I was at the supermarket today buying sandwich rolls (fresh baked) from the bakery bins. I open the cover and pull out 6 of them with my hands. Some b**ch standing next to me points to the set of tongs that are *chained to the wall* and says, "You're supposed to use the tongs." I say "Why?" She says (getting a bit more huffy) , "Because noone knows where your hands have been!" I say, "I showered not 10 minutes ago, and those tongs (pointing to the chain) have probably never been cleaned, much less properly sterilized since they were installed. A person concerned about germs would have to be stupid to use them." 'What a rude man you are!" she says, catching my meaning. I said, "You have a nice day, too." and walked away. I mean, I know I was a jerk, but was I right or was I wrong about the whole Tongs issue?
as long as you didnt touch any other rolls except the ones you purchased ... cause we don't know where your hands had been in those 10 minutes after you showered
In this case...I think you were wrong. There are so many people who don't wash their hands..even after the bathroom. She doesn't know you or what type of person you are. Imagine if some shady homeless guy walked up and used his barehands..Would you have still grabs the rolls? Even if the homelss guy said.."oh I just washed my hands..don't worry about it." Most people wouldn't follow that up by grabbing a roll with their own hands after him. They probably would walk away. You're safest bet is to always buy sandwich rolls in a package.
...and then maced her. If you don't grab the lettuce in the salad bar with your hands, I think your ok...as long as you don't fondle any of the other bread.
But if I had handled the tongs instead, that would then GUARANTEE that whatever germs I had (assuming there were any) would be passed on to every person who picked up the tongs after me, AND I'd have been exposed to the gersm of every person before me.
But you only touch the handles of the tongs. Assuming everyone uses them correctly (and yes, that is a big assumption), they should be fairly clean on the grabby ends. You can always wash your hands afterward. I think Lysol would be more appropriate under the circumstances.
Anything chained to a wall is probably extremely sanitary! Ask her, "Have you ever licked your fingers?" Then ask, "Would you ever lick these tongs?" Usually, my store has some wax-paper type disposable sheets to grab your stuff with...
But you're only grabbing the tongs by the handle not by the tips. The tips are hitting the rolls not the handle part unless they are really really small tongs. I guess if it's super market etiquette I think it would be etiquette to use the tongs. You probably wouldn't go to a salad bar or breakfast bar and grab waffles and strawberries with your hands.. you would probably use a utensil. No?
I place my hand in the bag I'll be using, grab my stuff, pull it inwards. Kind of like picking up turds after a dog. Why? Because I KNOW EXACTLY WHERE MY HANDS HAVE BEEN!
I tink tongs would be the right choice here. not only does the lady not know you, you gave her a mental picture of you washing your ass. I would've made a detour to the wrapped sandwhich bread if I saw you. you nasty motherfucker.
fuck it who cares the tongs are dirty your hands are dirty we all need germs too many people are addicted to hand sanitizer thus creating SUPER BUGS - we are all doomed enjoi your rolls!
(remind me never to eat at your house) I heard that hand sanitizers are OK; the antibacterial soaps are what helps make the superbugs.
tongs think about that guy before you with a sore in his ass crack that itched really bad then think you didnt see if he reached in the bin and touched the bread, or just the tongs you cant wash off that itchy sore residue from your bread, but you can wash it off your hands if transferred from the tongs
I sometimes do it "bobbing for apples" style and just shove my whole (unwashed) head into the bin and grab what I can with my mouth. Makes Sunday morning more fun.
I usually grab one of the plastic bags they have to put the rolls in turn it inside out and put it over my hand, grab rolls and then just pull the bag back over, this is a little tough if buying more then 3 rolls, but I'm not about to use those tongs either. I worked in a supermarket when I was younger, they never clean those things, and you damn well know they have hit the floor at least once...
maybe your hands were clean. maybe the tongs were dirty. doesn't matter. use the tongs/paper/whatever, keep your hands out of the bin. there. etiquette.
i have been on my way to the rolls, seen someone doing this, and walked the other direction. seriously. i hate seeing people touch my food.
I don't want your dick beaters all over my rolls! Using the tongs would be the proper thing to do, nobody knows where your or anybody's hands have been and unless moist/wet with other gunk stainless steel tongs will almost always have less germs than your bare hands. The common practice in food service now-a-days is to wash your hands and use disposable vinyl gloves.
Forget the thongs. Are you putting them in a plastic bag? Use that plastic bag as a glove, pick out what you want and then just hold onto them and turn the bag inside out and all done. EDIT: Just read someone else suggest the same. Well kiss my grits!
Lol at this whole thread. But in all seriousness, correct etiquette is to use the tongs, not your hands. But as others have suggested, use a bag as a glove.
Forget the thongs... Take the Cannoli... With a bag around your hand like a glove... NO PRINTS ON THE CANNOLI!!!
