This is Alpha, the first-born, when he was 2YO.
This is Beta, the second-born, when he was about 2YO.
This is Gamma, the third-born, when he was about 18MO.
Cough into Elbows
Dec
6
2018
At first, people just coughed into the air.
Then someone realized that was spreading disease to people in the area, so it became polite to cough into one’s hand.
Then someone realized that was spreading disease to people who touched things that hand touched, so it was taught to children to cough into their elbows.
Now I’ve realized that’s fine for children but bad for adults. So now when this generation of kids grows up and instinctively coughs into the elbows, it’ll still cause problems.
Why it’s a problem is that adults use their elbows more than kids. Have you ever seen an adult go very long without crossing his arms? And where are that adult’s hands when his arms are crossed? Fully in contact with his elbow, that’s where.
Picture it – someone sneezes or coughs into his own elbow. Then, just seconds later – before any germs have a chance to die – that someone puts his hand right into the thick of the most germ-intense place around. Are we as a society saying that’s an improvement?
Okay, maybe it is a little better, but it doesn’t quite solve the problem. There are two ways to solve the problem. One is to train people not to cross their arms. The other is to pick a better spot into which one may cough or sneeze.
I’d like to go with the second option. Some possibilities: the inside of one’s shirt (as my brother is wont to do – just pull your collar up and lean your head down slightly and all the germs are contained. This is not a possibility if you are wearing a necktie.), higher up on one’s arm (gives the germs a landing place but doesn’t contain them well), or a handkerchief (that no one carries anymore, but I suppose a hat would work).
Any better ideas?
He will bring back on you all the diseases of Egypt of which you were afraid, and they will cling to you.
Deuteronomy 28:60
This little article thingy was written by Some Guy sometime around 10:51 pm and has been carefully placed in the Ponder category.
December 10th, 2018 at 7:41 pm
I know this won’t solve everything, but it’s time for hand shaking to go away. There’s so many other options offered by different cultures. Or we can make a new one. I still have to worry about door knobs, etc., but at least it’s not as direct as wondering the last time someone washed his hand before I shook it.
December 13th, 2018 at 12:39 am
This this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkSx5AXRCIU