For GOD's sake, stop shaking hands.

[randys1]

The reason we started shaking hands was to make sure the other person didnt have a weapon in his or her hand.

No weapons to worry about, for the most part (I will resist my usual anti gun comment here)

Shaking hands spreads disease, colds, flu, etc.

Stop it

[villager]

1. Only fist-bumps then, Randys1?

[randys1]

2. Do you know me? you must

That is exactly what I make everybody do
And I explain why too

[villager]

5. Well, next time I'm in the SF Bay Area, we shall fist-bump!

[randys1]

7. I must be giving away more personal info than I realized.

[villager]

11. I think we have publicly rooted for most of the same teams, on here.

I myself am a Bay Area ex-pat, but love to get back often.

[randys1]

14. I didnt, but did you catch AROLDIS CHAPMAN throwing 103 mph fastballs last night?

[villager]

36. Indeed I did. I hope he winds up as a Giant!

!!

[Bluenorthwest]

3. No.

nt

[lunamagica]

4. Oh, yes. + a MILLION

I hate it, hate it, hate and wish that disgusting custom would disappear once and for all!

[pinboy3niner]

6. I actually knew a guy who practiced that, doing only fistbumps

He died, from multiple illnesses. True story.

R.I.P. Doorgunner Bob.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

50. If I anticipated meeting the OP

I'd lick my knuckles.

[pinboy3niner]

51. You are evil and wicked!

I like that in a person!

[cwydro]

124. Lol!

[Rex]

142. Evil and funny!

Better yet go to a restaurant with the OP and lick your fingers after dinner (while telling the OP you are going to touch every door knob and handle they own)! I bet the OP pukes.

[NightWatcher]

8. I strictly fist bump now. If we're tight, I'll blow it up

That's just how I roll

(I'm 40 and should not speak like this, ever)

[randys1]

9. I had to ask a younger, hipper version to tell me about elaborate handshakes.

I am still not good at them

[pinboy3niner]

12. We white guys learned the dap from our brothers in Vietnam

Then the posers had to do umpty-ump variations.

[NightWatcher]

13. Practice practice practice

?w=544&h=306

[pinboy3niner]

17. Yeah...um, no

God, no!

[jonno99]

64. Seriously?! what is the guy in the top gif DOING??

[ronnie624]

100. The hyper-masculine 'jock culture', is puzzling to me, at times, also. n/t

[Rex]

145. Now I don't know a lot about Bases Ball, but that guy looks like he is fondling his rivals ball sac.

Just a quick diddle with a full hand cup. Maybe some strange mating ritual?

[jonno99]

149. Could be. I've been around the world and seen lots of things...

but whatever he is doing registers high on my weird-shit-o-meter...

[Rex]

150. Mine too, I had to go back a few times in the video to make sure that what I was seeing

wasn't a trick of the camera, etc..

Nope, looks like straight up ball fondling. High indeed...maybe someone with an expert view of the game can tell us the hidden meaning.

[wendylaroux]

16. ha! yes you should speak

just like that! all the time,it sounds boss,and not square,hep cat.

[pintobean]

10. Why on earth would you care

what other people do?

[MattBaggins]

96. ummmmmmmm it spreads disease

[Logical]

160. We should all wear fucking surgical masks too! Nt

[TreasonousBastard]

15. Yes, it does, and worse...

sometimes one of my more unorthodox practices is noticed and I have to explain that I wash my hands before relieving myself for my own protection.

After all, I took a shower earlier and my privates have been protected by at least two layers of clothing. My hands, however, have been exposed to all manner of diseases and toxins, and shaking hands exacerbates the problem.

[Ms. Toad]

69. It almost makes sense for female anatomy,

not so much for people with male anatomy whose germ pathways in the nether regions are much better protected than people with female anatomy.

Even for people with female genitalia, the germs that often infect the urinary tract or vaginal tract come from fecal matter - which advance hand washing is not going to prevent.

External contact with intact non-mucosal skin is rarely a means for germs to enter the body.

[riderinthestorm]

18. As a woman, I've had men refuse to shake my hand

because they think I'm "unclean".

It's insulting when someone refuses to shake hands, especially as a female.

[snooper2]

26. do you live in Pakistan?

[riderinthestorm]

27. You just got insulted when SheilaT talked about washing your hands

the implication that one is "unclean" is insulting. Your OP makes clear you think people are big dirty germ bombs. You want to take religious bat shit insanity about touching others and expand it cause we're all "unclean".

Just wash your hands and deal with the fact that shaking hands is an American cultural norm.

[snooper2]

30. Huh? I got insulted? What are you going on about?

You posted that you have had men refuse to shake your hands because women are "unclean"

asked question- went off rails-

I have a bridge where we can get everyone interested on a conference call at 9:00 - Asher Style!

[riderinthestorm]

32. Oops! Sorry, meant that response to randy nt

I need more coffee!

[SheilaT]

54. Orthodox Jews do that.

It's happened to me and I was beyond insulted. Made me want to deliberately touch that religious misogynist asshole and make HIM as unclean as possible. Then tell him I needed to change a tampon so he'd totally freak out.

The reason with Orthodox Jews doing this is that they consider women unclean when they have their periods, and since they cannot possibly know if a random woman out there is having her period, they consider all women unclean by default. Really. If I had the misfortune to spend much time with such, I'd be very open and very vocal about my cycle. Although at my age that's no longer an issue, but again, they can't look at me, calculate that I'm at least a decade past menopause, and shake my hand.

Don't get me started.

[MADem]

70. I had a friend who was a flight attendant who would do runs to Tel Aviv

The FAs would use that very tactic.

The plane would be loaded with religious guys who didn't want to sit next to women, who didn't like the women talking to them, who would get very angry when they were being served food or beverages from women and would get very commanding and demanding. The ladies found a way to 'get back' at them by smiling and putting up with their shit, and then standing near the worst offenders and one would ask the other for a tampon, while they'd both comment on how troublesome their menstrual cycles were that particular month!

[notadmblnd]

151. Did you know...

That the largest amount of fecal matter is found on men with facial hair? That's right, those nasty old beards men wear are full of shit.

[pinboy3niner]

161. That's a nasty rumor spread by cleanshaven men

I hirsutely object!

[notadmblnd]

162. lol

do you wash your face after you flush? All those little toilet sprinkles come up and land in the beard especially if you stand to pee. It's not just your poop, it's everyone's who has pooped in your pot before your use.

[whathehell]

61. It's an Islamic thing, I believe. n./t

[BlueJazz]

79. Hey..I'm sorry but if you think some woman is going to infect me with cooties and destroy..

my perfect germ-free body ...well Ha!

[pinboy3niner]

88. Says the guy already infected with BlueJizz

[BlueJazz]

93. I've had them for so long, I've named them and they're in my will.

[SheilaT]

19. Handwashing solves a lot of disease problems.

If you're hardly ever washing your hands, then maybe you shouldn't shake hands. But most of us have access to soap and running water and wash our hands many times a day.

I think if shaking hands was such a spreader of disease, then it would be very obvious that groups that don't normally shake hands are unusually healthy. Little kids rarely shake hands, and they're quite disease-ridden, as any parent can tell you.

[randys1]

23. Thanks for implying I am dirty...great fucking place this DU

Oh, and bye bye now

[SheilaT]

49. YOU'RE the one who wants everyone to not shake hands

because it spreads disease. Exactly who is accusing whom of being dirty?

[jonno99]

57. Wait...what? logic?! Shame on you.

[SheilaT]

83. I know, I should know better.

Walks away, downcast.

[NaturalHigh]

119. Doesn't your OP accuse everyone of being dirty by default?

Seriously, what are you even talking about here? Good lord.

[Recursion]

46. Back when I was cooking short order, people would complain if I didn't change gloves

between every sandwich I made. Fair enough, I guess. But then they would touch money to pay for the sandwich and eat without washing their hands. The dirtiest place in a restaurant is always the till.

[Scuba]

121. "The dirtiest place in a restaurant is always the till." Or the menu.

[cwydro]

125. And all the politicians would be continually sick.

But, they're not.

[pinboy3niner]

20. I not only shake hands...

[randys1]

21. Love all of that LOL

[snagglepuss]

22. I've heard that many times but it's the wrong message.

The message should be for God's sake wash your hands through-out the day. Wash them before eating. Wash them after being outside. Wash them after the toilet. Pressing elevator buttons exposes one to germs, as do door handles, as do a million other things which we don't stop doing.


I know people who don't shake hands but never wash their hands before eating fast food. Me, I shake hands but the first place I go before I eat in a restaurant is the washroom to wash my hands, likewise when I get home - I don't do anything before washing my hands yet I know many people who never do that.

Hands collect germs. The safest thing is to keep washing the germs off over the course of a day.

[shanti]

28. Yes

And I ALWAYS wash my hands after going shopping. All those hands!

[pinboy3niner]

31. My supermarket has handwipes at the entrances/exits

Good for wiping your hands and the handle of your shopping cart!

[snagglepuss]

41. They're a great idea but the child seat is probably more

dangerous than the handles what with all diapered butts that have occupied them.

A number of years ago 60 Minutes did a piece about germs in public areas. The most germy place really was surprising - movie seats. Even the scientists were shocked and said that they would never again wear shorts to a movie theater.

[pinboy3niner]

43. That's precisely why I always avoid sitting in the child seat

[snagglepuss]

44. Snort

Thanks I needed that laugh.

[AwakeAtLast]

153. I LOVE those things!

Probably one of the nastiest things we touch, IMO.

[Ex Lurker]

29. What's the first thing you do when you leave the restroom?

Open the door, and most public restroom doors open to the inside, so you have to pull on the handle. They really ought to come up with a better way. It negates the act of washing your hands.

[pinboy3niner]

34. You are--literally--a party pooper

[missingthebigdog]

37. They have!

My local home improvement store has these:
http://www.toepull.com

Problem solved.

[snagglepuss]

38. I use the paper towel I used to dry my hands to open the door.

If everyone washed their hands after using the toilet wouldn't be an issue. It is absolutely unreal that people still leave washrooms without washing.

[jonno99]

62. Yep me too - one of my pet peeves (I don't have many - really) is restrooms having only air dryers.

[Ms. Toad]

67. Ditto.

I've been avoiding touching doorknobs since I was preparing for surgery and my boss, who is "never" sick, was going though another "not an illness," which he spread to everyone in the office. I managed to avoid it.

In the 5 years since then I've had no more than 4 mild bouts with a cold or the flu. Prior to that I had the cold (or flu) 2, often more, times a year.

In the winter it's easy since I just use my sleeves for protection. But in the summer I have to get creative with those bathrooms that don't have paper towels.

[jonno99]

75. "I have to get creative" - I know what you mean. If someone were to watch me exit a bathroom

they would probably think I was a little OCD, cause I'll try (if I don't have my used towel - or sleeve) to grab the door handle where I think other folks are lest likely to grab it (e.g. at the top).

Of course if the door has a ROUND knob, I'm screwed!

[Ms. Toad]

113. We must be twins...

I use the bottom of my shirt, or the hem of my dress if they are loose and I don't have a towel or long enough sleeve. The crook of an elbow works for the lever handles many places have installed because of the ADA. And if I have nothing, I use the hand sanitizer I keep on my desk when I get back to my office.

So far, it is working well for close to 5 years.

[jonno99]

137. I always wished I'd had a sister...sniff (I've got three brothers)....

Take care!
(and keep it clean! )

[Travis_0004]

66. Wash hands, dry with towel, use towel to open door, throw towel away.

At least it works if the trash can is in reach of where I would throw the paper towel away.

[MattBaggins]

98. Disgusting....

Throw the towel you dried with away and get a new towel to open the door handle please.

[Ms. Toad]

114. I'm protecting myself from the germs that are already there -

often from people who don't wash at all. What's on my hands to transfer to the towel to the door after a 20-30 second soapy wash with friction is nothing compared to the deposits left by people who wiped and ran.

If you're using a towel (fresh or used), it will protect you from whatever my towel transferred plus the TP to hand to door transfers. If you're not, it isn't my germs you have to worry about.

[MADem]

71. That is why you should hang on to your paper towel, and use that to get the door open...

Then you crumble up the paper towel and "Air Jordan" it into the trash can!

[Marr]

82. Why not just wash them before you eat, and that's it?

Washing your hands every 20 minutes feet is like putting doormen on every floor of a highrise. Why not just put one guy at the front door and leave it at that?

[jeff47]

85. Because we keep touching our eyes, nose and mouth throughout the day.

They did a study where they put a fine powder on people's hands. You couldn't feel it and couldn't see it, but it glowed when you shined a UV light on it.

Didn't matter if the people were told to not touch their face, or not told anything. Everyone's faces glowed under that UV light.

[pinboy3niner]

95. I heard here that my California face already glows from Fukushima

[Marr]

102. Hmm, interesting. /nt

[Fumesucker]

24. First world problem

[MattBaggins]

99. No.... spreading disease is a problem every where

[pinboy3niner]

103. That's exactily why I quit shaking hands!

Now I just lick them.

[Fumesucker]

117. Anywhere other than the first world there are problems far greater than shaking hands

[cwydro]

126. Yep!

[LanternWaste]

164. And yet... even there disease and sickness are spread by (wait for it) shaking hands.

And yet... even there disease and sickness are spread by (wait for it) shaking hands.

Hence, the rational mind realizes that if is a problem everywhere, it's not the melodramatic and petulant "First World Problem" labeled as such and as editorialized without any supporting evidence.

[LanternWaste]

163. Second rate response.

Second rate response. No doubt, many people believe the prevention of sickness as a first world problem.

Only 31% of males wash their hands after using the bathroom, yet hand-washing reduces the number of people who get sick with diarrhea by 31%, reduces diarrhea illness in people with weakened immune systems by 58%, reduces respiratory illnesses, like colds, in the general population by 21%

http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/hygiene/hand/handwashing-corporate.html

[snooper2]

25. After we met at the door today, I promise NOT to try to shake your hand again

It was my mistake...I should have known better. I think we had a chat about it at happy hour a couple months back-

Please-

Forgive me

[MicaelS]

33. Not just NO, but FUCK NO!!!!! N/T

[hobbit709]

35. You and Howard Hughes

[pinboy3niner]

39. I think randy is having some fun playing devil's advocate

He's not dirty, he is just pleasantly warped and twisted.

[dhill926]

40. how about rubbing noses....

[immoderate]

42. Hugs!?

--imm

[pinboy3niner]

45. Commingling dirty bodies and dirty heads?

Are you NUTS?

[scarletwoman]

47. The only time my hands shake is when I've had too much alcohol the night before.

But that rarely happens anymore now that I'm no longer a wild young party girl.

So, yes, I have pretty much stopped shaking hands.

You're welcome.

[Texasgal]

48. There is a very simple

way to avoid getting sick. WASH YOU HANDS.

Good gawd!

[GeorgeGist]

52. Howard? Is that you?

[MADem]

72. Hughes....or Mandel? nt

[cherokeeprogressive]

53. I've shaken hands tens of thousands of times, with thousands of people. I'm fine.

Don't worry, I won't shake yours.

[panader0]

55. Yeah

[pinboy3niner]

56. I've shaken hands tens of thousands of times, with thousands of people and...gaaaak

[Scootaloo]

58. Nothing but eyeball licking from here on!

[HassleCat]

59. Should we bow?

Remember when Prez Obama was criticized for bowing to someone? I can't even remember what country he visited, but the wingers were in a fury over it. Funny, but they didn't get upset about the make out session between Bush and the Saudi royals.

[Warpy]

60. It rarely came up in Boston

but out west, everybody shakes hands. I hate it.

[pinboy3niner]

65. I love it

Connecting with people means more when there's some kind of physical expression, whether it's a handshake or something else. I'll happily risk getting your cooties.

[jonno99]

78. Finally! thank you. In my circle of family and friends we're hand-shakers and huggers.

If someone is sick they'll make the point and apologize - telling all that we should steer clear.

Otherwise, it's hugs for the ladies and firm (manly!) handshakes for the guys (and some hugs too )

[pinboy3niner]

156. I never did more hugging than when I first met other Vietnam vets

I'm talking hard combat Infantry, Rangers, Special Forces. What a bunch of touchy-feely wusses!

[Jamaal510]

63. Sometimes you're forced to shake hands,

like when it's a business setting. What I'd do is wash my hands ASAP afterwards, then use a paper towel to turn off the sink and open the restroom door with.

[Ms. Toad]

68. Just wash your hands,

unless you're the "Wicked Witch of the West" and you will melt if you come in contact with water.

I rarely get sick. I shake hands very frequently. I also wash my hands frequently and avoid bare skin contact with inanimate objects which don't care if I snub them. People sometimes do care. It is easier to take steps to protect yourself than it is to mend hurt feelings.

[pinboy3niner]

73. I do not shake hands with you!

Is randy humorously channeling a notorious troll here? Magic 8-Ball says...

[lumberjack_jeff]

74. I'll just leave this here; "Cleanliness cues activate conservative attitudes"

http://www.psmag.com/books-and-culture/cleanliness-cues-activate-conservative-attitudes-29718

Their study, just published in the journal Psychological Science, brings together three interesting threads of recent psychological research:

1. The notion that environmental cues can influence political attitudes. One recent study found people who cast ballots in a church were more likely to support an initiative endorsed by social conservatives.

2. The deep symbolic nature of hand washing. Studies have found cleaning our hands helps us emotionally disconnect from past decisions, as well as increase feelings of moral superiority.

3. The strong link between social conservatism and the concept of purity. Studies have found conservatives are more easily disgusted than liberals, and that people who feel disgust tend to judge the moral transgressions of others more harshly.

[appal_jack]

132. Fascinating link, l_j, thanks. nt

[pinboy3niner]

76. I always obey the restroom signs and clean my manlihood

I pity the poor suckers who have no Spanish and don't know what "Lave sus manos" means. Dumb suckers!

[Le Taz Hot]

127. ROFLMAO!!!

Thread win!

Now THAT was funny! Pinboy, you just made a ridiculous thread sublime: Oh, and so we'll be, you know PC and stuff.

[pinboy3niner]

157. :)

[BainsBane]

77. We could kiss like much of the rest of the world does.

[Smarmie Doofus]

80. So I see you're from out of town.

>>No weapons to worry about, for the most part>>>>>

[laundry_queen]

81. I agree

I gather most people not agreeing don't get sick on a regular basis. When I get sick, I get bad lung infections and end up coughing for months and months afterward. Because of this, I'm a near-compulsive handwasher. I wash when I use the washroom. I wash when I do anything that involves touching pets, dirt, food (raw, or not), dog food/treats etc AND any time I come back from being in public, first thing I do in the door is wash my hands. I'll also use hand sanitizer after touching debit card machines if washing isn't possible.

And yes, I don't like shaking hands. My boss loves to shake hands. WE have a small office with 1 bathroom where you can hear everything outside. I never hear the water running after he does his business. urgh. My brother tells me about all the people at his work that don't wash their hands. It grosses us both out. And it's FAR more common than people think. I always wonder, if they think it's okay to not wash their hands after the bathroom, what else do they do without washing their hands?

Once, in university in one of my business classes, the prof made us shake hands with EVERYONE in the class. Twice. Let's just say a bunch of us broke out the hand sanitizer right after that, LOLOL. So I know I'm not alone on the ick factor.

[SheilaT]

84. Since you have health issues

that can be very directly compromised by shaking hands with people who don't wash theirs, you should feel quite free to refuse to shake hands. Politely, of course. But a simple, "I'm sorry, I have a compromised immune system" should work for most people. And to hell with those who don't get it.

Another side factoid: Women did not routinely shake hands until about the mid-60's or so. I was born in 1948 (do the math) and when I was growing up and as a very young woman, it was not expected of me that I'd shake hands. By about 1970 or so that changed. If you watch older movies, it's quite interesting, because the women very, very rarely shake hands with men, and never with other women. Nowadays I personally find it a convenient form of greeting.

[jeff47]

86. There was a course during my microbiology degree

It was dubbed "the course that makes you terrified of touching anything". We were sent forth to gather samples from whatever surface we felt like, and then cultured it to see what grew.

Everything is covered in germs. We even got a hit on the distilled water.

Wash all you want. Shake all you want. Its really not going to make a difference unless you're treating a wound, or you currently have (or just touched someone with) a communicable disease.

[Kennah]

87. I never have a problem with this. My booger picker always seems to find the inside of my nostril.

[Marrah_G]

89. Human contact is a positive thing

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

90. Let me be the first one shake your hand for this post.......

[libodem]

91. How's about a hug then

And a big slobbery kiss.

[pinboy3niner]

92. We are all POOP carriers!

We may as well just accept it and enjoy each other while we can, shaking hands and hugging and kissing and...OMG! Even WORSE!

[bigwillq]

94. I like shaking hands

And I will continue to do so.

[pinboy3niner]

97. You WOULD!

UNCLEAN! UNCLEAN!

[Jane Austin]

101. Yesterday the exterminator came to set rat traps in my garage.

When I opened the front door to him, He gave me a big, "Hi, I'm the exterminator," and he stuck out his hand for a shake.

I don't like shaking hands anyway, but the rat trap guy? Yuck.

[pinboy3niner]

104. Getting their scent on you might just save your life

Why do you think the pest control guy is still alive?

[haikugal]

105. I want to lick your face!

Love this thread.....

[pinboy3niner]

106. randy is in fine form here!

He's a fucking revolutionary!

[kentauros]

107. Are you still alive?

If so, isn't that then more of a testament to the resiliency of the human body to resist any nefarious germs transferred to your hands from someone/something else?

Wear gloves if it bothers you so much. People probably won't want to shake your hand after just seeing you with latex gloves on

[pinboy3niner]

108. Gloves? We don't need no stinking gloves!

And you couldn't have a cleaner character than that for a testimonial!

[kentauros]

109. I thought it was stinking badgers?

No, maybe it was badges, getting headed off at the pass

[Warren DeMontague]

110. God?

[pinboy3niner]

111. I trust you, randy, so if you say so...

...I'll go back to licking. Solidarity, brother!

[Cha]

112. Can we hug?

[A HERETIC I AM]

115. Of all the things to start an OP about.

Sheesh. DU never ceases to amaze.

[betsuni]

116. Oh, I agree.

Hugging is even worse for me and Americans insist on doing it, what is that about. Sometimes someone grabs you in a bear hug and I accidentally sexually harass them with my chest. I can't suck those in. I feel weird about that. I don't care for the European kissing thing, takes too long to make out with everyone if there's a group, and I'm not interested in getting close enough to smell anyone. I don't have phobias about germs or being touched, I just don't like it. Now, if it were some sort of grooming activity, like if you meet someone and they pick lint off your shirt or brush away dandruff or smooth down pieces of hair sticking out or something like that, fine. That would be nice.

[NaturalHigh]

118. Thank you for your kind concern.

[brooklynite]

120. Thanks, I'll put that on my list of concerns...

[Orrex]

122. With a ceremonial dagger I slice my palm and that of my new acquaintance

And in the name of unity we clasp hands and mingle our lifeblood.

[Codeine]

123. Back to the casual blowjob it is, then.

On the plus side, I get a lot of return business at the store that way. . .

[MineralMan]

138. LOL!

Love it!

[AwakeAtLast]

152. I'm sure you are a hit at parties.....

[tazkcmo]

128. So do hugs.

Icky.

[randome]

129. Depends on who you interact with on a regular basis.

[hr][font color="blue"][center]You should never stop having childhood dreams.[/center][/font][hr]

[Bettie]

130. If you have a healthy immune system

shaking hands won't make you ill.

People need to be less fearful overall.

[Act_of_Reparation]

131. Oh, for the love of the Jeebus.

The reason we started shaking hands was to make sure the other person didnt have a weapon in his or her hand.

No. The reason people started shaking hands was to show others that they were not carrying a weapon, and could therefore be trusted. It's a sign of good faith, for crying out loud.

Shaking hands spreads disease, colds, flu, etc.

No. Shaking hands can spread disease. Often, it does not.

Stop it

No.

[NCTraveler]

133. I actually don't use a ruler when dancing.

I'm doomed to a life of disease.

[gollygee]

134. How often do you shake people's hands?

It doesn't seem to come up all that often, but when it's appropriate to shake hands, I do. If you touch stuff other people touch, you're getting germs on your hands too. Wash your hands regularly and you'll be fine.

[Adrahil]

135. Weirdest rant ever. nt

[LeftinOH]

136. I used to have a regional supervisor with a bone-crunching handshake.

He first order of business was to crush/squeeze/clamp on the hand of everyone he encountered..especially his subordinates. My hand physically hurt after 'meeting' him every week.

Eventually, I found a way to avoid this: When I knew he was around, I made sure I was carrying a big box or some other bulky item - so that my hands were unavailable for shaking. I made sure our conversation was well underway before setting down the box - by which time he'd forget about his power play.

[MineralMan]

139. Our entire world is teeming with bacteria and viruses.

People who try to avoid contact with them are more likely to become ill than people who are constantly inoculated with them through contact. Not shaking hands is just the most obvious avoidance tactic. But every surface is covered with microorganisms, so you'll be exposed whether you shake hands or not.

Even frequent handwashing is not a reliable way to avoid contact with such organisms, since you will doubtless touch many surfaces shortly thereafter and contaminate your hands again. Washing your hands is a very good idea, but being obsessive about it is simply not going to work.

When colds and flu viruses are circulating in the population, you WILL be exposed to them, whether you shake hands or not, unless you avoid public places altogether. Get your flu shot. If you're older, get your pneumonia shot. Wash your hands if you have an opportunity to do so. Use hand sanitizer from time to time. But don't believe you won't be exposed to a wide variety of microorganisms. You will. It's inevitable. It cannot be avoided.

Me? I shake hands. It's a physical contact that helps create some sort of bond with people. I like that.

[cwydro]

140. Good post.

Gyms are the worst places for germs, and I never shake hands with anyone there lol since it's not something one does in gyms.

But, I'm happy to have a strong immune system. I thank my parents because they never were those, "Get off the floor and don't eat that" type of parents. "You want to eat a mud-pie?" Go ahead, they would say.

I really don't even know the last time I was ill.

[MineralMan]

143. I'm rarely ill, too. I practice normal hygiene,

but I'm far from obsessive about it. Like you, I was raised without being constantly reminded of how filthy the planet is. "Go wash your hands before you come to the table and after using the bathroom" was about it.

[randome]

159. At the gym they have spray bottles of disinfectant all over the place.

I don't use it because it smells toxic and it's unnecessary. If I leave a perspiration spot, I wipe it with a towel. But some people use the disinfectant to the extreme and leave puddles on the gym equipment, which means I have to wipe it clean just to use it!

I wonder if these people shower after a workout.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]I'm always right. When I'm wrong I admit it.
So then I'm right about being wrong.[/center][/font][hr]

[Tommy_Carcetti]

141. Well okay then.

Germophobia....I just don't get it.

[Facility Inspector]

144. Nah

I come from a generation that played outside. In dirt. Without parental supervision.

Might have even eaten some lead paint chips too.

[Rex]

146. You know those yummy donuts in the break room?

I touch each and every one of them when nobody is looking. More like poke them with my finger.

[JPZenger]

147. Selfies have replaced hand-shaking by politicians

Everyone in a crowd wants to take video or get a selfie instead of shaking hands, politicians are finding.

[hamsterjill]

148. Shaking hands is a sign of respect in my area of the world.

When you are introduced to someone for the first time, it is polite to shake hands. To refuse would be seen as disrespectful.

Yes, by all means, wash your hands throughout the day - even after shaking hands with someone if you feel the need. But some exposure to germs, etc. is actually a good way for the body to develop the immune system. We do not live in a sterile world.

[pinboy3niner]

154. OMG, it's even worse than we thought!

Have you heard about the gooey candy bunnies?!!

Arrrghhh! They're too adorable! Save me....
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1018781420

[Paladin]

155. I don't think so. (nt)

[Logical]

158. Oh FFS, lighten up! Nt

[FrodosPet]

165. Are you celibate?

Sex spreads disease a lot more effectively than hand shaking.