Dirty hands?!

ruggedeagle95 said:I was thinking we could expand this discussion a bit by asking whether any risks exist if, for instance, you were to share a glass with someone who had already taken a sip.🙄

Hmm... I suppose things like herpes, mono, HIV, or hepatitis aren't typically transmitted through saliva—unless, heaven forbid, there is some bleeding from the gums or something similar.🤔

Sam Hall15 said:Cleanliness accounts for half of our health, but does anyone know what the other half might be? 🙂

I suppose it isn't a balanced diet or regular exercise, otherwise, I don't think anyone would be asking such a question... 😁😉

Could it possibly be a little dirtiness, since that's what builds up the immune system? 🙂

Da da... 🙂

There is no need to shy away from a little bit of messiness, especially during our childhood years...

Sam Hall15 said:Da, Da... 🙂

I don't think we should shy away from a little moderate messiness, especially during our childhood years...

That’s so true... personally, I didn't mind a thing until I finished nursing school... haha... once that happened, everything in my immediate vicinity had to be practically sterile.😬
Well, I am slowly trying to "unlearn" those habits, though I simply cannot get past the idea of touching things after being out in public without washing my hands first... that feels like the absolute height of poor hygiene... ☕

Oh yeah, sure, bacteria are great too since they're basically living on us anyway 😉

Carol Scott98 said:Uhh... herpes, mono... HIV and hepatitis aren't spread through saliva (unless, God forbid, someone has bleeding gums... or whatever else goes on) 🤔

Yeah, but you’d still need an open wound for those viruses to actually get in, right? 🙄
Let's talk about this... say at my office we have a shared fridge. I buy some mayo for lunch, but I don't finish the whole jar, so I leave half behind. Then someone else uses it later—I can tell because some's missing—and they're using their mouth to scrape out the last bit without getting it on the rim. Could I theoretically catch something from that?!

ruggedeagle95 said:Well, yeah, but you’d also need some kind of open wound for the viruses to actually get in, wouldn't you?🙄

Of course,😉

ruggedeagle95 said:I was wondering if anyone could weigh in on this... at my office, we share a breakroom fridge. If I buy a jar of mayo for my lunch, but don't finish it and leave half behind, and then someone else uses it later—because I notice it's getting lower—and they aren't careful about not getting anything on the rim from their mouth, could I theoretically take legal action or something?!

Hmm, Da... that is quite an interesting question to consider. Honestly, I find those people who scavenge through others' food to be quite fascinating in a strange way... they don't even stop to think that someone might have left saliva traces inside.🤣
I am almost at a loss for words here; while I doubt you would catch a serious illness immediately, the act itself is just fundamentally revolting, and I struggle to comprehend how anyone could even think to behave that way.☕

To be honest, I find it quite unsettling when I’m picking up fruit at the local farmers market and an older vendor reaches out to hand-pick items directly into my bag. It leaves me with this lingering, somewhat awkward thought that they might have just stepped away from the restroom a few minutes ago without properly washing their hands. 😲
Of course, you can't exactly come home and start washing your food in detergent or rubbing alcohol. 🤣😂 We could just wade through the water and call it a day.

I certainly wouldn't want to be overly judgmental about food hygiene right now, but I did hear some troubling rumors regarding a few cases at our local hospital. Apparently, there were people who bought cheese from a vendor at a farmers market, and it's suggested that the seller might not have washed their hands properly or perhaps even breathed—and potentially spat—directly into the bags used for the cheese. There's talk that several individuals ended up contracting Hepatitis B because of this. I can't say for certain if the information was inaccurate—perhaps it was actually Hepatitis A, or maybe the transmission happened differently than what was reported—but regardless, it makes me quite uneasy when I'm shopping at an open-air market. Then again, I suppose you never truly know who has been handling the products in a grocery store either.
I suppose you could say that when it comes to being cautious, I can never quite seem to find that perfect level of enough. 🤷🤷

^^ I honestly think everyone is overthinking this one. Like, where would we even be if we had to inspect, touch, and basically run a lab test on every single thing we ate or brushed our teeth with just to check for bacteria? If you try to live your entire life under a literal bubble to stay safe, you’re probably going to end up getting sick anyway because your immune system will basically forget how to do its job.

Carol Scott98 said:of course 😉
hmh, Da.. interesting question.. honestly, I can't stand people who grab someone else's food... they don't even stop to think that maybe someone just spat in it 🤣
I don't even know what to tell you.. I mean, you probably won't catch some crazy disease right this second, but either way, that move is just gross. I can't believe how anyone even thinks to do that ☕

I didn't think there were actually people like that.. or like, say, a jar of pickles, and instead of grabbing a pickle, someone just tilts the whole jar to their mouth to chug the juice because they like it 😲😠

ruggedeagle95 said:I honestly find it hard to believe certain people exist... take someone who prefers drinking straight from a jar of pickles instead of just grabbing a single pickle; I suppose they just really enjoy the brine. 😲😠

I suppose everyone has their own peculiar way of finding joy.😵🙂

This is gross.. I’m done buying mayo, and I’m definitely not eating out of those glass jars in the office fridge anymore. Now I’m sitting here wondering why I keep getting these cold sores 😕

Olivia Jones3 said:The absolute worst is when someone walks out of the bathroom and doesn't wash their hands. Especially if they're young, female, and acting all high and mighty. ☕
And my favorite part is when they head straight to the kitchen right after to wash dishes I’m supposed to be eating from. 🤮
Then they have the nerve to laugh at me like I'm just some hand-washing obsessive. 😱 🤦

Da, or when they walk in from outside and immediately go to prep dinner or whatever. It drives me crazy, but if I say anything, I'm the one who looks like a germaphobe. Honestly, people have no idea what I've seen in my life—walking through the city and seeing kids eating with filthy hands, or a toddler dropping a pacifier on the ground, wiping it off quickly, and shoving it back in their mouth. It's disgusting. And it irritates me when people drink juice or milk straight from the bottle; why even bother with glasses? Then you have people who take a bite of food and then put the leftovers back in the container, or drop a bottle cap on the floor and just pick it up and keep going. Some people really have zero class. When I eat out, I stick to things wrapped in paper—pastries or croissants—stuff I can eat without touching it with my hands. But there are people who grab food out of the wrapper, and then when they get home and don't wash their hands, I feel awkward bringing up the hand-washing thing. It makes me sick thinking about that person making me coffee or washing a glass... you just don't know what to do. And then there are the smokers or people picking their noses who just carry on cooking or cleaning without a second thought. It's just plain gross.

ruggedeagle95 said:It’s honestly awful. I’ve officially sworn off store-bought mayo, and I’m done eating anything straight out of those glass jars in the office fridge. At this point, I’m just sitting here wondering: where on earth is this herpes even coming from? 😕

Herpes is one of those viruses you just catch and keep. Once it's in your system, it’s there for good. Just part of the deal, I guess.
You actually start getting them while you're still just a tiny thing in your mom's womb.
It usually pops up on your lip or something similar whenever your immune system takes a hit. You know the drill—stress, exhaustion, fighting off a nasty flu, or just being run down. It’s basically your body's way of saying you need a break.
It’s not about that jar sitting in the fridge.
That’s exactly why you can end up with just about anything.
😁

mistydrifter55 said:Herpes is one of those viruses that stays with you for life once you've been exposed.
In many cases, people actually contract it while still in the womb.
It usually just surfaces on your lips or elsewhere whenever your immune system takes a hit—whether that’s from a common cold, being under intense stress, or simply feeling exhausted.
It isn't caused by something like leaving a glass jar out on the counter.
Since there are so many triggers, it can really stem from just about anything.
😁

Yes, you've essentially taken the words right out of my mouth.👍

That said, I suppose frequent snacking or eating too close together might trigger an outbreak in those who are already prone to it...

wanderingheron482 said:Da, or even when they walk in from outside and head straight to make lunch or something similar. It really gets under my skin, though I feel if I speak up, I'll just come across as one of those people who is obsessively worried about germs and handwashing. Honestly, people have no idea what I've witnessed in my life—seeing a child eating in public with filthy hands, or watching a pacifier fall on the ground and someone just wiping it off and putting it right back in the baby's mouth; it’s truly frightening.It also irritates me when people drink juice or milk out of a bottle instead of using a glass. Then there are those who eat and then put leftover food back into the container, or drop a cap on the floor and just pick it up and use it again; some people simply lack basic manners. When I'm out, I try to eat things wrapped in paper, like pastries or croissants, specifically choosing foods I can eat without touching them with my hands. Yet, there are people who take things out of their wrappers and then, if they, once they get home without washing their hands, I feel too embarrassed to tell them to wash up. It makes me uneasy thinking about that person making coffee or washing a glass later... you just don't know what's happening. And then there are those who smoke or pick their noses and then just go right back to cooking or cleaning; it's quite unhygienic...

Oh honey, please don't be angry and don't take this the wrong way, but I think you might be overthinking it a little. I tend to be a bit anxious about these things myself, but if a cap falls on the floor, I'll just rinse it under water or wipe it with a wet wipe if I'm not near a sink before using it again. I don't see why you couldn't eat a pastry if you washed your hands beforehand; besides, who's to say the clerk at the bakery didn't handle those pastries with dirty hands? We shouldn't go too overboard. While I certainly don't support picking a pacifier up off the ground and giving it back to a child, I believe it's better for a child to be exposed to a moderate amount of dust and dirt to build up their immune system, rather than having to worry about every morsel of food or developing an allergy because their parents kept them under a glass dome like a specimen.👎

Personally, if I don't have the chance to wash my hands, I'll make sure not to touch any food directly, but I don't mind eating with utensils or drinking from a glass. Of course, I always wash my hands whenever possible, but sometimes we find ourselves in situations where washing isn't an option, and I'm not going to refuse to eat just because of that.

And—as I mentioned—I always carry disinfectant wipes with me, and everyone stays happy! 😍😍

ruggedeagle95 said:... I mean, instead of grabbing a cucumber, this guy just shoves the whole jar in his mouth. He's basically chugging that brine because he loves the taste so much. 😲😠

Jesus, seriously? Who actually enjoys that stuff?!? 😲
It honestly blows my mind every single time I see someone—like a woman who’s clearly spent an hour getting her hair and outfit perfect—walk out of a restroom, check herself in the mirror, fix her makeup, and head right back out without even washing her hands. 😱 It's just gross. She might be a pro at applying eyeliner, but basic hand hygiene after using the bathroom? Total mystery to her.

Oh, by the way, I've been using that antibacterial gel whenever I'm out running errands in the city lately. It smells great and is super convenient to carry around. I really hope other people start making better use of it too. 😁

Carol Scott98 said:Look, lady, please don't get mad and don't take this the wrong way, but I think you're overreacting a bit. Yeah, I get anxious about this stuff, but if my bottle cap falls on the ground, I just rinse it under some water or wipe it with a wet wipe if there's no sink nearby and put it back. I don't see why I couldn't eat a pastry if I washed my hands first. Besides, who's to say the clerk at the bakery didn't handle those pastries with dirty hands? There's no need to go overboard here... Picking something up off the floor and shoving it into a kid's mouth is a hard pass for me, obviously, but I honestly think it's better to let a child deal with a moderate amount of dust and grime so they build up an immune system. You don't want them hitting their teens having to obsess over every bite or dealing with some dust allergy because their parents kept them living under a glass dome. 👎

Personally, if I can't wash my hands, I'll make sure I don't touch food directly, but I have no problem eating with utensils or drinking from a bottle. Obviously, I wash my hands whenever possible, but sometimes you find yourself somewhere where washing isn't an option, and I'm not going to starve just because of that.

And—like I said—I always carry disinfectant wipes on me, so everyone stays happy. 😍😍

No, she didn't rinse the cap. I was out with a friend once and her cap fell, so I offered her a wipe, but it landed in some bushes filled with trash instead. 😕But she wouldn't even wipe it; she just put it right back, still covered in dirt. It's the same thing when I'm hanging out with someone who won't wash their hands, and then they just grab a pastry straight out of the bag and start eating. Look, I get that there are situations where you can't be perfect, but if a girl hands you a bag, it's normal to just eat from it. I'm not totally paranoid—my own cap has fallen a few times, and I'll give it a good wipe before putting it back—but I was talking about putting it back while it's still filthy. 😁 As for the kid, that's a bit much for me; at least wipe it off first... I make sure not to touch food with my bare hands if I can't wash up; at least I'll use a wet wipe, or if there's silverware, even better. Hehe, but what gets me most is what was mentioned above: when a woman walks out of the restroom without washing her hands and then acts like royalty, despite having zero basic manners. You don't have to be paranoid, but some things should just be common sense.

Great, thanks for the long-winded lectures 😁 but I’m actually wondering if you get anything out of it when someone licks the mayo jar clean and then you have to use it for toast right after?!
Or take that pickle jar example 😁 can we get some actual answers here!
Look, I’ve had herpes forever, plain and simple. As soon as I get stressed, my immune system tanks and it flares up... which is exactly why I'm careful, because I don't want passing it on to anyone else.

ruggedeagle95 said:It’s wonderful that everyone is sharing so much insight, 😁 but I am genuinely curious if there is any actual risk involved when, for instance, someone licks the mayo jar clean and then you use it to spread on your toast right after them?
Or perhaps we could get some specific details regarding that example involving the pickle jar 😁—could we get something concrete!
I’ve dealt with herpes my whole life, which is true, and whenever I get stressed, my immune system dips and it flares up... so I try to be extra careful because I wouldn't want to pass anything on to anyone else.

I suppose I don't think you'd catch anything particularly "terrifying"... though maybe mono is a possibility. 🤔🤷

Carol Scott98 said:I don't think you're getting anything "scary" from that... maybe just mono 🤔🤷

Right? I mean, someone just shared a little spit, nothing more. 😉 But where did the theory come from about how deep kissing—not even regular kissing—could theoretically spread IBM?! I have no clue if that's actually ever happened in real life..