Licking fingers to turn pages

[Nousernameforme]

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.

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

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.

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?

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?

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?

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.

People haven’t licked stamps for about twenty years…

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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)

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.

Ewwww thats grim

A colleague did this with hospital case notes 🤢

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

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?

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

I am far from a germ-o-phobe, as my posts on competitive hygeine threads will bear out. But I do wash my hands more often than the average person, and I behave in a way that would prevent spreading germs, e.g. my son learned to cough into his elbow as a toddler, well before covid.

I've always found finger-licking to turn pages to be completely disgusting. My Mum did it all the time, it was horrible to watch, even as a kid.

I'm with you, OP.

You are going to turn your kids into germaphobes!

I wish there was a way you could confront people who do this without seeming like a weirdo germaphobe.

It's impossible on account of it being true.

I can't get remotely worked up about this. I couldn't care less about the odd germ here & there. I have a very strong immune system.

I did once see a colleague lick some cake off a knife before using said knife to cut a different cake. I think it was his way of cleaning it. I didn't have any 🤑

I am liking the chilli powder idea they wouldn't do it twice at any rate 😂

You sound like a weirdo germophobe.