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Do library books make you want to wash your hands?

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iamnotaparakeet
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29 Jan 2011, 1:08 pm

It may just be me, but I find myself extremely germ-conscious anytime I handle a library book. Something about thinking of all the possibilities of contaminants left by virtually anyone in general just plain disgusts me to the point of almost being OCD like one of Asimov's Spacers.



MasterJedi
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29 Jan 2011, 2:05 pm

Not to mention the fact that libraries are hang-outs for the homeless. Not to say they're all filthy. I've been homeless. Looking for a place to take a safe shower ain't easy.


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ryan93
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29 Jan 2011, 2:46 pm

Doesn't really bother me, I'm remarkable indifferent to filth (although I myself am not filthy) :lol:


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Moog
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29 Jan 2011, 3:01 pm

If they keep them in the toilet.

One thing I wonder is does being germphobic make you more susceptible to them?


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MasterJedi
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29 Jan 2011, 3:08 pm

Moog wrote:
One thing I wonder is does being germphobic make you more susceptible to them?


Yes, actually. Fear can release stress hormones making you more susceptible to disease.


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Moog
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29 Jan 2011, 3:12 pm

MasterJedi wrote:
Moog wrote:
One thing I wonder is does being germphobic make you more susceptible to them?


Yes, actually. Fear can release stress hormones making you more susceptible to disease.


That's what I would suspect. Cheers.


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arielhawksquill
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29 Jan 2011, 5:17 pm

Double post.



Last edited by arielhawksquill on 29 Jan 2011, 5:31 pm, edited 1 time in total.

arielhawksquill
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29 Jan 2011, 5:19 pm

Coming into contact with small doses of a wide variety of germs is incredibly strengthening to the immune system. People who live in a perfectly sterile bubble have no resistance.

I have used libraries and worked in libraries all my life and have never worried about germs. Paper isn't a good medium for microorganisms anyway (too dry.)



wefunction
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29 Jan 2011, 5:31 pm

Quote:
Do library books make you want to wash your hands?


Now they do! 8O



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29 Jan 2011, 6:17 pm

Jeah they do. I never touch my face after having been in contact with objects outside 15 min after a leave home. My hands need to be clean ( priority, dry),


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29 Jan 2011, 10:16 pm

Nope. Never crossed my mind.



Who_Am_I
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29 Jan 2011, 11:33 pm

Immune system.
Mine works.


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iamnotaparakeet
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29 Jan 2011, 11:40 pm

Who_Am_I wrote:
Immune system.
Mine works.


And what happens if a person with a communicable disease, such as HIV, handled a book that you later handled? What's the probability of transference?



Who_Am_I
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29 Jan 2011, 11:44 pm

iamnotaparakeet wrote:
Who_Am_I wrote:
Immune system.
Mine works.


And what happens if a person with a communicable disease, such as HIV, handled a book that you later handled? What's the probability of transference?


I couldn't say offhand, but I'd imagine that the chances would be about the same as catching HIV from a toilet seat, which, as I understand it, are low.
What if someone sick sat on a park bench that I rested my hands on while sitting on it? What if someone coughs on me on the train?
I'm not going to stop doing things that I enjoy, such as going to parks, catching trains and reading books that I can't afford to buy, just because of some small risk of illness.


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Deceptive cadence: V- ANYTHING BUT I ! !! !
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iamnotaparakeet
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29 Jan 2011, 11:49 pm

Who_Am_I wrote:
iamnotaparakeet wrote:
Who_Am_I wrote:
Immune system.
Mine works.


And what happens if a person with a communicable disease, such as HIV, handled a book that you later handled? What's the probability of transference?


I couldn't say offhand, but I'd imagine that the chances would be about the same as catching HIV from a toilet seat, which, as I understand it, are low.
What if someone sick sat on a park bench that I rested my hands on while sitting on it? What if someone coughs on me on the train?
I'm not going to stop doing things that I enjoy, such as going to parks, catching trains and reading books that I can't afford to buy, just because of some small risk of illness.


Stopping? Not saying to do that. However, I still find it disconcerting to think of how easily any disease can spread within a city.



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29 Jan 2011, 11:53 pm

iamnotaparakeet wrote:
Who_Am_I wrote:
iamnotaparakeet wrote:
Who_Am_I wrote:
Immune system.
Mine works.


And what happens if a person with a communicable disease, such as HIV, handled a book that you later handled? What's the probability of transference?


I couldn't say offhand, but I'd imagine that the chances would be about the same as catching HIV from a toilet seat, which, as I understand it, are low.
What if someone sick sat on a park bench that I rested my hands on while sitting on it? What if someone coughs on me on the train?
I'm not going to stop doing things that I enjoy, such as going to parks, catching trains and reading books that I can't afford to buy, just because of some small risk of illness.


Stopping? Not saying to do that. However, I still find it disconcerting to think of how easily any disease can spread within a city.


Do you know of any citywide or larger epidemics that could be realistically traced back to germs transmitted via library books?


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Music Theory 101: Cadences.
Authentic cadence: V-I
Plagal cadence: IV-I
Deceptive cadence: V- ANYTHING BUT I ! !! !
Beethoven cadence: V-I-V-I-V-V-V-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I
-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I! I! I! I I I