(Due warning for the faint-hearted. Graphic descriptions might follow.)
Contrary to what others might think, I’m a very cordial and sociable kinda’ guy. However, I’m beginning to think that I should stop the practice of shaking one’s hand when extended in greeting.
I was standing in the restroom the other day (“standing” should be a hint), and some other guy came out of the stall (“standing” versus “the stall” should be descriptive enough). Did he go to the sink to wash his hands? Nooooooo — right for the door and out he went. This wasn’t a one-time occurrence, of course, as it’s been suggested that up to twenty percent of people do not wash their hands after using the restroom. (I wonder if there’s been a “stall” versus “standing” comparison?) Men are worse offenders than women, by the way. (Don’t ask me how I know!) However, I wonder how accurate that twenty percent number really is? After all, who would actually admit to not washing their hands after using the restroom? And how many people might do it only when there’s someone else in there to see, and not do it when they’re alone? I would bet that it’s higher than twenty percent.
A few minutes later I was walking down the hallway, and I see this other guy with his finger so far up his nose that you’d think he was digging for gold. According to some publication that I may or may not have read (and which may or may not be reliable, depending on your desired end conclusion), upwards of 65 percent of people pick their nose regularly throughout the day. I’ve yet to see a study on how many of those people wash THEIR hands afterwards. I’d also bet that more men than women pick their noses. After all, those fingernails could really do some damage! (By the way, do you know which bacteria is most prevalent on the utensils used in buffet lines?)
It’s cold and flu season, you know, and I can’t tell you how many people I’ve seen sneeze and cough into their bare hands. I’ve never seen one of them, however, wash their hands afterwards. And how many people blow their nose into a tissue, only to blow a huge hole right through it? My God, they may as well blow their nose right into their hands!
At the end of a day observing such behavior, I went into the break room for a cup of coffee. “Fresh coffee coming up”, someone told me as he was fumbling through the filters to pick one out. On second thought, perhaps I shouldn’t have a cup of coffee so late in the day — especially since I wasn’t sure that he wasn’t the same guy I saw digging for gold earlier!
And just think about all those keyboards and mice you fondle each and every day!
For some reason, I’ve been wondering about something. What would be a good way to politely refrain from shaking one’s hand? And some people, you know, are so danged pushy about it!