Really weird stuff people do that makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.

[PrimitivePerson]

Someone I know puts hotel TV remotes in plastic bags before using them, because she once heard a standup comedian talking about men wanking on them while watching porn.

WTAF?

What weird things do people you know do that make absolutely no sense at all? Anything as odd as that?

hot teabags go on the side to semi dry, if you stick them in our food waste bags they make them disintegrate quicker as they are really, really biodegradeable.

I had a room in a shared house once, the land lady lived there, she decided to remove the outer boxes that clingfilm and tin foil rolls normally come in. I asked why, she said unnecessary clutter. Meanwhile the rest of the house had plenty of unnecessary crap but no, every time I wanted to use the cling film I would have to rip it manually off the roll. Oh joy.

After reading stories about weird people doing weird things with the kettles in hotels, I always fill the kettle up & boil. I then pour the boiling water on the shower floor and swish the sink with it. I boil it again, then do the same with the cups.

A bag hanging on a handle doesn't take up floor space, unlike a bin.

Since I never said it was just the remote, but in fact was clear that there are multiple hot spots which are particularly likely to have pathogens present, that's hardly for me to answer. Perhaps you should consider following the thread.

You're also putting words in my mouth about me finding other guests "repulsive." You can't argue against what I actually said, so of course you have to make some up some nonsense.

As it happens I'm on doctor's orders to use sanitizing wipes in certain public areas when at all possible. Don't kid yourself that you know what good sense even looks like. Again, FTFT. Have repeatedly said I'm immunocompromised.

Some folks on this thread are reaching a new low in inexplicable reactivity, rudeness and irrationality.

Of course your personal lived experience trumps science. It goes without saying.
I'm sure climatologists will get around to asking you how your lived experience stacks up against the evidence of climate change any day now, so stay by the phone.
Also, epidemiologists will need to consult you on an appropriate pandemic response.

It’s a reality that thousands of people stay in hotels all over the world, without apparently suffering major after effects. It’s got nothing to do with the pandemic, either the latest one or the one that is no doubt to come.

I’m sorry that you are immunocompromised, clearly your needs are different, but it doesn’t follow that everyone else should sanitise everywhere they go. Yes, I’ve read all the stuff about faeces in the bathroom if you leave the lid up when you flush. And I’m really not bothered.

I don’t see where climate change comes into it, but I hope by not using plastic wipes, harsh chemicals and not boiling water all the time I’m not contributing to it.

I'll bold it this time so hopefully people can't possibly miss it;

I am not telling anyone else they should be doing anything.
I was explaining why it's actually not crazy to assume there are pathogens in hotel rooms. That was my singular purpose in posting about it. The amount of defensiveness the posts received in return is exceedinly strange. It seems I struck some kind of nerve, but I'm buggered if I know how.

Does anybody else want to throw another straw man on the fire, or will this suffice?

I was being sarcastic about climate change and pandemics. The point was that people's personal experiences and beliefs do not trump science.

There are pathogens everywhere. I just don't give a toss.

I’m very sorry that you’re immunocompromised, but, with respect, I believe the discussion was about general behaviour regarding remotes etc. Your situation is different; I respect that.

Multiple people have cited the remote as a particular source of horror; that’s what I was addressing. Your comment was just the latest one to pertain to germ hotspots or whatever. And you were being pretty rude, so I felt you were fair game for robust discussion, having just said this to another poster:

You sound like a perpetually cranky sort with a stick lodged firmly in your rectum, but you do you baby girl

Very mature. So I think it’s a bit rich for you to talk about me making up ‘nonsense’ 🤷‍♀️

The fact is, all things being equal (and not in the case of immunocompromise), there is no need to single out germ hotspots in public places or hotels and clean them. For one thing, it is fairly arbitrary- the same germs from the remote will be elsewhere too.

Of course cleaning things will reduce pathogens. You could remove pretty much all of them if you sterilised everything- but normal hygiene and hand-washing is enough in the vast majority of cases.

I have read the thread (assuming that’s what you meant by typing FTFT?). I just didn’t memorise your medical history. It wasn’t mentioned in the post I quoted. Hardly unreasonable.

Not being the type to worry about hotel remotes and all the other potentially hazardous stuff when away from my own home has made my immune system as tough as nails.

No wonder there is so much infection going around, people can be TOO clean conscious. It isn't necessary for most things. Kids should eat muck and dirt and insects too. I did and I never turned into a caterpillar.

Excuse me? Did you see what that comment was in response to? I've been directly insulted multiple times in this thread, including by the person that was in response to, and for what? Posting facts. Nothing more. So spare me the faux outrage.

I'm fine with robust discussion. There has been very little of it directed my way, but instead a lot of fallacious reasoning and name calling. So if you have a legit disagreement with something I actually said, fire away. Please direct your questions about what other people have said about remotes directly to them. I am not the torch bearer for a Remotes are Agents of Evil protest rally.
They are just one of multiple areas where pathogen counts tend to be high.
The "you should be sterilizing everything or nothing at all" argument fails. Most surfaces are relatively pathogen free. Others not so much. That was the point. Moreover, I don't give a shiny shit what other people choose to do. Have I somehow failed to make that clear?
It's baffling that some people are reacting as I'm the one being judgemental, all the while calling others names for the harmless things they do, just because it's not something they personally care about.
Hypocrites, every one of them.

Why though?

I am very sorry this has upset you so much. I really did not see anyone insulting you? So this has surprised me:

Did you see what that comment was in response to? I've been directly insulted multiple times in this thread

I have had a quick flick back through the thread and I honestly can’t see you being attacked or, indeed, repeatedly telling us you’re immunocompromised. I’m sure you did, but that’s not how most people read the thread (I don’t make up a profile of each poster as I go).

Anyway, I take your point about it being sensible for you to clean certain items, but it not being general advice for everyone. But you must see that if you come into a thread like this and explain the reasons people might clean those things (even if you’re only presenting facts), it will be interpreted as direct opposition to those people saying it is unnecessary in general practice.

Sorry if I’ve upset you. I probably am touchy about it as (I repeatedly stated!!) I have (mostly) recovered from quite debilitating germ-related OCD and people championing what is often excessive cleaning is possibly a bit close to the bone.

Poster is obviously only messing

If not, I'm glad they found their soul mate 😁

It dawned on me a few months sgo that the only reason that I peel mushrooms is because its the way I learned to cook!

@fliptopbin it's one of many memories of her that I will always hold dear. I also think it is quite satisfying peeling mushrooms...I just could no longer be bothered, especially when mushrooms tend to disappear when you cook them 🤣. I've never seen a pan jam packed with anything else that literally shrinks beyond reason.

This reminds me of a funny ‘Goodness gracious me’ sketch from years ago. They moved into a new build ‘Bharat Homes’ house which still had the plastic covers on the carpet / sofa / tv remote, which they left on indefinitely.
IYKYK (if you know you know) 🤣🤣

I'm not upset. I'm just bored with the broken record posts making the same pointless objections to what are just facts.

I was called "paranoid" several times, then "bonkers." Insults from randos on the internet don't mean jack shit to me, but I do reserve the right to return the rudeness. If people dish it out they should be able to take it.

Yes, I do see that some people might take factual information personally and make all kinds of assumptions based on their personal prejudices. People often do that. However, it's not my problem and I have no obligation to walk on eggshells.

Sorry to hear about your OCD. I do understand where you're coming from. Thank you for explaining that.

I agree, I don't believe they do it in the kettle either. Last year I was away for about 10 days and didn't want hold luggage so travelled as light as I could so I handwashed knickers and running tops a few times. In the sink :)

I'm with you on the hygiene stuff, OP. I never give germs a second thought. I wash my hands after & before preparing food and after going to the bathroom. That's it. I don't use antibacterial anything, and my house is not spotless. I have a dog and a cat and spend all day in not-very-clean classrooms full of frequently sneezing and coughing students, probably with sticky fingers!

Oh and I'll happily eat cakes and biscuits from school bake sales, which seems to horrify some people!

Leave their driveway empty and park on the pavement. Out this morning and lost count of the amount of people who had an empty driveway and were parked half on the road and half on the pavement.

A colleague of mine uses a clean piece of loo roll to open public loo doors...then throws it on the floor as she leaves. I get not wanting to touch the door but the throwing it on the floor baffles me

I wash my hands at school constantly after getting impetigo on my face when it was going around. 😩 I know someone that caught scabies from holding a child’s hand too.