Was I Being a Germaphobe?

[anniemae]

It's a bit hypocritical IMO to say you'd never reach into an open bag, but you'd grab a fresh bag and open it and have others reach in after you. Perhaps people don't want sanitizer or anitibacterial wipe residue on their chips.

And as I said before, I'm "immunocompromised" too. Each to their own.

I never said I would never reach into an open bag. It just makes me leary and I would find a way to get my kids the chips while avoiding most of the germs and at the same time avoid getting other chips germy.

Most don't care and would not even be bothered by it, so why would they care what I do? If I want to reach in the back or grab a new bag, it's no skin off anyone else's nose IMO. Others can do the same if they wish or just reach in and go for it. Which is what most would do and what I would do if I wasn't compromised. And that's okay. We all do what we need to do. No need to make is sound like am a selfish Bit## because I have to be careful.

 

[anniemae]

Or skin flakes.

Blame the organizers, not the people who are forced to reach in because no other means to take them was provided.

 

[Southernmiss]

I would gently tilt the bag until a serving came out.

Reaching your half arm inside the bag to the back of the bag of chips to get untouched chips is not just putting a hand sanitized hand in the bag.

 

[tvguy]

Your kids will be slightly healthier for your actions, but I would have let them eat out of the public bag of chips.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

My daughter had a Little League event today that included a free lunch afterwards of subs, chips and water. When we got to the food line I saw that the chips were being served as opened bags (like large Costco or Family style size) laid horizontally on the table. No tongs. There were like 4-5 choices and each person though the line reached in and grabbed their chips to put on their plate.

The event was for children ages 4-6 and their families following playing a game. No bathrooms that I saw or hand sanitizer stations if you are wondering about that. I’d estimate a crowd of 200 people.

I promised my kids there would be chips so I bought them 2 individual snack sized bags from a small concession stand that had a few items for sale.

I just couldn’t bring myself to grab the chips being served after seeing all the kids jamming their hands into these big bags. But apparently I was the only one concerned because everyone had piles of chips on their plates.

WWYD?

You lost me at "eat chips". I am a chip monster.

 

[KidaniZen]

I have immune system issues too and I absolutely would have reached in. Just my opinion, but as a whole we've jumped the shark on things like this.

Yes, OP, I think you were being a germaphobe.

That's your right, but don't hate on my choices for my particular illnesses, it's my right to choose not to. There is no one correct way or answer here.

 

[lorimay]

That would be a easy pass for me.

 

[Queen of the WDW Scene]

A little dirt never hurt.
Overkill to purchase chips IMO.
I never use hand sanitizer unless I went to the bathroom in a port-a-potty.
When at Disney I don't wash my hands after touching things nor do I before eating.
My mom was an RN for 40 years and she never does either.
We're still alive lol.
Yesterday I went to a picnic and the finger foods like chips, roll ups, bread and dip... were picked up with your hand.
There wasn't 200 people but a decent amount for a backyard BBQ.

 

[Kitty 34]

My boys lived thru the years of eating at baseball gatherings to name a few of many other gatherings.....thank goodness!! They are 29 years on up to 38.

I have a lung disease where I'm suppose to be careful of germs in the fear of catching pneumonia.......oh well I love my Blackjack tables too much. We can talk about "those" chips if you want!!!

 

[DisneylandDarling]

Oh my goodness, I thought I was the only one! I didn't start getting grossed out about it until one time I realized I was the only one who would carefully pour chips onto a plate instead of reaching in. It's fine between immediate family members, but large gatherings - heck no.

I also have a container of hand wipes in my car for after going into supermarkets, stores, etc but handwashing after we get home. Also no sharing drinks, even with close family members. Handwashing before meal prep, during, and after. But none of that, IMO, makes me a germaphobe. I thought it was just normal.

 

[DisneylandDarling]

BTW, not everyone washes their hands after using the restroom. I ain't about to eat chips with a hint of feces lol

 

[ronandannette]

I’m the same way as your son. I never even used to pick off my kids plates when they were little.
In this situation, no way would I have eaten those chips. It’s not even the germs per se, it’s the “thought” of all those hands being all over the chips.

Was there ever any incident that made you feel like that? I'm really curious about my own son; I'm not aware of any major gross-out, at least not on my watch. Around early adolescence he just started to get more and more sensitive to it. To be honest, we didn't take his feelings very seriously at first. Gradually though we've just come to respect how he's comfortable since I suppose it's not a unreasonable boundary for a person to set for themselves. For a while I was keeping my eyes open to make sure it didn't seem like he was getting obsessive/compulsive about it.

 

[clh2]

Never would have hit my radar to think that everyone is reaching in there and there’s no hand sanitizer in there.

I’m 56. I rode a bike without a helmet. Rode in a car without a seat belt. Ate all kinds of things out of a “community bag”. By today’s standards, I should be dead.

Pretty much the same here-but, I’ll one-up you and state- my mom used to thaw out raw meat on the counter, too!

 

[alizesmom]

To OP, it wouldn’t have bothered me. Most of the things you eat will be killed by the digestive system which is quite effective. You’re more likely to get something off your own doorknob.
I have two medically fragile children and try to be rational. I’ll be the first to rip you a new a hole for sending a sick kid (or go yourself) to any gathering of people but I’m not going to wipe down every surface nor wrap my kids in cocoons.
I’m also a retired nurse who spent several years working in pediatrics. You anticipated getting what we called “kiddy crud” during your first year then you built up the proper immunities. If sick, you called off.

 

[missbrooke06]

The kids in my son's league are obsessed with spitting sunflower seeds. They spend an hour and a half in the dugout hocking at each other so the chips wouldn't be to concerning to me.

 

[verleniahall]

No - it would have bothered me as well - individual bags are not tha expensive - a box of 50 runs at .38 cents each

I would have had a LONG chat with those in charge about it

 

[EveDallas]

It's a bit hypocritical IMO to say you'd never reach into an open bag, but you'd grab a fresh bag and open it and have others reach in after you. Perhaps people don't want sanitizer or anitibacterial wipe residue on their chips.

And as I said before, I'm "immunocompromised" too. Each to their own.

It's a bit hypocritical IMO to say you'd never reach into an open bag, but you'd grab a fresh bag and open it and have others reach in after you. Perhaps people don't want sanitizer or anitibacterial wipe residue on their chips.

And as I said before, I'm "immunocompromised" too. Each to their own.

Right?? I'd much rather deal with a few germs than sanitizer residue on my food

 

[Hrhpd]

My daughter had a Little League event today that included a free lunch afterwards of subs, chips and water. When we got to the food line I saw that the chips were being served as opened bags (like large Costco or Family style size) laid horizontally on the table. No tongs. There were like 4-5 choices and each person though the line reached in and grabbed their chips to put on their plate.

The event was for children ages 4-6 and their families following playing a game. No bathrooms that I saw or hand sanitizer stations if you are wondering about that. I’d estimate a crowd of 200 people.

I promised my kids there would be chips so I bought them 2 individual snack sized bags from a small concession stand that had a few items for sale.

I just couldn’t bring myself to grab the chips being served after seeing all the kids jamming their hands into these big bags. But apparently I was the only one concerned because everyone had piles of chips on their plates.

WWYD?

I vote germaphobe. Especially since no one else was bothered. My kids are grown now and there have always been big bags of chips at school and sports events. Don't know anyone who has ever become ill. Kids need to be exposed to a few germs in order to build up an immune system.

 

[EveDallas]

Oh my goodness, I thought I was the only one! I didn't start getting grossed out about it until one time I realized I was the only one who would carefully pour chips onto a plate instead of reaching in. It's fine between immediate family members, but large gatherings - heck no.

I also have a container of hand wipes in my car for after going into supermarkets, stores, etc but handwashing after we get home. Also no sharing drinks, even with close family members. Handwashing before meal prep, during, and after. But none of that, IMO, makes me a germaphobe. I thought it was just normal.

Maybe for you, but not for the majority of people.

 

[EveDallas]

To OP, it wouldn’t have bothered me. Most of the things you eat will be killed by the digestive system which is quite effective. You’re more likely to get something off your own doorknob.
I have two medically fragile children and try to be rational. I’ll be the first to rip you a new a hole for sending a sick kid (or go yourself) to any gathering of people but I’m not going to wipe down every surface nor wrap my kids in cocoons.
I’m also a retired nurse who spent several years working in pediatrics. You anticipated getting what we called “kiddy crud” during your first year then you built up the proper immunities. If sick, you called off.

Yep. I've worked in daycare for years. It's like being surrounded by walking petri dishes I have an immune system like iron as a result. Exposure to germs in beneficial for most people.