"Excuse me... may I borrow your cell phone?"

[uni57]

A middle-aged man in a fast-food restaurant asked if he could borrow my phone. We were both waiting for our food to cook.

"Excuse me. May I borrow your cell phone? I left mine home. I'll pay for the call."

"Um, sure. You don't have to pay for the call."

"Thanks. Can you dial the number for me? I don't have my glasses."

"Sure." (thinking to myself, you don't even own a cell phone and you don't know how to dial it)

He looked old-ish. His was adequately polite and dressed casually (not "nice" but far from being a bum). He didn't look obviously diseased or sick. So I handed him my cell phone. He made a short call to meet up with someone. He closed the phone, handed it back to me, thanked me again, got his "to go" food, and left.

End of story.

THEN...

I thought about holding the phone up to my face after some stranger talked on it. I actually wrapped the phone in napkins (as if it had fallen into the toilet) so I didn't have to touch it. Later, I sprayed it with a bleach solution to sterilize it. I really drenched it with bleach and wiped it with a bleach-soaked paper towel. Then it felt clean.

I will not loan my phone to a stranger again.

Am I paranoid? I've used public phones before. But this was MY phone. And that guy... who knows? Did he wash his hands after going to the bathroom? Does he have some contagious disease?

Also, could I have gotten scammed? The number was local, but if he had dialed the number himself, he could have called any number and I wouldn't find out until later.

Would YOU loan your cell phone to a stranger? My phone was in my pocket and not obvious that I had one. I could have told a white lie (http://www.unicyclist.com/forums/showthread.php?t=59307) and said I didn't have one. What would you do?

[Poseidon]

Only people I know get to use my phone... but they have to pay for it (usually) I have pay-as-you-go and its outrageouley priced.

[mawesome]

they have to pay for it (usually) I have pay-as-you-go and its outrageouley priced.

Like $1200 per call?

I usually just use the excuse "Sorry mate, I'm out of credit." Even if you're not on pre-paid, who's gonna check to make sure?

[habbywall]

"I was just about to ask you the same thing."
Look dumbfounded away. Then continue your buisness.

[saskatchewanian]

I hardly ever carry my phone on me so i usually use a pay-phone but they are often broken so i have asked complete strangers if i could use their phones a few times. If they admit they have one they lend it to me. I always offer to pay for the call but they have always decline the offer.

If someone asked if they could borrow my phone i would gladly let them use it after they assure me it would be a short call because it is outrageously expensive.

ERIC

[timbob1907]

I usually just say that I dont have one or I really need to go and cant wait. I really dont want others to use it if I dont know them. So I just dont.

[muzzle]

I thought about holding the phone up to my face after some stranger talked on it. I actually wrapped the phone in napkins (as if it had fallen into the toilet) so I didn't have to touch it. Later, I sprayed it with a bleach solution to sterilize it. I really drenched it with bleach and wiped it with a bleach-soaked paper towel. Then it felt clean.

I will not loan my phone to a stranger again.

Am I paranoid? I've used public phones before. But this was MY phone. And that guy... who knows? Did he wash his hands after going to the bathroom? Does he have some contagious disease?

Contagious like bird flu? Oh yeah, thats an airborne virus as far as I know. If this guy breathed in your general direction you could be infected! You might die in just a few months!
As far as I know, AIDS is sexually transmitted not by phone. If you have ever used a public space you would know your more likely to catch something off a door handle or a handshake, although a phone can be a good transmitter. Statistics of being infected is low even in high density situations. Your probably more likely to get sick from the food you're being served, of the utensils you use to eat it.

Think about this one: You touch something with your hand, you touch your face... Then you are at risk.
So, my advice is to avoid touching anything and stay inside! Agoraphobia is the only way to stay safe from the world!

[johnfoss]

I liked your idea of dialing the phone for the person, so you keep them from dialing some outrageous long distance or something. I think my calls are free on evenings and weekends so local or U.S. long distance wouldn't be a problem.

If you have cooties like Howie Mandell, you should start by asking yourslef if you opened the door of the restaurant with your bare hand, or were you wearing gloves? Germs are everywhere, especially when lots of people are around.

[uni57]

Okay, a smelly old man who hasn't bathed in two days presses your phone to the oily skin of his ear (which visibly smears onto your phone) and puffs his foul, cigarette-smelling breath onto your phone. You like this? Not me. (it wasn't this bad)

Yes, germs are everywhere. I'm saying the phone didn't feel clean. Yes, I opened the germ transmission vector [door handle] of the restaurant with my bare hands. But did I touch the door handle on the way out of the restroom? No. That's one vector I avoid.

What if he coughed into the phone? Someone at the office where I work a few years ago was diagnosed with tuberculosis. I don't want that on my phone. It's not likely to happen. But the point is that you don't know. And it's easily preventable.

Would you swap shirts with that old man? Would you kiss him? Take a bite of his sandwich? How "intimate" would you get? All these things would probably be safe. But would you do it? I simply didn't like the idea of my phone being plastered to his face. It wasn't just a germ issue. The phone didn't feel clean. I didn't like where it had been.

[kington99]

I wouldn't loan someone my phone without a reasonable explanation of why they needed it, and would have to be something atleast vaguely emergencyesque i.e. i've missed the last bus, I need my parents to come pick me up.

[dan de man]

kinda thread jacking

one day im going to ask if I can borrow someones cell phone and im going to act all serious but im going to order a pizza ,gunna be funny

[cool-bananas]

only in an emergency or my mates

[mattsmith]

How paranoid are you?
Have you never used a phone after a sick person? I don't mean deathly sick, I mean normal sick. Most viral infections are passed through common touch.
It's not like he wiped his crack with it or mopped at his weeping willy wound with the mic side.

Anyway, yes I would loan my mobile if I had one.
3 conditions: I dial the number. Premium rate number risks and whatnot.
There's got to be nowhere to run.
They've at least got to offer some money for the call.

The reason? I've scrounged a lot of mobile calls myself. Without the kindness of strangers I'd have been stuffed on many occasions.

Now I'm wondering if any of them to a scouring pad to their phone after I used it.

[wickedbob]

Normally where I live I just day "Sorry my minutes are to low"....or just say that I do not have a pone at all... I do on occasion let people barrow it I really don't mind all that much (I am unlimited minutes even long distance) before it was like Christmas and we were in a store and some woman asked to barrow it so I let her turns out it was to see what her kid wanted.......................I would say like 49 out of 50 times I make an excuse so I don't have to let them barrow it.........

[Poseidon]

Like $1200 per call?

I usually just use the excuse "Sorry mate, I'm out of credit." Even if you're not on pre-paid, who's gonna check to make sure?

No, its 25 cents per minute, for the first 10 minutes of each day. Then its 10 cents for each additional minute. Which is outrageous!

But I like yours more, I'll just say I'm out of credit. Lol

[JJuggle]

In three plus years of having a cellphone I've never had anyone ask to borrow it. But I have offered to let strangers use it.

[thejdw]

My story:
walking around a shopping center with friend and this guy comes up to us and asked if either of us would lend him a phone. Befor friend could answer I said neither of us had a phone but I would give him money for a pay phone. He then said never mind and walked off. Minuets later I heard somebody shout: "HEY that guys nicked my phone!". I wonder If it was they guy who I spoke to earler?

[Hazmat]

My story:
walking around a shopping center with friend and this guy comes up to us and asked if either of us would lend him a phone. Befor friend could answer I said neither of us had a phone but I would give him money for a pay phone. He then said never mind and walked off. Minuets later I heard somebody shout: "HEY that guys nicked my phone!". I wonder If it was they guy who I spoke to earler?
Probably was for you to hear it moments L8R. :eek:

[thejdw]

Probably was for you to hear it moments L8R. :eek:
was about 4mins later

[Hazmat]

was about 4mins later
My guess is it was. :eek:

[ivan]

My guess is it was. :eek:
I don't think you've got enough information to make a guess like that.

[Hazmat]

I don't think you've got enough information to make a guess like that.
Yeah true. Oh well.

[burjzyntski]

If someone is gutsy enough to ask me to borrow my phone, I believe that they must really need to use it for something important. I know how difficult it is to ask a stranger to borrow a phone, and how you'd rather look around for $0.50 to make a call from a payphone, so if someone really needs to use my phone, sure, what the hell, go for it. I live in a pretty good area so I don't feel as though anyone would run off with it, and even if they did, I have all of my contact's numbers backed up in a text file in case I lose/break my phone.

I'm not what people would consider mysophobic, but I always flush public toilets with my feet, wash my hands, and then open the door with my knee or foot. Sometimes when I have to lift up a toilet seat I get a sick sensation, but then I just wash my hands and I feel better. If someone were to use my phone and leave sweat on the screen or something, a quick wipe-off on my shirt/pants is enough to satisfy me.

[U-Turn]

It's your phone, my friend; do with it what you please. You could even make the call for the person without ever letting go of it.

For me, I'd probably dial it for the person and give it to them to use. If it came back a little messy, I'd wipe it off. If it didn't come back, well, it's just a phone. If the person was too "unpleasant" physically, I might just freeze up and tell a white lie, or just say something less sophisticated like, "sorry, I don't do that", then feel guilty afterwards.

[kington99]

I always flush public toilets with my feet

Ever stop to think how that handle could get dirty in the first place? Maybe someone putting their foot on it?

[johnfoss]

Okay, a smelly old man who hasn't bathed in two days presses your phone to the oily skin of his ear (which visibly smears onto your phone) and puffs his foul, cigarette-smelling breath onto your phone.*That* guy wouldn't be holding my phone. :)

But did I touch the door handle on the way out of the restroom? No. That's one vector I avoid.I know what you mean, I try to do that as well. Unfortunately you usually have to pull those doors...

Would you swap shirts with that old man? Would you kiss him? Take a bite of his sandwich? How "intimate" would you get? Oddly enough, what I thought about on those questions was "If he were a unicyclist it would be much more likely. I remember doing a symbolic T-shirt exchange with a Japanese guy at (I think) the 1982 USA National Convention. We were both fairly ripe and sweatty! Ew.

But then again, often when faced with such things these days, my response is "I've been to China." Not the cleanest place in the world, at least when we were there (1993 and 2000). I'm sure there are dirtier places also, but when you combine a low-cleanliness standards country with a major city (Beijing) you get a lot of opportunities for germs. Same for NYC!

Not sure if it would occur to me to watch for the person sprinting off with my phone. I will now. I suppose I'd start by asking what would be the nature of the call, and if the person can't be specific enough I'll say no.

[headstone]

No, its 25 cents per minute, for the first 10 minutes of each day. Then its 10 cents for each additional minute. Which is outrageous!

But I like yours more, I'll just say I'm out of credit. Lol

You actually make people fish out 35 cents after they use your phone?

[MuniAddict]

I'm going to invent a "cell phone condom!" :p For the express purpose of letting a stranger use your cell phone. It's a biodegradible paper jacket that slips over the phone, still allowing all the functions to be easily accessed and when finished, simply discard. It's called the "Cell shell".:D

[headstone]

They already have that exact product with that exact name.

http://www.textually.org/textually/archives/images/set2/handset_condom_2.jpg

I wonder if it's lubricated...

[MuniAddict]

They already have that exact product with that exact name.

http://www.textually.org/textually/archives/images/set2/handset_condom_2.jpg

I wonder if it's lubricated...Haha that's a riot! But it doesn't go all the way up to cover the ear part. I don't want some stranger's ear wax clogging up those little holes in the ear part:eek: My god can you imagine Spock using it? That would totally illogical! :)

[uni57]

*That* guy wouldn't be holding my phone. :)Come on, germs are everywhere! Okay, so everybody has their limits.

Oddly enough, what I thought about on those questions was "If he were a unicyclist it would be much more likely."Actually, I had those same thoughts about lending out my cell phone. Plus, the younger the person, the less I would mind. If it were a kid, I wouldn't give it a second thought, especially if they were a unicyclist, which has happened a bunch of times. And regarding old people, a woman borrowing my phone is better than a man borrowing my phone (who is more likely to have scratched their crotch, for example, before touching my phone?).

This issue is not so much about germs, which a healthy immune system can take care of. It's about the gross-out factor and the feeling of being clean. If that guy had been in his 30s or younger, instead of being in his 50s, I doubt this thread would exist (no offense to our 50-somethings -- you guys are in a different category). And I'm reluctant to add, if he were in a suit and looked like a CEO, I probably wouldn't have given it much thought.

Any unicyclist may borrow my phone at any time.

[monkeyman]

Dave, may I borrow your phone? I'll PM you my address.

[boo radley]

I still use public pay phones. It will probably be the death of me.

[uni57]

Dave, may I borrow your phone? I'll PM you my address.Absolutely. And I'll use it right after you without sterilizing it.

[Chexjc]

In conclusion: Yes, you are being paranoid. What kind of world is it if everyone is afraid of everyone?

EDIT: Just out of curiosity...What would've been your reaction had it been an extremely attractive women?

[tobbogonist]

cell phone?

Or 'cell'?

slang is cool!

[monkeyman]

In conclusion: Yes, you are being paranoid. What kind of world is it if everyone is afraid of everyone?

EDIT: Just out of curiosity...What would've been your reaction had it been an extremely attractive women?

I'll chime in and say I'd be a lot more likely to give my phone to her. Most people would. I'd rather a nice healthy face be touching my phone then a wart covered, oily face. Wouldn't you?

[Chexjc]

I'll chime in and say I'd be a lot more likely to give my phone to her. Most people would. I'd rather a nice healthy face be touching my phone then a wart covered, oily face. Wouldn't you?

Yea i'd do the same. But wouldn't you suspect today's adolesence (especially attractive females) to be the most likely carrier of some weird viral infection?

I don't think old guys get around too much these days.

Did you know 80% of people carry the Herpes virus (the non-genital kind)? Only 20% of that 80% show syptoms though (coldsores).

[uni57]

In conclusion: Yes, you are being paranoid. What kind of world is it if everyone is afraid of everyone?Well, I did ask for opinions. I'll agree that I'm more sensitive than many people, but I'm not paranoid. You cannot validly conclude that I am afraid of everybody.

Do your hands feel clean after riding the subway? Clearly, you should wash your hands after touching public germ vectors, such as shopping cart handles, elevator buttons, ATM buttons, shared pens, shared computer keyboards, doorknobs and door handles. Do your hands feel clean after going shopping? Guess what... they're not. Wash your hands. You don't have to be afraid of everybody or afraid of germs to know this is the right thing to do.

This is not paranoia. This is common sense.

So who are the people spreading germs around on these surfaces? I met one of them. He touched my phone. I have no way of knowing his level of hygene or health. Maybe he doesn't wash his hands well because he has arthritis and he can't see well.

If it were an attractive woman? I probably would have put the phone back in my pocket and forgotten about it. She's in a different category than the old man. Like I said before, this is more about the feeling of being clean, not the actual germs. I don't want even indirect contact with the random old man.

[Chexjc]

When I use public facilities and forms of transportation, the last thing on my mind is "man, i'd better wash my hands when I get home." I don't think many people think that way at all. Except of course if they are 'paranoid.' To constantly think about washing your hands after shopping, opening doors, etc, is kind of obssesive compulsive isn't it? I'm just stating my opinion though, you're right. But i think a majority of the general public does not think about the spreading of germs as much as you seem to. The one object, like you said, that I, and i'd presume most people avoid touching, is the public restroom door handle. It's probably touched so infrequently that it's more sanitary than the wooden door just above it lol. I don't understand why you'd be less concerned had it been an attractive women that used your phone. For all you know, she could've been mackin it with the old man just beforehand lol.

[uni57]

But i think a majority of the general public does not think about the spreading of germs as much as you seem to.Ah, all the more justification for my "paranoia".

And if the woman was making it with the old man? Well, then I'm two levels of indirect contact away from the old man instead of just one. Again, this is not so much about logic, but about how I feel.

[Chexjc]

Ah, all the more justification for my "paranoia".

And if the woman was making it with the old man? Well, then I'm two levels of indirect contact away from the old man instead of just one. Again, this is not so much about logic, but about how I feel.

Okay lol

I didn't mean to sound like a jerk in that statement btw.

No hard feelings.

[uni57]

Okay lol

I didn't mean to sound like a jerk in that statement btw.

No hard feelings.No of course not. I didn't take it that way. You are cool. And you can borrow my cell phone any time. I won't sterilize it afterwards.

And I'm still pondering some of the things you said. Maybe the general public doesn't think about the spreading of germs as much as they should. And the correct level of worry is less that I worry.

I see people use a public rest room and leave without washing their hands. And I've seen people use the toilet, crank the paper towel dispenser (with their dirty hands), then wash their hands, then use the already-dispensed paper towel. That way, they don't touch ANYTHING after washing their hands. (Then I come along, wash my hands, and use the dirty paper towel dispenser knob. I end up putting onto my clean hands their germs, parasites, fecal matter (a.k.a. shit), or whatever else they accidentally got on their hands when they wiped their butt. Out of their ass and into my mouth, nose, or eyes. You can't win. But you can take reasonable precautions and have a healthy immune system.)

[Chexjc]

Yea, I've actually seen a set of instructions in a public restroom on how to do that. Dispense towel, Wash hands, turn off faucet, dry hands on towel, then use towel to open door and dispose in conveniently located garbage. Thats clever..a little complex though lol. Why not carry around latex gloves. I'll admit, i'm not one to always wash my hands after using a urinal. It depends on the circumstances...If it is a motion activated urinal, then i'm not touching anything but my own junk. If i have to flush, then i'll definitely wash my hands. It also depends on the faucet..if its motion activated, then i'll wash my hands regardless. Its just something about 'touching.' Sometimes i feel like you're only increasing your risk of contracting germs by washing your hands in public facilities i guess. I'm in college. The dorms are disgusting, std infested, germ pools to put it lightly. A community bathroom, with no motion activated sensors, where toilets aren't always flushed for #1. I always wash my hands here though, it's too easy to get sick in the dorms. They recently put a little purell hand sanitizer box next to the exit that I find myself using frequently.

[uni57]

Wow, you are paranoid! Just kidding.

I read that urine is basically sterile. In fact, doctors used to taste their patients' urine to test for diabetes.

If you dispense the paper towel first, you spread your germs to the handle and screw it up for the rest of us. I don't like spreading my germs to others (not that they are thinking much about it, as we previously established).

Don't think that I'm totally paranoid, but I press common public surfaces with my knuckle. I bend my fingers and press elevator buttons, doors, paper towel dispenser levers, etc., with the knuckle of my middle finger (because it's longer than the others). [edit: the "middle knuckle" -- the joint in the middle of your finger] I'll put the germs there instead of the pad of my finger which I may later use to rub my eye or touch food with. Who says there is only one way to press a button or lever? And if you need more control (for typing a pin number or a door combination), you can also use the back of your pointing finger -- use your fingernail. If you need more power, you can brace that finger with your thumb.

These are just techniques and "best practices" that help me avoid germs. I don't worry about germs or take unreasonable measures to avoid them. In other words, I'm not paranoid. I'm not; I'm not; I'm not! :) Your best protection is a healthy immune system. Everyone is exposed to germs all the time every day. You cannot and should not avoid this. But you don't have to go looking for trouble, either.

[Chexjc]

In fact, doctors used to taste their patients' urine to test for diabetes.

Hmm.. never heard that before. I have heard of people applying their own urine to their face to get rid of wrinkles though.

Don't think that I'm totally paranoid, but I press common public surfaces with my knuckle.

Haha. What about the using of the elbow/wrist to open the bathroom door?

[uni57]

What about the using of the elbow/wrist to open the bathroom door?I try to be discreet about my paranoia. :)

[Hazmat]

Haha. What about the using of the elbow/wrist to open the bathroom door?
I once saw someone open the toilet door at a doctors office with his teeth. :confused: and they had hands and legs. so yeah

[uni57]

I once saw someone open the toilet door at a doctors office with his teeth. :confused: WOW and LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Did you ask him why? Explain that you may someday post his seemingly INSANE behavior on the Internet, and it would be nice to know what possessed him to do that. Wow, I'm still laughing about that.

[maestro8]

This issue is not so much about germs, which a healthy immune system can take care of. It's about the gross-out factor and the feeling of being clean.
Do you know that there are mites living in your hair and eyelashes, feeding on dead skin cells? ...and should you manage to shake these mites off, there are more waiting for you at home, in your clothes, your bed, your carpet, and anywhere else that you might have left some skin cells behind.

Itch yourself, and you get some skin cells under your fingernails... feeding the bacteria that live there. Ever have gas? That's because the bacteria in your intestine have been working overtime.

Between your skin and your gut, you've got around 200 species of bacteria living in you. In fact, by the numbers, you've WAY more bacteria living in/on you than you have cells in your body. Each square centimeter of your skin (about 1/4 the size of a postage stamp) hosts around 1,000 bacteria. Read more here... (http://www.textbookofbacteriology.net/normalflora.html)

What about all the particulate matter in the air you breathe? Where does that go? It gets trapped by the hairs in your nose and throat. That matter then gets carried out of your sinuses and down your throat. Unconsciously, you're eating your own dirty mucous.

If you really think about it, Dave, there's no such thing as clean. So don't delude yourself into thinking a handi-wipe, or even a body condom, is going to keep you safe from anything. :D

[maestro8]

Edit: double post. Guess my clicking finger's got a case of Parkinson's.

[ivan]

I'm going to invent a "cell phone condom!" :p For the express purpose of letting a stranger use your cell phone. It's a biodegradible paper jacket that slips over the phone, still allowing all the functions to be easily accessed and when finished, simply discard. It's called the "Cell shell".:D
You can also make a one metre lead to stop people from running away with your phone.

Or put a high-voltage zapper in the phone which is remotely controlled. If they start to run, they'll feel your discontent.

[kington99]

Hmm.. never heard that before.

It's true, diabetes often results in high urine sugar content, to the extent the urine tastes sweet and thus this was used to detect diabetes before more rigorous methods were invented.

I never really think about hygiene that carefully, and I practically never get ill. Infact apart from occasional colds, which bearing in mind I have to sit in a small room with 183 other students for 2 hours a day are inevitable, and food poisioning from some chicken my mum undercooked I can't remeber being ill for atleast 8 years. Therefore why bother to be any more cautious?

My only excepption to this is at work. I've had to work with people with everything up to and including 'the MRSA superbug' as the media like to call it. It would be unprofessional of me not to constantly change my apron and gloves, operate taps with my elbows, take a minute to wash my hands each time, use alcohol gel etc.

[cathwood]

[QUOTE=uni57]

And I'm still pondering some of the things you said. Maybe the general public doesn't think about the spreading of germs as much as they should.

[QUOTE]

Actually I think that people worry too much about germs these days. We keep ourselves too clean and don't let our immune systems get the work out that they should in combatting minor infections. That's why we become suseptible to more serious infections.

Except hospitals. Hospitals are very dirty places. Always wash your hands in hospital.

[uni57]

Between your skin and your gut, you've got around 200 species of bacteria living in you. In fact, by the numbers, you've WAY more bacteria living in/on you than you have cells in your body.I'm well aware of this and more.

In fact, I go out of my way to nurture the bacteria inside my digestive tract and to have a loving relation with them. This is the key to a healthy immune system, nutrient assimilation, and vitamin production. EVERY Friday, I drive about 200 miles round trip to buy raw (unpasteurized) milk. I also get raw butter, raw cheese, and raw ice cream. I ferment raw milk to make kefir. I drink kombucha, a tea fermented with bacteria and yeast. On top of all that, I take a probiotic in capsule form. I deliberately ingest more bacteria than you do, I bet. I also avoid refined foods that feed the pathogenic organisms in my digestive tract.

No one in my family will touch raw milk. They've been brainwashed to think they will get sick. Many of my friends feel this way, too. This is milk straight out of the cow, not processed or heated in any way, with all of the beneficial bacteria alive and protecting the milk from pathogens. It is also the only viable source of raw animal protein and raw animal fat, short of eating raw meat, which I am not ready for. (another source is raw eggs, which I sometimes put in my vegetable juice)

You focus on the gross aspects to make a point. I focus on the positive and let the rest take care of itself. I am not grossed out by life or by other people. If you know you've touched a surface that has undoubtedly transferred pathogens to your hands, why not wash your hands? No worries. Just wash. I don't have kington99's immune system. I do get sick from time to time. So I do what I can to improve my health and my immune system, and I take reasonable steps to avoid things that may make me sick. How is this different from being in a bad neighborhood and avoiding suspicious-looking people and dark alleys? And contrary to what you might think, I do not subscribe to the germ theory. I avoid pathogens for practical reasons.

[uni57]

Actually I think that people worry too much about germs these days. We keep ourselves too clean and don't let our immune systems get the work out that they should in combatting minor infections. That's why we become suseptible to more serious infections.

Except hospitals. Hospitals are very dirty places. Always wash your hands in hospital.Many parents keep their kids from getting dirty and crawling around on the floor. I think there have been epidemiological studies showing that kids who grow up on farms, with a healthy exposure to dirt and germs, have fewer allergies.

All you have to do is go to the supermarket to give your immune system a good workout. I think the rise in disease and illness today is due to the Standard American Diet (SAD). Sugar, for example, supresses the immune system. You are producing cancer cells every day. Your immune system takes care of them. However, apply an undue stress on the body (grief, illness, money worries, job loss, pesticides, heavy metals) on top of a poor diet and your immune system becomes overwhelmed. This is the beginning of the end.

The body has enough work to do in detoxifying and eliminating pesticides, chemical additives, growth hormones and antiboitics fed to animals, heavy metals from vaccines and dental work, etc. There is no need to give it too much more work.

Feed the body trans fat and you mess up cellular function for years. It's cumulative.

I try to eat like people ate 100 years ago, before disease became the norm.

And yes, do wash your hands before leaving a hospital. Actually, you should take the trouble to wash them well. That means don't touch the faucet to turn off the water. Turn off the water with the paper towels you used to dry your hands. I saw many "paranoid" nurses do this when my father was in the hospital last year.

[BillyTheMountain]

Dave,

I guess no one minds that your Intro to Atheist Ethics got jacked by the germ phobes.

How much "good" bacteria can survive being bathed in hydrochloric acid in your stomach? Try adding HCl to a petri dish and see what grows.

[uni57]

How much "good" bacteria can survive being bathed in hydrochloric acid in your stomach?It gets there. I know this because it's there.

[muzzle]

But then again, often when faced with such things these days, my response is "I've been to China." Not the cleanest place in the world, at least when we were there (1993 and 2000).

I'm probably not a good example of how to keep healthy :P
I got a stomach ache in China, I got German measles in Thailand, and the flu when I was in England or Europe (I can't remember which).
None of these bothered me other than the measles which had me stuck in bed.

As I type, I'm in bed with a fever which last night hit a high of 79.5 degrees C (175 degrees Fahrenheit). Fun times.

[ivan]

I'm in bed with a fever which last night hit a high of 79.5 degrees C
:eek:

[HistoricalGoof]

I read through this thread and basically just disregarded it, thinking, "Of course I'd lend the guy my phone." Well, today, ironically enough, a guy (pretty dirty/grimy guy at that) asked to borrow my phone. Well, of course I let him, but I did think about this thread while he had it pressed against his head. I did give it a little wipe before I used it again too...just on my shirt.

[trials2k]

I read through this thread and basically just disregarded it, thinking, "Of course I'd lend the guy my phone." Well, today, ironically enough, a guy (pretty dirty/grimy guy at that) asked to borrow my phone. Well, of course I let him, but I did think about this thread while he had it pressed against his head. I did give it a little wipe before I used it again too...just on my shirt.

haha goes to show how things u see/read about, manipulate the way ppl think even if they disregard wat it was!

coz i kno, my mate has a phobia of touching toilet door handles, so he kicks the door open or gets someone else to, i think its ridiculous, but evry now and agen i do it too hahaha

[monkeyman]

As I type, I'm in bed with a fever which last night hit a high of 79.5 degrees C (175 degrees Fahrenheit). Fun times.

I'm no doctor, but I'm pretty sure you have to be on fire to get that sort of internal temperature.

[kington99]

I'm no doctor, but I'm pretty sure you have to be on fire to get that sort of internal temperature.


Maybe not on fire, but you deffinitely would be very dead.

"Body temperatures above 40 °C (104 °F) are life-threatening. At 41 °C (106 °F), brain death begins, and at 45 °C (113 °F) death is nearly certain. Internal temperatures above 50 °C (122 °F) will cause rigidity in the muscles and certain, immediate death."

[boo radley]

http://www.craigslist.org/about/best/wdc/290562690.html
I’m sad to say that the following is true. I may possible have OCD, but using the restroom in any other manner would be absolutely reprehensible to me. Allow me to explain. The following PRSOP ensures I emerge unscathed, and as pristine as possible.

After my lunch, I enter the restroom as soon as possible to avoid the risk of neighbors in adjacent stalls. Post lunch crowding is most detestable and can ruin an otherwise marginally tolerable experience. I begin with a survey of all available stalls making careful notes on cleanliness, seat condition, toiletry supply, lighting, and space for maneuverability. Once I have selected my stall I enter and close the door behind me using a small square of tissue to lock the latch.

Next I begin the cleansing process. I start with an initial flush using my foot to remove any particulate matter inside the bowl visible or otherwise. Once water movement in the bowl has ceased, I fashion a giant mitten the size of a softball by wrapping my hand in at least 10 yards of toilet paper. I then use said mitten to vigorously scrub the seat top, and any exposed surfaces of the underlying bowl, discard the mitten, and commence second flush. Once water movement in the bowl has ceased a second time, I fashion a smaller mitten that I use to remove any collateral splatter from the second flush before constructing my protective barrier.

The thin tissues provided by the janitorial staff are as much of a joke as their cleaning abilities. Instead, I line the seat with a series of 10 sheets of toilet paper varying from 4 to 6 inches in length. I start at the front of the seat, and work my way to the back carefully overlapping the previous sheet, and the seat’s edge to prevent even the slightest skin contact.

With the barrier in place I un-fasten my trousers and prepare to sit. I take special care to sit down directly as any lateral movement could cause the paper to shift, ruining the integrity of my protective barrier. I wrap my shirt tightly around my waist, tuck my badge in my shirt pocket, and check to make sure the cuffs of my pants are not touching the floor.

I pass my bowels.

I wait the pre-determined 5-minute recovery period, and then begin remediation. Mittens of various size are utilized until an acceptable level of cleanliness is perceived. I then stand pausing for a moment to admire my handiwork, and then resume remediation until I am certain that absolutely no undesirable matter remains on my posterior. This can take up to 30 mittens, with multiple flushes, and can be an extremely stressful process.

Convinced of my cleanliness, yet still feeling dirty I use another square to undo the latch, and exit the stall. I walk to the hand washing stations and roll out a small square of paper towel, leaving it attached to the dispenser. I then wash my hands twice, the first most vigorously, and the second as a lesser back up, before retrieving the square of paper towel to turn off the faucet. I then use the square to dispense enough paper towel (about the size of a volleyball) to dry my hands, and serve as a protective barrier while exiting the facility.

The whole process takes about 15 minutes. It is something of which I am simultaneously ashamed, and very proud.

[kington99]

I don't know what that guy's worrying about, he's evidently already ill in a manner more severe than anything he could catch from a toilet.

[uni57]

Once I have selected my stall I enter and close the door behind me using a small square of tissue to lock the latch.

Next I begin the cleansing process. I start with an initial flush using my foot to remove any particulate matter inside the bowl visible or otherwise. Once water movement in the bowl has ceased, I fashion a giant mitten the size of a softball by wrapping my hand in at least 10 yards of toilet paper.


I have analyzed his approach and I see a serious problem that might mean the death of him. His initial use of the toilet paper can spread germs to his hands and thus invalidate everything else he does. I hope he does not read this, because the horror alone may send him into life-threatening shock.

There are two ways to detach a quantity of toilet paper from the roll. One is to yank it so the cutter cuts it. This does not always work well (and some places don't have this feature). The second way is to grab it with both hands and pull it apart. This leaves a quantity of germ-infested toilet paper attached to the roll for the next person to use. To engage in the level of paranoia that this guy practices, one must first discard some toilet paper off the roll. How one accomplishes this without touching it eludes me.

Bruce Schneier calls this "security theater (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Security_theater)".

[BillyTheMountain]

It gets there. I know this because it's there.

You know it's there, but there's another way in.

[uni57]

You know it's there, but there's another way in.Ah, yes. My bottle of probiotics capsules does not say what to do with them.

I eat the way I eat (which also includes grass-fed beef and a bunch of other things that weren't relevant to the discussion) because it nurtured mankind back when we were healthy. Back before the days of Crisco and vegetable oils and processed and imitation foods.

Are you familiar with the work of Dr. Weston A. Price (http://www.westonaprice.org/splash_2.htm)? He traveled the world in the 1930s studying isolated populations which were free from disease. He found their diets markedly different (http://www.westonaprice.org/basicnutrition/characteristics.html) from the western diet. This is detailed in his book Nutrition and Physical Degeneration (http://www.amazon.com/Nutrition-Physical-Degeneration-Weston-Andrew/dp/0879838167).

[Chris.James]

As I type, I'm in bed with a fever which last night hit a high of 79.5 degrees C (175 degrees Fahrenheit). Fun times.
err, you are dead now, and have been for about 70 degrees F. I was in the hospital when i was like 4 with a 106 degree fever, and i almost died, there is no way in hell, unless you really ARE in hell, that you can live at 175 degrees f.