From the morning news….

More men fail to "step up" and wash

Researchers in public restrooms find the gender gap is widening when it comes to hand cleanliness.

By Marilynn Marchione

The Associated Press

09/18/2007

Chicago - The gender gap has widened when it comes to hygiene, according to the latest stakeout by the "hand-washing police." One-third of men didn't bother to wash after using the bathroom, compared with 12 percent of women, said the researchers who spy on people in public restrooms.

They reported their latest findings Monday at a meeting of infectious-disease scientists.

Two years ago, the last time the survey was done, only one- quarter of men didn't wash, compared with 10 percent of women.

"Guys need to step up to the sink," said Brian Sansoni, spokesman for the Soap and Detergent Association, which co-sponsors the survey and related education campaigns…. [The article continues for several more paragraphs….]

http://www.denverpost.com/ci_6921863

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My take on this is that it's sex-phobic to say that a man should wash his hands after peeing in a public toilet. What has he touched? His penis, which is much cleaner than his hands (which have been in contact with all kinds of unsavory surfaces). But because the penis is a sex organ it's "dirty". I could understand washing before. But after? Defecating is a different matter, of course -- but the study didn't distinguish between the two as far as I can tell. I don't think that women contaminate their hands in any significant way while peeing either, but maybe I should leave that for women to comment on.

Let's face up to the Soap and Detergent Association with a new slogan: "Go and get going!"

On another bathroom-related issue, I note that the ACLU has taken up Larry Craig's case, asserting that it's no crime to proposition someone for consensual unpaid sex. Good for them, but I'm not sure it's the kind of defense Craig is looking for.

Reminds me of the guys in a restroom who all went in to leave a whiz. First one pipes up and says, as he zips up, "University of Michigan, they taught us to wash after whizzing." Next, same thing, University of Texas, we wash. The third guy zipped up, and said, "University of Minnesota. They taught us not to piss on our hands."

About seven or eight years ago, a relative of mine had a premature baby (like really premature - 10 weeks and 2 pounds). Anyone being admitted to the "nursery" had to wash their hands and wear gowns. That went on for a month until the baby could be sent to a step down facility (not intensive care) and still we had to wash hands before handling the baby.

I have ever since then, washed my hands a lot more than I used to wash.

Do as you please, but when it counts, you'll step up to soap and water and not make a big fuss about it.

The thing is, in most urinals it's inevitable to get some droplets of urine in your hands, as they bounce back.

am i the only one who finds it gross that most guys dont wipe their glans head after it? Or am i just a clean freak?

I don't wash the head 'cuz I'm circumsized, and it all just comes out the hole at the tip, the end of the urethra...

I don't think of myself as a clean freak, but I do wash my hands after peeing. I think its a hangover from childhood.

But that's not my 'thing' about bathrooms. The 'thing' about public bathrooms for me is all about the door on the way OUT of there. That door handle has to be the most fecal- and urine-encrusted thing we come in contact with. I wash my hands just before exiting public bathrooms so that I have a reason to take a piece of paper towelling with me (if available... if not, I use my shirt) on my way out, to use as a barrier between the inside door-handle and my hand.

I'm not sure about washing hands after urinating, but I do think the average person may be better off washing their hands more often than they do. The amount of crap you come into contact with on a daily basis is amazing, and if you do wash after each bathroom visit, it may help in areas other than just the sex-phobic bit.

Of course, on the other side, the more you're exposed to, the stronger an immune system you develop, right? Heheh.

BossTamsin (imported) wrote: Wed Sep 19, 2007 6:22 pm Of course, on the other side, the more you're exposed to, the stronger an immune system you develop, right? Heheh.

"What doesn't kill me makes me stranger." --FLO--

I don't believe this thread.

However it has been my observation that men will not wash if alone but if another man is there they will at least get there hands wet, if 2 or more out comes the soap.

River

As a former boy scout there was never a sink at the tree.