Posts by Thomas Roberts9

Elizabeth Jackson64 said:I honestly never wear one when I'm just hanging out at home, unless I know I'll be heading out later in the day and want to get fully ready right away... it’s just so much more comfortable to just lounge in a t-shirt and some sweats, especially since my family won't even notice if I'm not wearing a bra, which helps if you're worried about feeling self-conscious, not to mention how much better it feels when I'm just relaxing, watching TV, or studying lying down... plus, they don't get dirty unnecessarily 😬, so I don't have to run them through the laundry every other day...

I couldn't agree more! 👍

There is absolutely no pressure on my part to sleep in a bra or wear one around the house, unless we happen to have guests over or something similar... but there isn't any pressure forcing me out of my own home without one either, so, really, cheers to having the freedom to choose. 😉

wanderingheron482 said:It honestly bothers me quite a bit when people buy a jar of Nutella to share, only to dig in with a dirty spoon instead of spreading it properly on toast like an adult. I can't help but wonder if bacteria can actually spread that way, and given how much saliva gets left inside, I suspect it truly can.Even if it isn't possible to change, one still can't deny that the situation is quite unpleasant.

I couldn't agree more. ☕

Emily Mitchell80 said:I took the subway to work this morning, touching all sorts of things along the way, and I made sure to wash my hands in the restroom before even stepping into my office. It is just a habit I can't seem to break. 😉

Oh, I completely understand that feeling; even when I haven't used public transit and haven't touched much besides a cafeteria tray or a coffee cup, I still find myself washing my hands the moment I walk through the door, simply because I can't shake this lingering sense of being "unclean," and once they are washed, I finally feel like I can truly relax and go about my business with a clear mind. 😁 😉

Emily Mitchell80 said:I don't touch anything in the restroom until I get back home. When you're out in the city, you have to handle all sorts of things—there's no avoiding it if you want to board a subway or a bus... BUT ONCE I GET HOME, I WASH MY HANDS THOROUGHLY!!! And of course, as someone else mentioned, I make sure not to touch my face or anything similar while I'm out, regardless of whether I've used a restroom.
While I certainly respect your perspective that people should wash their hands, please try to understand that I find even touching a faucet quite unsettling.
I don't really have the energy to go in circles about this anymore; if you want to wash your hands after using the restroom, that's fine, BUT you absolutely must wash them when you walk through your front door.

I think you might have misunderstood what leeloo27 was trying to say. She wasn't suggesting that you touch things inside the stall itself, but rather that if you touch other items with unwashed hands—like a glass you're drinking from—and if a local coffee shop doesn't prioritize hygiene or lacks a proper dishwasher and only rinses things superficially, others could potentially pick up something from you (or from people with similar habits). So, shouldn't you wash up after using the restroom??😁

During my college years, which honestly feel like they're still going on, I worked as a waitress, and I've seen firsthand just how varied the standards are in different cafes and how clean the counters actually are. I've even seen servers who only rinse the rim of a glass, assuming the soap residue at the bottom will magically clean the rest. It really gives you an idea of how neglected the parts of the glass you actually touch can be.

I wasn't upset when you wrote that; I simply felt that perhaps you aren't quite accepting that others might disagree with you. I understand why you're being defensive because you feel strongly about your views, but it feels like we've drifted from a casual chat into a full-blown debate.

Ultimately, I believe washing your hands after using the restroom is necessary, even if you feel you haven't touched anything (though I'm a bit puzzled how one manages not to touch anything in a stall if they have to close the door behind them). I can't support the idea of not washing up; to me, it feels as unhygienic as not cleaning yourself after using the bathroom. Please don't take this personally, but that's just how I see it. If someone truly can't wash their hands, carrying hand sanitizer or wipes in a purse is a simple solution that isn't exactly a luxury these days.☕

Emily Mitchell80 said:I am honestly not quite sure why you feel that is an overreaction; if one does not make a point to disinfect a bathroom surface at home after a neighbor or a friend visits, it really isn't much different from sitting down on a restroom seat in a coffee shop or a restaurant where a complete stranger was just sitting moments before you.
In my house, the toilet and the shower are in separate rooms and I always keep the doors shut, so those concerns don't really apply to my situation.

It isn't truly the same thing because you are consistently cleaning your own facilities according to your own standards, whereas in a bar, there is no way to know how thoroughly they actually sanitize everything... plus, at a pub, you have no idea who else has used that restroom, while at home, you at least know the people you are inviting inside. You wouldn't just let some random stranger off the street use your private bathroom without a second thought.

Emily Mitchell80 said:What on earth are you supposed to do when the restroom door is far too heavy to nudge open with your elbow, and there isn't a single paper towel in sight to use as a barrier, leaving you with no choice but to touch the handle with your bare hands??!?!

I usually just manage it with my left hand—specifically using my pinky finger, if I’m being honest😉... how do you typically handle it? 😁

Emily Mitchell80 said:You suggest washing your hands; but do you truly feel they are clean if you've had to touch the faucet or turn off the water after someone else—who might not have been particularly hygienic—used them? ... I won't dwell on the specifics, but I hope you understand the essence of my concern.
So, am I to understand that nobody else disinfects their toilet seat after guests leave??!?!
I was under the impression that everyone here was quite particular about hygiene, yet it seems we don't all wipe down the seat after a guest, friend, or neighbor sits down (especially during this sweltering summer heat)? To me, cleaning it seems like the only logical step.

I get the feeling you might be feeling a little defensive since your perspective hasn't found much support here, which is perfectly fine; if that's your routine, then more power to you. Personally, I tend to use an antibacterial wipe—like a Clorox wipe—if someone I'm not entirely sure about has used the facilities, though if it were a close friend or a family member, I probably wouldn't bother...

Emily Mitchell80 said:I am quite diligent about washing my hands, though I must admit I was somewhat taken aback by the suggestion that one might leave a restroom without washing up at all. When I find myself using a restroom in a local coffee shop or a restaurant, I often hesitate to wash my hands because the thought of touching the faucet or the soap dispenser—even if it is a pump style—really unnerves me. I can't help but think about how many people have touched that same handle right before me, and it makes me feel as though I am just spreading more germs rather than getting clean. It is perhaps a bit of a flawed way to look at things, I suppose; while my hands may be unwashed, I find it much more tolerable to deal with my own skin than to touch a communal faucet or door handle that a stranger has just used.
I truly find the most peace when I can use a paper towel to turn the handle so that I don't have to make contact with anything else.
I am not entirely sure there is a perfect solution here, so perhaps it is simply best to hold it until I get back home.

Oh goodness, no... 🤦
I honestly cannot fathom how anyone could walk out of a restroom without washing their hands; it is such a fundamental, automatic habit for me that I struggle to even find a comparison for it.
Haven't you seen the standard hygiene protocols that medical professionals always emphasize? You simply turn on the tap, use the liquid soap—which is fine since no one else touches the bottle itself—scrub your hands, grab a paper towel to dry off, and then use that same towel to turn off the faucet...
While I find bar soap in public places a bit unsettling, liquid soap doesn't bother me since it remains untouched by others. If there are no paper towels available, I’ll use my elbow or even my foot if I have to, or perhaps I'll use my left hand to close the valve since my right hand is usually busy. There is absolutely no way I would skip washing my hands after using the restroom.

Emily Mitchell80 said:Regarding the seat itself, I don't even sit down at my own house if someone who isn't a member of my immediate household—like a friend, a neighbor, or a sibling's guest—has used it recently; in fact, I often end up layering toilet paper over the seat just to be safe.
Whenever a guest uses the restroom, I make it a point to spray the seat with a disinfectant cleaner once they've finished, just to feel a bit more secure, much like some of you mentioned.

I certainly understand wanting to wipe down the seat after a complete stranger, but doing it after a close friend? 😲

Nancy Grant77 As specified by:
I find myself wondering, somewhat sheepishly, how one might even begin to draw a connection between the use of condoms and the simple matter of unwashed hands. 😕

Honestly, you all seem to find such immense joy in drifting away from the topic at hand.

It all began quite innocently enough with discussions about mayonnaise, then drifted toward jars of pickles, before eventually spiraling into topics like hepatitis and IBM, and finally landing on condoms. 🤣

Haha, fair enough... I suppose we’ve all drifted a little too far from the actual point of this discussion. 😁 🙈

wanderingheron482 said:I recall reading somewhere that a married couple could potentially infect one another if they were both struggling with gum issues or bleeding gums. It's worth noting that beyond just saliva, blood can be present if someone has a small sore inside their mouth or if their gums are bleeding. I am not entirely certain about the specific conditions required for such a transmission to become more serious, but since blood can mix with saliva, the risk exists. Looking at the data regarding IBM, besides the most common modes of transmission, there are instances where individuals become infected through other means. I suppose I am still trying to wrap my head around the specifics of how that works.🤷

I was watching this program recently where a woman was describing how her husband had been living with HIV for years without her ever knowing. She explained that, by some stroke of luck, she hadn't contracted the virus despite them being intimate for such a long time, which is a concept I find quite difficult to wrap my head around. I seem to recall her telling the story with her face somewhat blurred out to protect her identity. 🤷
I am not quite certain, but perhaps it would be wise to exercise a bit more caution...

ruggedeagle95 said:I mean, I'm not sure if that's really the case... it seems more like someone just passed on a little saliva and nothing more. 😉But isn't it true that, theoretically, one could transmit IBM through deep kissing—not just casual kissing? I honestly don't know if there has ever been a documented instance where that actually happened.

In theory, I suppose you can pick up anything in any way imaginable, and perhaps the safest path is to live under a glass dome. If we are going to get into the weeds of analyzing those extreme statistical possibilities, like a one-in-a-million chance...
I once heard a girl mention reading in some newspaper she picked up at a church that it might even be possible to transmit IBM despite using a condom.
Whether that is an actual medical reality or just fear-mongering, I really shouldn't venture myself into such a debate. ☕

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. 🤔🤷

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! 😍😍

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...

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.😵🙂

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. 🤷🤷

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.☕

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... ☕

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? 🙂

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.🤔

ruggedeagle95 said:I can certainly imagine how you felt... personally, the thing that gets to me most is seeing someone come straight from downtown without washing their hands after touching all those subway railings and bus handles 😳

It honestly makes my skin crawl whenever I witness that behavior. It’s hard to wrap my head around how someone can just grab a pastry with bare hands right after being out in public without a second thought... 😲 🙂
I've made it a habit to always carry some disinfectant wipes (Clorox) because I feel much better cleaning my hands after riding the subway or stopping by local convenience stores—those places always seem like such concentrated hotspots for germs. 🙂