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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Licking fingers to turn pages

94 replies

Nousernameforme · 19/11/2024 09:17

Aibu to think this is revolting and wish people would stop doing it.
We got a new catalogue through the post, one of those with half a dozen or so pages advertising festive outfits, pjs for the kids you know the sort of thing. I put it aside for to look at later, well parent popped round unexpectedly and started flicking through it licking fingers to turn each page 🤢

It got binned the second they left. Dc asked for it this morning as they need to make a collage for school. I told them I threw it out and why. They agreed it was a grim practice and said teachers do it to their papers all the time 🤢 but obviously they can't say anything as then they are the rude one.

AIBU to think people would be a bit more aware of spreading their own body fluids around especially after the pandemic. I wish there was a way you could confront people who do this without seeming like a weirdo germaphobe.

Oh and parent is a bugger for doing this I usually have to hide the Christmas radio Times and let them keep any book they borrow.

OP posts:
Teacherprebaby · 19/11/2024 12:21

Nousernameforme · 19/11/2024 09:17

Aibu to think this is revolting and wish people would stop doing it.
We got a new catalogue through the post, one of those with half a dozen or so pages advertising festive outfits, pjs for the kids you know the sort of thing. I put it aside for to look at later, well parent popped round unexpectedly and started flicking through it licking fingers to turn each page 🤢

It got binned the second they left. Dc asked for it this morning as they need to make a collage for school. I told them I threw it out and why. They agreed it was a grim practice and said teachers do it to their papers all the time 🤢 but obviously they can't say anything as then they are the rude one.

AIBU to think people would be a bit more aware of spreading their own body fluids around especially after the pandemic. I wish there was a way you could confront people who do this without seeming like a weirdo germaphobe.

Oh and parent is a bugger for doing this I usually have to hide the Christmas radio Times and let them keep any book they borrow.

Lol...do you use medical grade plastic gloves on public transport? If not, I hate to tell you what you're touching.

CutthroatDruTheViolent · 19/11/2024 12:13

This is one of those things that baffles me that people spend even a second thinking of it. Sure if there's a puddle of spit I don't think I'd like it much, but using a damp finger to turn a page? Who cares?

LavenderHaze19 · 19/11/2024 12:08

I don’t like it at all but I don’t have such an extreme reaction to it.

Firstshoes · 19/11/2024 12:06

A colleague did this with hospital case notes 🤢

Nothanks17 · 19/11/2024 12:03

Ewwww thats grim

Tillow4ever · 19/11/2024 12:00

Joolsin · 19/11/2024 09:23

You're absolutely right. There is no defence for doing this. 😤

As someone with extremely dry hands all the time, I sometimes need to do this. We don't all carry that little pot of water with the sponge in it that enables us to turn the page without licking our fingers.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 19/11/2024 11:50

Get them one each of these for Christmas.

(Also rub a bit of chilli powder on the bottom right hand corner of each page, as a sort of reminder)

Licking fingers to turn pages
ItGhoul · 19/11/2024 11:41

Once again, a Mumsnet thread which makes me wonder how some people actually manage to get through life at all when they're this squeamish. A parent licked their finger to turn a catalogue page and somehow it's 'spreading body fluids around'? You probably spread more germs than that every time you open your mouth to speak.

Honestly, you'd think someone had shat on your dining table the way you're talking.

Raquelos · 19/11/2024 11:35

The intense response you have to this is a bit weird tbh. It shows that you don't have a great understanding of hygiene risks in day to day life. You should educate yourself so you can relax a bit and focus on things that matter more.

AHFBridport · 19/11/2024 11:32

Just reading the title of this thread made me dry heave lol. Wet paper and cardboard makes me shudder. My mum used to do this when reading newspapers/magazines and it meant I couldn't touch them afterwards.

EvilsElsasPetSnowman · 19/11/2024 11:30

I have found my people. I hate this so much.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 19/11/2024 11:30

It’s not something I’ve ever noticed anyone doing!

TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 19/11/2024 11:29

MrsSkylerWhite · 19/11/2024 10:51

Postage stamps must really freak you out.

People haven’t licked stamps for about twenty years…

TulipCat · 19/11/2024 11:25

janeavrilavril · 19/11/2024 09:45

It is spit, it's unnecessary, they may as well wipe snot on the pages. I mean who can't turn a page without spit

Snot is phlegm from the lungs or nasal lining, this is just a tiny amount of saliva. As I say, not something worthy of much reaction in my opinion.

sel2223 · 19/11/2024 11:23

OP, your reaction is a bit OTT and then to pass this on to your son as well.... 😬

Are you a germophobe in other aspects of day to day life as well?

bebanjo · 19/11/2024 11:08

I sincerely hope you never ever use cash. Do you put gloves on to open doors or use supermarket trolleys. Don’t ever use public transport. Never shake hands with anyone. Librarians really should all be closed. How do you function?

Sia8899 · 19/11/2024 11:06

I'm usually a pretty clean and pedantic person but this doesn't really bother me. I feel like the small amount of spit dries very quickly and the likelihood of touching the exact location that the fingertip has touched is pretty small.
I'm wondering if those bothered by this also use a letter opener to avoid touching envelope flaps that may have been licked?

HoppingPavlova · 19/11/2024 11:01

Are you talking about your own parent? When mine were alive I’d happily share drink, cup, whatnot with them. In fact, happier to do so than with DH (who is abnormally hygienic), but equally as happy as doing so with the kids if that makes sense.

SatansBobbleheadedDashboardOrnament · 19/11/2024 10:59

I have to stop myself from doing it. So tempting.

Blarn · 19/11/2024 10:58

Toomuchleopard · 19/11/2024 10:01

I used to go to a butchers where one of the staff used to wipe her finger on a raw sausage to get it a bit wet to be able to open a poly bag 🤢

Alright that one is gross! Get a proper sponge in a dish!

Blarn · 19/11/2024 10:56

I'm not sure I'd do this with someone else's book but I have very dry hands so have to with my own papers. Sometimes my phone screen won't even register my touch!

Stretchedresources · 19/11/2024 10:55

Yanbu. I saw a pharmacist doing this with the prescriptions in the box recently 🤢.

AnonymousBleep · 19/11/2024 10:53

I absolutely hate this, it's gross, and YANBU.

MrsSkylerWhite · 19/11/2024 10:51

Postage stamps must really freak you out.

zingally · 19/11/2024 10:45

I'm a teacher, and I did it once while looking through a kids work. Said kid then sneered at me and called me a slug.

One of my favourite insults of all time!