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  LiveWire / Teen Forums / Science & Business / Viewing Topic

Does washing your hands HONESTLY make a difference?
Don't say "yes." unless you give me evidence, or you're wrong. Simple.
Replies: 43Last Post Nov. 1, 2008 4:00pm by baby tee
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( hokie )


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Okay, let's get things straight. I know soap kills germs. I know washing your hands kills germs. That's proven. But so what? Prove to me with scientific evidence that it makes a "difference."

My biology professor raised my curiosity when he explained this, following to say the mind-blowing vast amount of germs on your arms just move RIGHT BACK to your hands after you wash them. Yeah, washing your hands kills germs. But yeah, does that make a difference at all? And if so, what difference? Will I seriously catch a cold just because I wash my hands? That's just an example question; give me more defined reasoning than just if it matters in catching a cold.

Don't get me wrong. I wash my hands, and as far as I know based on what I'm told and given, it does help. But I can see the possibility of the fallacy in this supposedly "healthy" routine.

Anybody? I love knowledge, please feed me. Pretty please?

EDIT: My bad, I'm not getting technical in the sense of ANY situation, such as antibiotics in surgery. I'm just talking about a simple average everyday routine (I.E., waking up, eating, work, watching tv, going to bed, whatever, you get my generalized concept of the idea.)

Detail edit (lol): How about this--Is the percentage of the reduction in harm by washing your hands make a difference that changes anything in the long run? Sure, let's say as example .0001% off is a literal difference. But it's not really a difference to do anything about. (I know that isn't the difference in washing your hands, but I exaggerated the concept so my point would be clear.)

Post edited at 11:31 am on Oct. 15, 2008 by hokie


11:00 am on Oct. 15, 2008 | Joined: Sep. 2008 | Days Active: 136
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BleedingSteelWings


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it's not just about any old germs, it's specific disease causing germs, as well as certain chemicals that rub off onto your hands on surfaces or whatever.

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SpM


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I'm sure if you researched the infection rates in hospitals before and after hand washing was made mandatory, you would find a correlation.

11:02 am on Oct. 15, 2008 | Joined: Feb. 2007 | Days Active: 550
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liv21


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Personally, I don't think it makes that much of a difference.  If anything, if it DOES make you more sanitary and more sterile, your body is gonna be less able to handle those everyday germs.

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Well, food poisoning is a big reason. Being a butcher, I wouldn't eat something without washing my hands thoroughly. Cross-contamination is bad.

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Periwinkle


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Because we pick up germs on our hands, as you said, and we touch lots of things with our hands. You probably won't get a cold from getting germs in your hands, but getting them in your eyes and mouth and in your food and smearing them all over your house and clothes? That makes it more likely.

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Kitty Kiska


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Only if you use soap...most people just rinse in water and dry which does nothing.
Id say the big fat germs get killed as they dont run so fast...the little ones get away but probably they dont harm us at all

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Vintorez



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yes, its common sense, theres your evidence

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( hokie )


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Quote: from SpM at 2:02 pm on Oct. 15, 2008

I'm sure if you researched the infection rates in hospitals before and after hand washing was made mandatory, you would find a correlation.

Shoot, I didn't clarify enough. I know antibiotics in surgery and medical procedures and all the jazz in that subject DO make a difference, and does matter even in life and death.

I'm asking in simple individual everyday routine. Like, I wake up, go to school, eat, blahblahblah, go to bed. That's where I want this to be clarified in if it actually helps or not.


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( hokie )


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Quote: from Vintorez at 2:03 pm on Oct. 15, 2008

yes, its common sense, theres your evidence

Wrong. Common sense is not evidence, common sense is biased superior reasoning.


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Autumnal


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Washing your hands can reduce the risk of food poisoning.

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Virginia Tech professor

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Quote: from Autumnal at 2:07 pm on Oct. 15, 2008

Washing your hands can reduce the risk of food poisoning.
what?

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( hokie )


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Quote: from robdude at 2:09 pm on Oct. 15, 2008

Virginia Tech professor

Bass guitar. Airplane. Concert. Random words.

Or are you trying to make a point that what my professor said was biased due to being a VT professor? I don't even go there though. I'm just a fan. Go hokies. lol. I'm just wondering what you meant.


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Niick


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The VAST majority of bacteria is harmless.

Yes,w e're covered in it, but it's harmless. Wahsing your hands rids us of the harmful bacteria, therefore makign a huge difference. Did you know if you didnt bathe long enoguh you'd die from it?

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