There was some mention of this, but people are often sick long before they show symptoms. Also, one could carry a germ and never show symptoms, but that same germ caught by another could result in some severe sickness. Nobody can really go about saying he is "never sick," "germ free," or "clean." While we have to assume that there are non-handwashers and hand-sneezers out there, I am not sure I would be proud enough to be one of them to announce it in a public medium.

@jbrecken: Part of me hopes you're kidding but part of me doesn't because it's funnier if it's true.

I just think people go a bit overboard sometimes with the germophobe thing. I've just never worried about germs, and I don't get sick that often (nor does my wife). That doesn't mean I'm the model of cleanliness, but I just think people take it to extremes sometimes.

They are... the SANITIZERS.

And you don't need anti-bacterial soap. Regular soap and hot water will do just fine.

I think the shoulder's better. It's further yet from the hand, it's very unlikely you'll touch your own shoulder, and you don't look quite as silly when you do it; it's a bit closer to the face.

Of course, you might then get a chest cold. (Ha!)

But they're a scam, you say. Well, I guess that's a relief. Right?

Add to this the fact that recent generations have MORE allergies than previous generations because they're sequestered in their rooms all day playing video games.

So yeah, I still think people can be germophobes to a disturbing degree. Like that woman. She's worried less about being polite and embarrassing people and more about being germ-free.

Proper hand-washing techniques
Good hand-washing techniques include washing your hands with soap and water or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Antimicrobial wipes or towelettes are just as effective as soap and water in cleaning your hands but aren't as good as alcohol-based sanitizers.
Antibacterial soaps have become increasingly popular in recent years. However, these soaps are no more effective at killing germs than is regular soap. Using antibacterial soaps may lead to the development of bacteria that are resistant to the products' antimicrobial agents - making it even harder to kill these germs in the future. In general, regular soap is fine. The combination of scrubbing your hands with soap - antibacterial or not - and rinsing them with water loosens and removes bacteria from your hands.

I saw this. It was AWESOME!

Also name calling does not really help anyone. Sure a number of republicans these days have resorted to name calling and outrageous lies, but how are you any better if you cannot maintain your civility?

Now dont get me wrong, I would LOVE to see karma catch up (in a big way) on a lot of these guys, but I would prefer to do that while staying above the mud.

The "jackass" incident happened when they were between shots and prepping for other stuff. As a human, he is totally free to voice his opinions in a private chat, and that is prettymuch what he did. And it was hilarious. Espe that "cmon guys, cut the president some slack" line. I was just laughing before that, but at that one i fell out of my chair.

@pecan 3.14159265:

Prove to me Republicans are not idiots.

1) Punk'd by Bush into going to war unnecesarrily.
2) Massive tools of corporate America (not that Max Baucus isn't any different)
3) Getting punk'd by rightwing talkshow hosts into the whole birther thing.
4) No better than Dems at deficit control.
5) Running around screaming about Socialism when they obviously know NOTHING about real Socialism and how far away we are from that.

Need more?

[www.mayoclinic.com]

Fucking germophobia. I'll cough where I damn well please. Wash your hands before you eat and guess what? You won't have anything to worry about if you shake my Swine Flew ridden hands.

"Everyone knows you expel demons and spirits from your body when you sneeze. ...duh! heh. "

No, when you sneeze, that's your soul trying to escape. Saying god bless you crams it back in.

@allstarecho: Reading the bottle of Purel Hand Sanitizer on my desk - active ingredient is ethyl alcohol 62% - no triclosan at all.

Still, I think sneezing into your hands is unpleasant. You get yuck all over your hands (and therefore anything you touch after that). A few bad sneezes and you'll figure out on your own that sneezing into your hands is a bad idea.

I didnt even mention your name, for one. And I only brought your comment up as an example of where this thread would go if it continued further. Which unfortunately is where it is heading right now thanks to you.

Also, "Th NR ncdnt" happened 2 months ago, and we still bring it up. You are going to have to live with it. It is a part of the Consumerist folklore now.

In any case, I hope to leave this at that.

@JGKojak: Not cool.

@ARP: He didn't say it publicly not because of the political climate, but because he's the PRESIDENT. He has more important things to worry about officially than to issue a stupid press release on Kanye West.

@JGKojak: I know, I know, they're Republicans... its pretty easy to make them look like idiots.

I love Kathleen - she was my Gov. for 6 years.

A note: as A Democrat she governed a state whose legislature was 2/3 Republican, and she had them on their knees and eating out of her hand. DO NOT FUNK WITH KATHLEEN- SHE'LL TAKE YOU DOWN (with a smile, just like on this video).

Seriously, she had them running in circles looking like idiots.

And thanks for just reinforcing my point. Your problem is not that you made a patently stupid point, but the fact that you refused to admit that it was stupid, and going as far as to blame others for attacking you when they pointed out that it was stupid (After you said it was cool to attack kids, and that it was cool for you to voice your opinions).

You have the right to voice your opinions and so do others.

@Hooray4Zoidberg: If a tissue is unavailable, I pull out my collar and sneeze down inside the front of my shirt. In the worst case, any offensive matter is trapped between my shirt and undershirt, so no one sees it and I'm not touching it.

@Yoko Broke Up The Beatles: I actually thought that was hilarious. It's too bad that in this political climate, that he couldn't say that publicly for fear that Glen Beck would go on a tirade about Obama trying to harm our children by saying a bad word.

@Rookerith: That's right. And if I want to blow smoke in someone's face, I have every right to. I can also cut in line if I feel like it. It's called consideration.

@zentex: I don't understand. The Obama administration hates America and Christanity. They're all right wing muslims/ left wing godless communists. Why did she say that?

What does your spouse think about your selfish perspective? You're so charming in every respect, you can't possibly be single, right?

@DePaulBlueDemon:

Agreed. But don't be surprised when the right jumps all over her for not being tough on germs!

@pecan 3.14159265:

I would be OK with it if Chuck Todd sneezed onto a Fox News reporter.

Also, don't interrupt award show speeches, or you'll be shamed by the White House. Off the record, of course.

@cc82: Actually, that's not true. Sneezing does not mean you're sick. Sneezing is a response to particles irritating the nasal mucosa. People with allergies sneeze, but it doesn't mean they're sick - it means they've got allergies.

But it doesn't mean that you aren't carrying germs. The common cold incubates in the body anywhere from 2 to 5 days before symptoms begin to appear, so you could be carrying the germs before you even start feeling the headaches and runny nose. It just takes one sneeze, and a hand on a door handle for germs to spread.

@Alex Chasick: I don't touch bathroom doors. I started to think I was being paranoid, but yesterday, a woman exited the bathroom without washing her hands and she used the door handle. No thanks on using the door handle. I'll keep hitting the 'handicap' button with my elbow when I leave.

@smartmuffin:

Rush, is that you?

If you had seen the video, you would have noticed it was a rather light-hearted discussion. Smiles all around, and good information to boot.

Also, I like that I can now pat myself on the back because nobody ever told me to sneeze into my elbow, but I figured out that it had to be a better way.

@GuinevereRucker: Are you saying you preferred the days when the plebians' life expectancy was 25 and the median age was 21? Clearly, all those germs did wonders for longevity.

This conversation is over.

@MostlyHarmless: So, sneezing into your hand (which is still taking a step to not release your germs into the public at large, it's not as if you're just sneezing into the open) is the equivalent of blowing smoke in peoples faces and attempting to humiliate them publicly?

And you wonder why I call you paranoid?

If you're this scared of germs, I hope you aren't merely relying on *everyone in the world* sneezing into their arms to prevent you from getting sick. I always just assume that any doorknob/keyboard/whatever is covered in germs, and it's up to ME to wash my hands if I'm concerned about it. But since I never get sick, I'm not concerned about it. Everyone else in my office uses their hand too. How in the world are we not all dead from the latest terrible flu pandemic? It's a miracle, charlie brown!

@MostlyHarmless: Why are you so scared of my germs if I'm not even sick?

If YOU practice great hygeine, why does it matter if you touch a doorknob that I touched? Surely you'll wash your hands before your hand that touched the doorknob that touched my hand enters your mouth or nose or some other such thing, right?

Call me inconsiderate if you want, I just really can't be bothered to waste time considering things like this. I'm gonna go ahead and sneeze in my hand. If this concerns you, I highly suggest YOU wash YOUR hands before eating rather than hold me to some ridiculous "sneeze in your arm" standard.

@Rookerith: But you touch things. You touch your stuff, other people's stuff, chairs, desks, doors. That's my problem. I don't shake hands very often, but right now I'm touching a keyboard. Imagine if the cleaning woman who handled my cubicle sneezed into her hands and touched my desk before going to wash her hands?

I've taken some poops that I'm pretty sure expelled demons.

Alright, I haven't posted on Consumerist in quite sometime, but it's irrational how some of you are taking this.

If he wants to sneeze in his hand, he has the will to do whatever he wants. As for me, I'd rather sneeze in my hand, and not shake any hands until I wash them, then get my elbow suit sleeve all nasty sneezy.

Kinda reminds me of Roman times, when lepers had ring bells and loudly announce their presence wherever they went.

Maybe I'll start doing that so people know before they shake my hand that I don't wash AND I sneeze into my hand AND I pick my nose.

Except that in the case of men, we really do not have a choice. Theres just too many variables involved to let it go solo during the performance.

In the case of sneezing, you do have multiple options and some are much better than others.

@Hooray4Zoidberg: I cut holes in my sleeves so that the snot goes in the shirt.

problem is that I get cuts from when it dries up.

@MostlyHarmless: to hold your hooha?

Your comment has SO much more credibility now that I know what an inconsiderate jerk you are.

Alarmist behavior? LMAO. It's the polite thing to do. No one wants your germs, so please keep them to yourself.

Everyone knows you expel demons and spirits from your body when you sneeze. ...duh! heh.

@pb5000: I read the headline somewhere, and I was like "wow, thats bitchy" and then I was the video. I was like "oh cool".

@smartmuffin: It's not paranoid, it's basic hygiene and consideration for others.

@ScubaSteveKzoo: I don't go around shaking lots of hands.

Sorry, I don't buy all this paranoid germaphobe stuff. I subscribe to the George Carlin theory of disease prevention, "You're weak and you have a weak immune system!"

@Hooray4Zoidberg: Your logic is sadly lost on most people who continue to sneeze on their hands and touch eeeeeverything. Sometime last year, I saw a guy on the metro sneeze into a tissue and throw the tissue under his seat.

It's so that when you shake someone's hand they don't pick up YOUR germs.

@smartmuffin: The germs you spread by touching things with those filthy hands probably got someone else sick.

Typhoid Mary didn't get typhoid, but guess who did? Oh yeah, a ton of other people.

@pecan 3.14159265: She doesn't *need* to teach it to anyone, because it's ridiculous alarmist behavior. I've sneezed into my hand my whole life, virtually never get sick. Figure that one out.

Utilizing public shaming to enforce government-approved behaviors is *literally* straight out of 1984...

@smartmuffin: Why? She's in charge of Health and Human Services. It's ridiculous that she needs to teach this to adults. This is something you learn when you're a child.

The country thanks you, Kathleen Sebelius, Chuck Todd probably thanks you - but above all, the people around Chuck Todd thank you.

The guy should have walked up to the podium and sneezed in her face.

@pb5000:

What's sad/funny is that I just heard Rush Limbaugh cite this as an example of a "controlling" government.

Seriously.

I'll just leave this here...