Letters to the editor for Thursday, Jan. 15, 2015

Fist bumping is more hygienic

I recently met a fellow at the airport who refused to shake my hand. I was alarmed that he might have been the guy at the stoplight who caught me with index finger buried in my right nostril. But, no, he explained that he was immunity compromised and preferred to fist bump instead.

This made sense to me, and it explained why on the happy occasions I encountered my family doctor in public places, he would enthusiastically launch into a fist bumping routine. I was puzzled when he did this. I didn’t really think that he was trying to emulate professional athletes or hip hop artists, but did consider that he may have been demonstrating solidarity with Barack and Michelle Obama who epically bumped fists after a campaign speech in Minneapolis.

Some research was in order, and I soon learned that shaking hands allows 20 times more germs to be transferred than fist bumping. Fist bumping is more hygienic, especially when greeting sickly dirt bags who would so thoughtlessly risk causing someone to be as sick as themselves.

Although I certainly wouldn’t place myself in the sickly category, I do wonder if my doctor, knowing my medical history, disagrees. If so, it would explain why he so blatantly minimizes physical contact with me in public.

I’m not resentful about it, though. This is why he makes the big bucks, and we are, after all, in the middle of a flu epidemic.

Phil Stotts

Carson City