The biggest beef the readers had was the lack of organization and coherence in my post--and rightfully so. I had succumbed to laziness and chose not to revise my post before both publishing it in my blog and submitting it to Reddit. I had only skimmed the post for grammatical errors.
Ergo, I' shall now rewrite my previous post in a more concise and orderly manner while incorporating new information I learned from the biologists of /r/askScience. En garde!
Part I: Your pillow is Covered in Poo
Did you know that the most "microbial-ly" similar
thing to your pillow is your toilet seat? That's what microbiologists at the Biology and the Build Environment (BioBE) Center in
Oregon have discovered. Despite the gross connotations, the connection between your toilet seat and your pillow isn't long and complex. Human bodies
commonly touch both items, and the microbes that live on those human bodies merely land on both toilet seats and pillows. More importantly, bacteria aren't stationary--they expand and live where food exists. Ergo, whenever you sit down to take a potty, bacteria on plastic seat move onto your more nutritious (sweaty) skin. Once on your body, bacteria can then just mosey on down to wherever they want. Oh, and trying to hover while taking care of business won't do you any good either. Millions, if not billions, of microbes float around in the air you breath, so every breath you take helps spread local bacteria (that's why a really dangerous disease is one that's airborne).
Fun Fact: Along with bacteria, billions of other particles, including pollen, viruses, particulates (like the burnt gasoline molecules spewed from cars) and food. Additionally, researchers have proposed that the human body utilizes quantum mechanics to distinguish between these particles. Little detectors inside the nose identify the particles in the air based on their atomic vibration frequency, and give them a "smell." Think about that the next time you go to the bathroom--or don't!
Part II: Resistance is Futile
Now, you probably hate me for bringing the bacteria-filled world to light, but don't be scared! Your body has evolved over millions of years to handle all these microbes (except the artificial ones, more on that later). Every single bacterium on your body needs food and water to survive; however, only a certain amount of food and water exists on your body. Ergo, all those bacteria, malignant and benign, have to compete for those resources. Fortunately, most of the microbes on your skin are benign and actually help you by drinking your nutritional sweat before the harmful bacteria--thus depriving the latter of life. Unfortunately, whenever you use antibacterial soap or a hand sanitizer, you kill both the "good" and "bad" bacteria--which in some cases might give the malignant bacteria a chance to recolonize your hands before the good ones (remember, bacteria don't just stay on your hands; they spread all over your body).
Still worried about bacteria? Well calm down. Nature invented skin and immune systems for a reason. Your skin is a really good barrier against harmful agents, so treat it well--that means no tanning, no playing in the sun without sunscreen, and no choking your skin with a thick layer of makeup! If bacteria gets through your skin, chances are your immune system, which should have plenty of experience dealing with foreign hostiles if you played outside as a kid, can kick its ass. You don't need to sanitize your hands after touching something "icky" when vigorously washing your hands with normal (not anti-bacterial) soap will do. Ultimately, you'll help slow the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Part III: Don't sue me!
I'm not giving you free reign to not wash your hands after using the restroom. Please continue to maintain the clean habit of properly washing your hands (vigorous scrubbing of hands for at least 20 seconds), for society thanks you! Furthermore, if you have weakened immune system, do what you must to protect yourself by using whatever you require such as hand sanitizer, rubbing alcohol, or bleach. Just keep clean!
Fun Fact: Along with bacteria, billions of other particles, including pollen, viruses, particulates (like the burnt gasoline molecules spewed from cars) and food. Additionally, researchers have proposed that the human body utilizes quantum mechanics to distinguish between these particles. Little detectors inside the nose identify the particles in the air based on their atomic vibration frequency, and give them a "smell." Think about that the next time you go to the bathroom--or don't!
Part II: Resistance is Futile
Now, you probably hate me for bringing the bacteria-filled world to light, but don't be scared! Your body has evolved over millions of years to handle all these microbes (except the artificial ones, more on that later). Every single bacterium on your body needs food and water to survive; however, only a certain amount of food and water exists on your body. Ergo, all those bacteria, malignant and benign, have to compete for those resources. Fortunately, most of the microbes on your skin are benign and actually help you by drinking your nutritional sweat before the harmful bacteria--thus depriving the latter of life. Unfortunately, whenever you use antibacterial soap or a hand sanitizer, you kill both the "good" and "bad" bacteria--which in some cases might give the malignant bacteria a chance to recolonize your hands before the good ones (remember, bacteria don't just stay on your hands; they spread all over your body).
Still worried about bacteria? Well calm down. Nature invented skin and immune systems for a reason. Your skin is a really good barrier against harmful agents, so treat it well--that means no tanning, no playing in the sun without sunscreen, and no choking your skin with a thick layer of makeup! If bacteria gets through your skin, chances are your immune system, which should have plenty of experience dealing with foreign hostiles if you played outside as a kid, can kick its ass. You don't need to sanitize your hands after touching something "icky" when vigorously washing your hands with normal (not anti-bacterial) soap will do. Ultimately, you'll help slow the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Part III: Don't sue me!
I'm not giving you free reign to not wash your hands after using the restroom. Please continue to maintain the clean habit of properly washing your hands (vigorous scrubbing of hands for at least 20 seconds), for society thanks you! Furthermore, if you have weakened immune system, do what you must to protect yourself by using whatever you require such as hand sanitizer, rubbing alcohol, or bleach. Just keep clean!
