Neglecting to wash one's hands in a public restroom (or any restroom at that) is simply unacceptable. And I reserve the right to scowl at you when you do this unspeakable thing.
Twice today while I was at school, I witnessed a woman leave the bathroom without even pretending to wash her hands. Stall to outside door, just like that she was gone with her dirty hands.
Even if you are a clean person, think of all the other unclean people who go in and out of a public restroom all day long. They bring germs; they leave germs. It's that simple.
Wash Thy Hands.
Isn't it part of the 10 Commandments?
2 comments:
I have this totally meganormous post I used in class once. I did not generate it specifically for you, my dear Lana, but I knew it would, like, totally gross you out. Here ye go.
There are 1 x 10(^12) human cells in your body and 1 x 10(^13) prokaryotic (bacterial) cells in
your body? That's right: there are ten times as many bacterial cells as there are you cells. Your mouth, eyes, anus, vagina, gut, nail cuticles, scalp, skin, etc. are all little ecosystems in which different bacterial and fungal species normally maintain a balance. The bacteria that make their home in/on your body are important in maintaining your health. Get a yeast infection when you take an antibiotic? This is because the antibiotic reduced the normal bacterial population in your vagina, thus allowing yeast to flourish. Both the bacteria and the yeast are important for maintaining proper vaginal pH, health, etc. Enough about vaginas. The bacteria found on/in your body include: E. coli, Staph variants, Strep variants, Klebsiella variants, and many other "bad" bugs. You currently have Strep bacteria in your throat; the infection called Strep Throat is an overpopulation of normal bacteria leading to the symptoms you suffer. E. coli currently flourishes on your hands, toothbrush, kitchen sink, silverware and cereal bowl. You need these bacteria - they are essential for maintaining the ecosystem that is your body. For this reason, I don't buy anti-bacterial soap or use anti-bacterial wipes, or that gel crap. I avoid taking any systemic anti-bacterial or anti-fungal medications unless truly necessary. Using anti-bacterial agents not only reduces the numbers of bacterial that are susceptible to the agent, but also strengthens the population that is resistant. In the 1970's, gonorhea became resistant to and thus untreated by penecillin. Another, more specific antibiotic had to be developed in order to cure gonorhea. The same effect is occuring from our use of topical anti-bacterial agents. In October 2005, the FDA declared that anti-bacterial soap is no more effective in reducing illness than regular soap. Furthermore, it notes that use anti-bacterial agents may be causing the development of drug-resistant bacteria.
For fun, try this: 1) Slice a few potatos width-wise creating several disks approximately 1 cm in height. 2) Dip a Q-tip in beef broth and swab a surface you think is loaded with bacteria. 3) Rub the swab over flat surface of one potato wedge. Label this wedge with its location. 4) Repeat steps 2 and 3 on other surfaces in your house. Usually, this means the toilet or kitchen sink, but if you have other areas of the house you think are "dirty," give those a shot. 5) Now run some swabs over locations you don't typically associate with bacteria... your toothbrush, the remote control, door knobs, etc. You are about to be so wrong. 6)Make sure all the slices are labelled appropriately and set them gently in a 9x13 pan with a small amount of beef broth at the bottom. Cover with Saran wrap and check each day.
Students always run to the men's urinals, certain they are collecting a really nasty sample. The water fountain mouthpiece beats a mens' urinal any day. If you do decide to do this experiment, and I recommend you do, be sure to swab the bottom of a shoe. There are usually very beautiful fungi samples there. Fungi ARE beautiful. See?
- Anon, you know who I am.
This is supposed to be the link in the above post at "See?".
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