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Two Door Knobs

Raise hand-washing awareness by offering "clean" and "dirty" alternatives.
  (+19)(+19)
(+19)
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Upon exiting a restroom, I propose two doorknobs be offered. They should be clearly marked, "Use this one if you have washed your hands" and "Use this one if you haven't." The uniqueness of the event and brief thought of touching the dirty knob might prompt some to empathize with the general public, and they might turn around and wash their hands before grabbing the clean one.

A possible back-fire would that everyone would just use the "clean" knob anyway, and the whole purpose would be ruined. This situation would be no worse than the status quo.

kevinthenerd, Jun 01 2010

(??) For [Loris] http://steelwhiteta...idnt-wash-hands.jpg
[mouseposture, Jun 02 2010]

not-p http://www.scouting...E4810D0EFC0DE0&_z=z
[mouseposture, Jun 03 2010]

But not *that* inclusive http://www.scouting...ce/ResponseQA2.aspx
[mouseposture, Jun 03 2010]

Three_20Handles [swimswim, Jun 28 2010]


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Annotation:







       In the worst case, this offers twice the surface area from which to choose microbes.
kevinthenerd, Jun 01 2010
  

       As a public-awareness gimmick, this is clever, bordering on brilliant. [+]
mouseposture, Jun 01 2010
  

       I gave you a bun, but with a dirty hand.
rcarty, Jun 01 2010
  

       The thought of touching a public convenience doorhandle disturbs me, too. But when you think about it some more you realise that the subsequent handle is equally contaminated.   

       Put the 'clean' handle in a more awkward to use place... above the other handle.   

       More effective would be spy-cameras on the washbasins. When someone didn't wash properly, a warden would be deployed to follow the germ-carrier around for an hour or two, warning passers-by to keep clear.
*That* is a significant deterrent.
Loris, Jun 02 2010
  

       Have a stern old woman stand by the doorway and make people hold their palms up to her for inspection.
DrWorm, Jun 02 2010
  

       + for what mouse said. I always wash my hands but squirm at touching the taps. must be slightly OCD.
po, Jun 02 2010
  

       I had a very similar idea that was lost in the crash and I never reposted it...my idea had 3 handles so you only had 1/3 chance of catching something nasty.
simonj, Jun 02 2010
  

       That link doesn't go directly where you want mouseposture, but I did find the thread it was in. I actually go a bit beyond that where possible.   

       In most lavatories around here, there's a little sign hectoring people to wash their hands. A fairly common one has a logo of a pair of hands with just the fingertips touching water from a running tap, and the text "Now wash your hands".
When I was young I was confused by this sign - is it saying that just washing the fingertips is enough, or telling people who'd done such an ineffective wash to go back and wash them again properly?
Loris, Jun 02 2010
  

       [21] shamless?
po, Jun 02 2010
  

       I think that [po]'s headbutt technique would work much better here!
xandram, Jun 02 2010
  

       Among Muslims, the left hand is reserved for bodily hygiene and considered unclean.   

       This idea is not without merit.   

       If the general population could be persuaded only ever to use the left hand for bodily hygiene, then a combined hand wash/drier/door release configured for the left hand could be contrived.
8th of 7, Jun 02 2010
  

       Why not just put the doorhandle behind a soapy waterfall?
MaxwellBuchanan, Jun 02 2010
  

       /soapy waterfall/ - just so. To leave one must wash hands. Perhaps the toilet could also be incorporated such that one was obliged to wash hands to use the toilet and leave. This would be a more efficient use of time as well.
bungston, Jun 02 2010
  

       If you think about all the things one can possibly touch in a public restroom, why be so worried about the door handle? I use my elbow to push open the outer door, but if you use the lock inside the toilet - what the heck is that? It's touched before and after...and there is NO sink in there. (unless it's one of those giant handicap toilet areas.)
xandram, Jun 02 2010
  

       This would be great! Of course, who in thier right mind would ever touch a door-handle labeled dirty, when an optional door-handle labeled clean was available?   

       Obviously the door-handle labeled "dirty" would be the cleaner of the two options.
MikeD, Jun 02 2010
  

       Probably people would assume one must use both handles at once to successfully open the door. But what about 3 handles?
bungston, Jun 02 2010
  

       //Among Muslims, the left hand is reserved for bodily hygiene and considered unclean//
Are there any Muslim Boy Scouts?
AbsintheWithoutLeave, Jun 02 2010
  

       //deny entry to non-Christians//   

       Wrong, and...   

       //deny entry to non-Christians//   

       What is a catholic priest? I'll take "World Religions" for 800, Alex.
MikeD, Jun 02 2010
  

       //Given that Boyscouts[sic] of America is a Christian organization//
Oh dear..Google early, Google often. {{shakes head sadly, once more, at [21Q]}}
For the record, I was merely musing as to how they might greet each other.
AbsintheWithoutLeave, Jun 02 2010
  

       //deny entry to non-Christians// When did they start doing that? I knew a Jew who was awarded the Silver Beaver, and another who was an Eagle Scout -- but that was years ago.
mouseposture, Jun 02 2010
  

       [8th of 7] what if you are right-handed, like the majority of the population?
simonj, Jun 02 2010
  

       Is silver beaver the new cougar?
swimswim, Jun 02 2010
  

       [swimswim] Rude, but clever -- I could see that making it into norma loquendi.
mouseposture, Jun 03 2010
  

       A good point. The statement //Boyscouts of America ... deny entry to non-Christians// is correct, as long as it's understood in a way that's consistent with the statment //Boyscouts of America do not deny entry to non- Christians// This is not, after all, formal logic. <link>   

       Formal logic does, however apply in the case of atheists. <link>
mouseposture, Jun 03 2010
  

       Star Trek autodoors, thats all I have to say []
xxobot, Jun 03 2010
  

       Thou has mispelled the Holy Words, [xxobot], and for that thou shalt die ...
8th of 7, Jun 03 2010
  

       Death over assimilation? Your Borgue queen won't be happy about that.
swimswim, Jun 03 2010
  

       Good point.   

       <Hangs 'Breaking for Spares' sign around [xxobot]'s neck>
8th of 7, Jun 03 2010
  

       //but no, I wasn't wrong//
In which part, [21Q], of the statement // Boyscouts [sic] of America is a Christian organization, and deny entry to non-Christians// do you consider yourself to be not wrong?
AbsintheWithoutLeave, Jun 03 2010
  


 

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