow up to have asthma, allergies and poor health.
Kids raised on farms surrounded with livestock feces grow up with very strong immune systems and have better health.

Everyone has to decide on their personal compromises between the extremes, but it's always good to get more information.
Only recently did I learn the importance of thoroughly drying ones hands after washing them.
I wish mom and dad taught me that as a kid.
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That is so true. And I can attest to that.


 
The hygiene hypothesis. It's why I don't buy antibacterial soap.
 
House Cat said:
I am never sick.

You can have your fly feces on your food! I will take my cleanliness! :bigsmile:
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:lickout:...I'm sure I ate fly feces quite a few times when we BBQ outside. I'm still alive after all these yrs...:praise:. Too many people is over paranoid about germs.
 
PumpkinOrange said:
That is so true. And I can attest to that.


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OMG.
That skit is hilarious!

MadTV really knew how to generate a strong reaction in viewers!
This one has same actors two male actors.

 
Dancing Fire said:
:lickout:...I'm sure I ate fly feces quite a few times when we BBQ outside. I'm still alive after all these yrs...:praise:. Too many people is over paranoid about germs.
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Oh well. :wall:
At least you have good taste in diamonds. :dance:
 
Nope. Grew up on a farm surrounded by cow manure, horse poop, chicken sh*t, etc. Dug in the garden for nightcrawlers with which to fish WITH MY BARE LITTLE FIVE YEAR OLD HANDS.
I had bronchitis from living with a smoker (my dad) in the house, but I don't remember any other illnesses. No ear infections, no flu. I had chickenpox at 5 and strep/mono at 14 but aside from a cold here and there that was it.

I still garden without gloves. I let my daughter play in the dirt and basically only wash her hands before she eats if that's the way things go. I've never kept her from doing things because I was concerned about germs. I think she had a fever 1-2x as a baby. No ear infections, no other health issues at all.

My mother bleaches EVERYTHING. All the time. Guess who is always sick? She is a very extreme case, but I believe most of her health issues are due to isolating herself almost completely from environmental germs and bacteria. She is allergic to almost everything now, can't use makeup or eat most foods without becoming violently ill. She's been tested extensively and doctors have no explanation for her reactions. We used to kind of mock her for her extreme levels of cleanliness and she'd say "well, no one ever got sick under MY roof!" Um...
 
Germs? Try living with a cat and a dog, as they do not wipe their paws with alcohol gel when they come into the house!
So, no, I am not a germaphobe, and would avoid any cleaning products with antimicrobial agents.
The last time I had antibiotics was for a tooth abscess about 5 years ago.
I strongly believe a bit of germs is good for the body.
DK :))
 
monarch64 said:
Nope. Grew up on a farm surrounded by cow manure, horse poop, chicken sh*t, etc. Dug in the garden for nightcrawlers with which to fish WITH MY BARE LITTLE FIVE YEAR OLD HANDS.
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Exactly, people who grew up on a farm have very strong immune systems. They hardly ever get sick. Most of my germaphobe friends always get sick and have allergies symptoms such as runny nose, sneezing, and itchy eyes. They can't figure out why I don't have allergies symptoms in the springtime.
 
I was kind of amused that @kenny seems to be my cleanliness twin...right down to the gloves.

However I'm kind of relaxed when it comes to all things countryside. I still think the immune system needs to be trained and exposure to good old school farm dirt and fresh air is good for kids and adults.
Bacteria / viruses of too many people in large cities... not so much.
Hand sanitizer / anti bacterial soaps and detergents have been shown to be pretty toxic and also lead to resistances in bacteria (survival of the fittest).
So normal soap and frequent HOT cycles for the washing machine.
 
Dancing Fire said:
Exactly, people who grew up on a farm ...
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... & some experience of life far from running water makes that exotic eatery of yours very run of the mill indeed. Always thought that those 'germs' must be friendly - since we are sharing a meal ,-) - in the lustruous medical facilities I feel dined on ... which makes me somewhat of a germaphobe ...
 
valeria101 said:
... & some experience of life far from running water makes that exotic eatery of yours very run of the mill indeed. Always thought that those 'germs' must be friendly - since we are sharing a meal ,-) - in the lustruous medical facilities I feel dined on ... which makes me somewhat of a germaphobe ...
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There are many harmful "germs" that would happily share a meal with you. I took an extensive food safety class when I was 19 years old and managing a food restaurant. E.coli, hepatitis, salmonella, listeria, just to name a few. People die from these illnesses.

https://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/diseases/

Food safety practices aren't put into place for prissy missies like myself. They keep people alive. I can't tell you the horror stories that I know from that class and also from working at a large insurance agency that covered restaurants.

When I see things such as people dumping new food into old food, I leave. Why? Because that new food takes on the age of the old food. If that is the practice of the restaurant, there is a possibility that food is weeks or months old. NO THANK YOU, that is how young children get very, very sick.

It's ok not to be too paranoid (like me.) But don't kid yourself. If a place is filthy, you are definitely taking a risk with your health. You are not building an immunity to E.coli or listeria. If you eat it, you will be sick.
 
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