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The New Coffee Room

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  2. General Discussion
  3. Back in 2015, science told us that licking subway poles was "probably" safe

Back in 2015, science told us that licking subway poles was "probably" safe

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  • G Offline
    G Offline
    George K
    wrote on 7 May 2020, 17:37 last edited by
    #1

    https://gothamist.com/arts-entertainment/licking-subway-poles-probably-fine-says-expert

    "You wouldn't want to lick all the poles, even though you'd probably be fine," he told us, noting that he unearthed "nothing traumatic" on the Poles of Death. "Wash your hands and don't walk around with a gaping wound."

    According to Mason, the reason we haven't all been sickened by subway pole exposure is that our immune systems are strong enough to handle some of the gross bacteria we've stroked on the L train (see a sampling here). But he cautioned that in a world where Purell dispensers are stationed in every home and office, that may not always be the case. Infants and young children need to be exposed to pathogens in order to build immunity that can withstand a train pole. In fact, "the best thing to do with newborns is roll them like sushi on the subway ground," Mason said.

    He's only half-joking. "More exposure [to germs] as a baby is better," he said, noting that, for instance, it's better to let an adorable dog lick a small child's face than shield it from canine tongue, in order to avoid future allergies and illnesses.

    Another way to prevent a future ruled by Claritin? "The more cockroaches you're exposed to, the greater protection you'll have against allergies," Mason said. Bring your baby to my apartment building! And stay tuned for a list of all the gross stuff found on subways (shigella, ugh!) upon the study's release.

    "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

    The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

    J 1 Reply Last reply 7 May 2020, 19:43
    • H Offline
      H Offline
      Horace
      wrote on 7 May 2020, 17:42 last edited by
      #2

      zoom in far enough on our homes and bodies and we'll see that cleanliness is an illusion, and the pursuit of it a socially conditioned neurosis.

      Education is extremely important.

      L 1 Reply Last reply 8 May 2020, 02:43
      • M Offline
        M Offline
        Mik
        wrote on 7 May 2020, 17:43 last edited by
        #3

        The world is a filthy place. Just filthy. Our bodies are teeming with life.

        “I am fond of pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals.” ~Winston S. Churchill

        1 Reply Last reply
        • M Offline
          M Offline
          mark
          wrote on 7 May 2020, 18:38 last edited by
          #4

          see the face mite thread.

          NNTTM

          1 Reply Last reply
          • G George K
            7 May 2020, 17:37

            https://gothamist.com/arts-entertainment/licking-subway-poles-probably-fine-says-expert

            "You wouldn't want to lick all the poles, even though you'd probably be fine," he told us, noting that he unearthed "nothing traumatic" on the Poles of Death. "Wash your hands and don't walk around with a gaping wound."

            According to Mason, the reason we haven't all been sickened by subway pole exposure is that our immune systems are strong enough to handle some of the gross bacteria we've stroked on the L train (see a sampling here). But he cautioned that in a world where Purell dispensers are stationed in every home and office, that may not always be the case. Infants and young children need to be exposed to pathogens in order to build immunity that can withstand a train pole. In fact, "the best thing to do with newborns is roll them like sushi on the subway ground," Mason said.

            He's only half-joking. "More exposure [to germs] as a baby is better," he said, noting that, for instance, it's better to let an adorable dog lick a small child's face than shield it from canine tongue, in order to avoid future allergies and illnesses.

            Another way to prevent a future ruled by Claritin? "The more cockroaches you're exposed to, the greater protection you'll have against allergies," Mason said. Bring your baby to my apartment building! And stay tuned for a list of all the gross stuff found on subways (shigella, ugh!) upon the study's release.

            J Online
            J Online
            jon-nyc
            wrote on 7 May 2020, 19:43 last edited by jon-nyc 5 Jul 2020, 19:44
            #5

            @George-K said in Back in 2015, science told us that licking subway poles was "probably" safe:

            He's only half-joking. "More exposure [to germs] as a baby is better," he said, noting that, for instance, it's better to let an adorable dog lick a small child's face than shield it from canine tongue, in order to avoid future allergies and illnesses.

            When my son was a baby we were in the playground and there was a mom with a baby the same age. At some point we were talking about kids catching stuff and I made the point about immune system training, saying 'you'd rather have them catch 5 colds a year than none' or something.

            She looked at me like I was Ted Fucking Bundy.

            Bet her kid has major league allergies today.

            Only non-witches get due process.

            • Cotton Mather, Salem Massachusetts, 1692
            1 Reply Last reply
            • F Offline
              F Offline
              Friday
              wrote on 7 May 2020, 20:06 last edited by
              #6

              I hear you Jon. I would let baby #1 crawl around on the grass, and the other moms thought I was a lazy mom. When baby #2 came around, I was too busy chasing after #1, to let #2 crawl around the grass as much. Guess who needs to take Allegra every week?

              1 Reply Last reply
              • A Offline
                A Offline
                Aqua's Sister
                wrote on 7 May 2020, 21:19 last edited by
                #7

                I can give your "immune system" a real kick in the pants.

                L 1 Reply Last reply 8 May 2020, 09:31
                • G Offline
                  G Offline
                  George K
                  wrote on 8 May 2020, 01:19 last edited by
                  #8

                  alt text

                  "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

                  The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

                  1 Reply Last reply
                  • H Horace
                    7 May 2020, 17:42

                    zoom in far enough on our homes and bodies and we'll see that cleanliness is an illusion, and the pursuit of it a socially conditioned neurosis.

                    L Offline
                    L Offline
                    Loki
                    wrote on 8 May 2020, 02:43 last edited by
                    #9

                    @Horace said in Back in 2015, science told us that licking subway poles was "probably" safe:

                    zoom in far enough on our homes and bodies and we'll see that cleanliness is an illusion, and the pursuit of it a socially conditioned neurosis.

                    We are truly an ecosystem.

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    • A Aqua's Sister
                      7 May 2020, 21:19

                      I can give your "immune system" a real kick in the pants.

                      L Offline
                      L Offline
                      LuFins Dad
                      wrote on 8 May 2020, 09:31 last edited by
                      #10

                      @Aqua-s-Sister said in Back in 2015, science told us that licking subway poles was "probably" safe:

                      I can give your "immune system" a real kick in the pants.

                      Speaking of rolling like sushi on the subway ground...

                      The Brad

                      1 Reply Last reply
                      • D Offline
                        D Offline
                        Doctor Phibes
                        wrote on 8 May 2020, 12:37 last edited by
                        #11

                        I bet she's licked a few poles in the subway.

                        I was only joking

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