I Just cant Believe it.....Really !

[Jstpssng]

Afternoon Guys,
I turned on the boob tube this mornin to catch the news and weather before headin out to work and what do I hear....

New type of hand shake touchin elbows to greet someone, huhh , this is to prevent spreadin the flu Your kiddin right ???

My Pop always taught me to look the person your greetin straight in the eye and give a good firm handshake, like you mean it ! Man to Man !

Sorry, I just cant stomach this weak wristed crap, whats it all commin to ?

OK, Ill get off my soapbox now, just had to vent

I guess I'm one who's afraid of a firm handshake, but for different reasons.
Back in college days I had the metacarpals of both my thumb and pinkie broken on my right hand, at different times...
In damp weather I fear I have a little arthritis.
Shaking hands with someone who views it as a squeezing contest, after I've worked in the cold rain like we've had for the last couple days is NOT a pleasant experience.

Still, I think we get carried away with the germ thing sometimes. Besides, I was always taught to wash my hands before I eat; seems like that would be more important.

 

[roxynoodle]

It's going to get worse, with all the worry about bird flu. We had a meeting at work a couple weeks ago to discuss the county's plan if it gets here. Everything will be closed: schools, stores, etc for a period of 2-4 weeks. We were told to have a minimum of 2 weeks supply of food and water on hand and that utilities could be turned off. I understand the problem, if this transfers from human to human it could well be an epidemic. Everybody needs to find out how their county is planning to deal with what could very well be an eventuality. I would like to say I hope it never happens but that may be (unfortunately) unrealistic. They are predicting a 50% mortality rate among people who contact it. So despite the fact that we were all taught to shake hands (and I admit, elbow rubbing sounds quite ridiculous), if that bird flu begins human to human transfer, I don't think anyone will think you are rude for not shaking, given the possible outcome. Until then though I can't see myself rubbing elbows with anyone!

 

[scott_vt]

Don't know about you guys, but when I'm getting ready to shake man's hand, I don't think and don’t care what he was holding or doing with it 10 minutes prior to seeing me, neithed does he have idea when my hand been. I do believe in firm handshake, as I believe in washing my hands after leaving restroom and before meal. I think people today just worry too much about an imaginary disease or otherwise. Live your life.... shake man's hand, if something happen then, deal with it.

Mornin Bluecheck,
Couldnt have said it better myself ! Shook the farmers hand up the road last year and he had, well you know what on his hand , thats what soap and water are for ! Just deal with it !

 

[MossRoad]

When my dad passed away, we had the typical funeral home visitation the night before the burial. Hundreds of people came from all over the country. That night, my head went fuzzy, my stomach turned over and I started throwing up over and over at home. My vision went to a little tiny tunnel, my legs and arms pulled into my torso and I fell over in the bathroom in the fetal postition. My fingers and toes cramped up and I thought I was gonna die!!! Everyone that was staying at my house thought I was just stressed out over my father's death. I finally made eye contact with my wife and told her to call the ambulance. They took me into the hospital and gave me several liters of I.V and some other medications and sent me home about 5 or 6 a.m. I was not able to attend the burial and stayed home in bed. They all thought I wigged out due to my Pop's death. I kept telling them, "No, I am sick." From the stories I've heard, the priest that was at the funeral home the night before couldn't do the burial because he was on the floor at the rectory. At the church, my brother-in-law keeled over. My sister went next. At the cemetery, a couple more relatives hit the ground. Another sister made it home and hit the floor. Several relatives from Wisconsin ended up in the hospital and my cousin in Cincinnatti lost a kidney due to I think renal shutdown..... why??? Because someone brought a virus into the funeral home and started hugging, handshaking, kissing and sobbing all over every one. Yeah, I was upset about missing my dad's burial. I made a trip to the cemetery later that day and had some words with him. I think he understood, too. My relatives that thought I wasn't handling it very well finally got the picture when they were driving the porcelain bus at rest stops across the country.

So, I am still leery of shaking hands with folks. I do it, but is scares the bajeebers out of me .

 

[greatrandini]

Well you probably do anyway. Someone who doesn't wash then grabs the door handle. You wash then grab the handle...guess what?

Dude u have to use paper towel to open the door. I carry one in case the bathroom just has those blow driers........

 

[Jagmandave]

I work in a food plant, so good hygeine is a must, and it's taught to our employees from day one. One of the biggest mistakes I see is the "quick rinse" handwash, where they just turn on the water and slip their hands thru it then dry and go. That doesn't do a thing for cleaning your hands, clean hands require soap and wash for at least 30 sec, otherwise you're just fooling yourself.............

As to the handshake thing, I do it without thinking about it - I believe your body will take care of itself if you let it, but I do wash my hands frequently - no sense making it worse than it has to be..........

For us older guys, the constant washing presents another problem - dry skin. In cold weather if your skin cracks you're even more vulnerable to infection, so I'm getting more used to "lotioning up" after hand washing..........

 

[RobJ]

Well you probably do anyway. Someone who doesn't wash then grabs the door handle. You wash then grab the handle...guess what?

Dude u have to use paper towel to open the door. I carry one in case the bathroom just has those blow driers........

Well I don't go that far. But I usually do grab or push on parts of the door that are not common.

I don't mind shaking anyones hand, but when you are in the bathroom, with soad, water, towels. Just use them!! It's just the decent human thing to do. The right hand hand shake came from people using their left hand to clean themselves. Before paper that is.

 

[BB_TX]

I am also a handshaker without even thinking about it. I have no problem with those who have a fear of germs. But if someone offers their hand for a handshake, that person should either shake their hand or explain their phobia. They should not just stand there while the other person is holding their hand out looking confused. An explanation would be a common courtesy.

 

[YanmarFever]

It's going to get worse, with all the worry about bird flu. We had a meeting at work a couple weeks ago to discuss the county's plan if it gets here. Everything will be closed: schools, stores, etc for a period of 2-4 weeks. We were told to have a minimum of 2 weeks supply of food and water on hand and that utilities could be turned off. I understand the problem, if this transfers from human to human it could well be an epidemic. Everybody needs to find out how their county is planning to deal with what could very well be an eventuality. I would like to say I hope it never happens but that may be (unfortunately) unrealistic. They are predicting a 50% mortality rate among people who contact it. So despite the fact that we were all taught to shake hands (and I admit, elbow rubbing sounds quite ridiculous), if that bird flu begins human to human transfer, I don't think anyone will think you are rude for not shaking, given the possible outcome. Until then though I can't see myself rubbing elbows with anyone!

Roxy why worry about the bird flu ??? Bird is all the way over in texas and im in Oregon.
I still wash my hands 12x a day from work.

 

[MossRoad]

Well you probably do anyway. Someone who doesn't wash then grabs the door handle. You wash then grab the handle...guess what?

Dude u have to use paper towel to open the door. I carry one in case the bathroom just has those blow driers........

I agree. After I wash my hands I use the paper towel to dry them and then use it to open the door. I throw it away in the trashcan that is just about always outside the door. If there are no paper towels, I kick the door at the bottom real hard and it almost always pops open enough to wedge my toe between the door and the jam and I open it with my shoe. I also carry two toilet flushers with me at all times... my shoes! I never touch the flush lever!!!