Pages: 1 2  Next -- Posted by hokie at 11:00 am on Oct. 15, 2008 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.) -- Posted by BleedingSteelWings at 11:02 am on Oct. 15, 2008 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. -- Posted by SpM at 11:02 am 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. -- Posted by liv21 at 11:02 am on Oct. 15, 2008 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. -- Posted by Darraaagh at 11:02 am on Oct. 15, 2008 Well, food poisoning is a big reason. Being a butcher, I wouldn't eat something without washing my hands thoroughly. Cross-contamination is bad. -- Posted by Periwinkle at 11:03 am on Oct. 15, 2008 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. -- Posted by Kitty Kiska at 11:03 am on Oct. 15, 2008 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 -- Posted by Vintorez at 11:03 am on Oct. 15, 2008 yes, its common sense, theres your evidence -- Posted by hokie at 11:05 am on Oct. 15, 2008 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. -- Posted by hokie at 11:07 am on Oct. 15, 2008 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. -- Posted by Autumnal at 11:07 am on Oct. 15, 2008 Washing your hands can reduce the risk of food poisoning. -- Posted by robdude at 11:09 am on Oct. 15, 2008 Virginia Tech professor -- Posted by robdude at 11:10 am on Oct. 15, 2008 Quote: from Autumnal at 2:07 pm on Oct. 15, 2008 Washing your hands can reduce the risk of food poisoning. what? -- Posted by hokie at 11:12 am on Oct. 15, 2008 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. -- Posted by Niick at 11:15 am on Oct. 15, 2008 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? -- Posted by SpM at 11:15 am on Oct. 15, 2008 Quote: from hokie at 7:05 pm on Oct. 15, 2008 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. Ah, that makes more sense. I agree that it seems illogical to try and cleanse ourselves of pathogens we come into contact with constantly, but certain bacteria you only find in raw meat or shit or whatever else. Hence the encouragement to wash one's hands after preparing some foods or using the bathroom. -- Posted by hokie at 11:19 am on Oct. 15, 2008 Quote: from Autumnal at 2:07 pm on Oct. 15, 2008 Washing your hands can reduce the risk of food poisoning. I can believe that. But is the reduction of risk substantially altered to being worth the difference? I could argue that .00001 percent difference is logically a difference. But that isn't logical in the sense of taking more than 10+ seconds just to reduce risks by a percent so low that it literally makes a difference, but not in a conceptual sense. -- Posted by 1UpU at 11:21 am on Oct. 15, 2008 More than anything, it should be about the consideration of others. You go to the bathroom, you wipe your ass/crotch, you get an unnoticeable amount of piss/shit on your hands/fingers (an unnoticeable amount, but an amount nevertheless), or you touch items (such as door knobs, light switches, computer keyboards/mouses, etc) that other people (WHO MAY HAVE COME INTO CONTACT WITH SHIT/PISS AFTER USING THE BATHROOM) have touched. Which is why you'd wash your hands with soap, simply because it's gross to NOT wash them after coming into contact with piss or shit or raw foods or items others have touched after they used the bathroom, sneezed in their hands, blew their nose, etc. I don't have any scientific evidence to prove it makes a difference, but there IS scientific evidence nonetheless. -- Posted by hokie at 11:21 am on Oct. 15, 2008 Quote: from littlenicky40 at 2:15 pm on Oct. 15, 2008 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? Yes, actually. He also explained that the majority of bacteria really IS harmless, and that was new to me. But look at my reply I just made to whats-his-face about reduction in food poisoning---is the reduction of risk honestly worth it? -- Posted by hokie at 11:24 am on Oct. 15, 2008 Quote: from 1UpU at 2:21 pm on Oct. 15, 2008 More than anything, it should be about the consideration of others. You go to the bathroom, you wipe your ass/crotch, you get an unnoticeable amount of piss/shit on your hands/fingers (an unnoticeable amount, but an amount nevertheless), or you touch items (such as door knobs, light switches, computer keyboards/mouses, etc) that other people (WHO MAY HAVE COME INTO CONTACT WITH SHIT/PISS AFTER USING THE BATHROOM) have touched. Which is why you'd wash your hands with soap, simply because it's gross to NOT wash them after coming into contact with piss or shit or raw foods or items others have touched after they used the bathroom, sneezed in their hands, blew their nose, etc. I don't have any scientific evidence to prove it makes a difference, but there IS scientific evidence nonetheless. Very reasonable, hence the fact that I'll probably still continue washing my hands due to habit even if this all was proven otherwise, lol. -- Posted by shadowsun9 at 11:25 am on Oct. 15, 2008 moderation is the key, yeah washing your hands does help you stay healthy, washing your hands five minutes after you washed them is unhealthy, burning your clothes after a trip to the zoo/farm is unhealthy.  Washing your hands while preparing food is healthy not only for you but also the people you're serving, wsahing your hands before and after performing a surgery is healthy. -- Posted by hokie at 11:29 am on Oct. 15, 2008 Disregard this post, lol. (I can't seem to figure out how to delete posts) -- Posted by Forever Angel at 11:32 am on Oct. 15, 2008 Quote: from hokie at 1:21 pm on Oct. 15, 2008 Quote: from littlenicky40 at 2:15 pm on Oct. 15, 2008 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? Yes, actually. He also explained that the majority of bacteria really IS harmless, and that was new to me. But look at my reply I just made to whats-his-face about reduction in food poisoning---is the reduction of risk honestly worth it? Actually, a lot of the bacteria on and in your body is beneficial. Without some of those we wouldn't survive. The idea about washing your hands comes from the fact that your hands are what come into contact with your environment most often. That environment is where those "bad germs" are picked up. Every time you wash your hands, you may not be saving yourself from a life threatening disease or illness, but once in a while you just might be. -- Posted by hokie at 11:36 am on Oct. 15, 2008 Quote: from Forever Angel at 2:32 pm on Oct. 15, 2008 Quote: from hokie at 1:21 pm on Oct. 15, 2008 Quote: from littlenicky40 at 2:15 pm on Oct. 15, 2008 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?    Yes, actually. He also explained that the majority of bacteria really IS harmless, and that was new to me. But look at my reply I just made to whats-his-face about reduction in food poisoning---is the reduction of risk honestly worth it? Actually, a lot of the bacteria on and in your body is beneficial. Without some of those we wouldn't survive.   The idea about washing your hands comes from the fact that your hands are what come into contact with your environment most often. That environment is where those "bad germs" are picked up. Every time you wash your hands, you may not be saving yourself from a life threatening disease or illness, but once in a while you just might be. True. I guess the level of specificity I was going for just ends up a tad unreasonable. Nevertheless, it looks like washing those hands in the long run COULD make a difference, even if it isn't likely. Wash away, world. Better safe than sorry, right? -- Posted by Forever Angel at 11:42 am on Oct. 15, 2008 Quote: from hokie at 1:36 pm on Oct. 15, 2008 True. I guess the level of specificity I was going for just ends up a tad unreasonable. Nevertheless, it looks like washing those hands in the long run COULD make a difference, even if it isn't likely. Wash away, world. Better safe than sorry, right? When it comes to health issues, yes. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. -- Posted by libertine at 12:16 pm on Oct. 15, 2008 kapow. http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/CRDWeb/ShowRecord.asp?View=Full&ID=12006001292 http://www.physorg.com/news135270036.html -- Posted by hokie at 3:13 pm on Oct. 15, 2008 Quote: from Just another kid at 3:16 pm on Oct. 15, 2008 kapow. http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/CRDWeb/ShowRecord.asp?View=Full&ID=12006001292 http://www.physorg.com/news135270036.html Interesting. Seems more and more like my suspicions are lowered, what I expected for the most part. lol I feel a little ridiculous asking for sources for this stuff and getting them, just about washing hands. Such a simple thing; yet, even against what I'd expect, I wouldn't have been surprised to have been proven that washing hands wouldn't be a huge deal. If anyone else wants to throw in here, go ahead, but thanks everyone else. My knowledge has expanded. -- Posted by obvious child at 7:18 pm on Oct. 15, 2008 Quote: from hokie at 8:00 am on Oct. 15, 2008 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." That is generally incorrect. Soap act as a surfactant, lifting germs and bacteria away from your skin. The water removes them from your skin. Anti-bacterial soap or alcohol based kill germs, but the run of the mill soap does not. And we should ban anti-bacterial soap from the planet due to its ability to create superbugs. -- Posted by osmoticdespair at 6:38 am on Oct. 16, 2008 TBH I only wash my hands when I do number 2's or when I am washing my face (acne). -- Posted by PhoenixFire613 at 11:51 pm on Oct. 16, 2008 Honestly, I don't know how it could make a big difference. Why? There are germs in the air, just like there are on surfaces and items that we touch. 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