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

[George K]

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.

[Horace]

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.

[Mik]

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

[mark]

see the face mite thread.

NNTTM

[jon-nyc]

@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.

[Friday]

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?

[Aqua's Sister]

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

[George K]

[Loki]

@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.

[LuFins Dad]

@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...

[Doctor Phibes]

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