Paper money is gross.

[Tiberius Jim]

I was counting the register at work today and my coworker and I had a discussion in which we pondered where each and every one of those bills I was counting had been. I'm sure many had been used to complete a drug deal, while others have been stuck in a stripper's thong (or worse). I always wash my hands with the hottest water possible after handing large amounts of money; I always have this nasty feeling on my hands after I touch it.

We should really use a more sanitary material for our bills, like some sort of flexible polymer, or maybe we can just strictly use coins. That paper/linen blend is way too porous and absorbent...because you never know where that fiver you're using to pay your bridge toll has been.

 

[Rocketman]

Or, maybe we shouldn't worry about hygiene so much. There's not much you can do about these things, anyway.

 

[Locutus of Bored]

Some economists speculate that the decline of the US dollar is directly related to the amount of soaked in buttsweat on the bills.

 

[Tiberius Jim]

Or, maybe we shouldn't worry about hygiene so much. There's not much you can do about these things, anyway.

I take it you subscribe to the "Why take a shower if I'm just going to get dirty later?" school of thought?

Some economists speculate that the decline of the US dollar is directly related to the amount of soaked in buttsweat on the bills.

If that's the case, that moist $20 some lady pulled out of her cleavage today would explain a lot...

 

[Miss Chicken]

I was counting the register at work today and my coworker and I had a discussion in which we pondered where each and every one of those bills I was counting had been. I'm sure many had been used to complete a drug deal, while others have been stuck in a stripper's thong (or worse). I always wash my hands with the hottest water possible after handing large amounts of money; I always have this nasty feeling on my hands after I touch it.

We should really use a more sanitary material for our bills, like some sort of flexible polymer, or maybe we can just strictly use coins. That paper/linen blend is way too porous and absorbent...because you never know where that fiver you're using to pay your bridge toll has been.

Australia does use polymer banknotes and we have for years. In fact we haold the patent on the technology to make such notes.

 

[RoJoHen]

Or, maybe we shouldn't worry about hygiene so much. There's not much you can do about these things, anyway.

I take it you subscribe to the "Why take a shower if I'm just going to get dirty later?" school of thought?

Not sure about him, but I subscribe more to the "what doesn't kill me makes me stronger school of thought."

It's very unlikely you're going to die or even get sick from handling money. Encountering germs is the only way to build up immunities to them.

 

[Tiberius Jim]

Agreed...but there is the normal day-to-day routine accumulation of germs (opening doors, touching a faucet knob, etc) but with money...and how many hands (and other body parts) touch each bill...that's where I draw the line. Not to mention the fact that my hands feel and smell physically dirty after touching the stuff. *shudder*

 

[RoJoHen]

Fair enough. I used to have to wash my hands in college anytime I left a certain building because they felt so gross from touching the doors. I'm not convinced that building was ever cleaned.

I just touch so much random stuff at the restaurant that I'm not really phased anymore by anything.

 

[Locutus of Bored]

I couldn't find any studies on how long polymer banknotes typically allowed viruses to survive as opposed to paper notes (which are 75% cotton / 25% linen in the case of US bills). The H3N2 strain of the flu (which is the most common strain) can last up to 72 hours in mucus on a paper banknote (Swiss bills were used in this study).

 

[Tiberius Jim]

See, that's what I mean. You take a bill from someone who recently wiped their nose or sneezed, and then touch your own face soon after...

We've taken a cue from the bank and have little hand sanitizer dispensers on the counter. They don't do the job of good soap and hot water, but it helps if you can't always make a run to the sink.

All I know is my dad, a paramedic, is religious about washing his hands and even though he's constantly in contact with sick folks, I can't remember the last time he got sick.

 

[RoJoHen]

Well, aside from the random sniffles every once in a while, I haven't been sick in over 2 years, and I rarely wash my hands. So who knows?

 

[FPAlpha]

If i'd worry about every possible way i can get infected i wouldn't leave my house.

We are bombarded by bacteria and virii for the entire day and our immune system is constantly on overwatch so the only safe thing is to keep healthy and support your immune system.

Obviously people who deal directly with sick people need to take additional precautions but if you deal with many people over the day by working in a shop then that's tough luck.

Personally i wouldn't lose my mind over it.. i wouldn't hug a person who's clearly sick but i'd also not panic if someone has a slight cold.

 

[Scout101]

forget what the exact number is, but believe something like 80-90% of paper US currency has traces of cocaine on it

 

[Dale]

Or, maybe we shouldn't worry about hygiene so much. There's not much you can do about these things, anyway.

I take it you subscribe to the "Why take a shower if I'm just going to get dirty later?" school of thought?

People overly obsessed with cleanliness are causing stronger germs. To be truly healthy - to have a body capable of fighting off infection - you have to allow for tolerable levels of filth.

Why do you think vaccines are made from the virus concerned? The body needs practice fighting this stuff to be effective at it.

Hand sanitizer is of the devil.

 

[Rarewolf]

In the UK the average life expectancy of a £5 note - our smallest note - is a year. Then the banks replace them

 

[Holdfast]

In the UK the average life expectancy of a £5 note - our smallest note - is a year. Then the banks replace them

You read that article about them stocking more fivers in cashpoints too, huh?

 

[Trekker4747]

I couldn't find any studies on how long polymer banknotes typically allowed viruses to survive as opposed to paper notes (which are 75% cotton / 25% linen in the case of US bills). The H3N2 strain of the flu (which is the most common strain) can last up to 72 hours in mucus on a paper banknote (Swiss bills were used in this study).

Viruses cannot survive outside of a host for very long. hours at most probably.

 

[All Seeing Eye]

We should really use a more sanitary material for our bills, like some sort of flexible polymer, or maybe we can just strictly use coins. That paper/linen blend is way too porous and absorbent...because you never know where that fiver you're using to pay your bridge toll has been.

Fuck it, let's just have chips implanted in the backs of our hands. We'll never need to use or touch cash again.

 

[kustirider2]

When I saw this thread I seriously thought it was about eating money..

 

[AntonyF]

The chips in Vegas leave me with the feelings you describe, more so thank banknotes. I think it's because I play with them, then start to see the grime.