Comments for entry "Swine Flu Greeting" at Dilbert.com Blog

Comment from Rocky999

TuePMPDTE_Rthth

The virus survives on hard surfaces like table tops, plastic surfaces and other areas where direct sunlight or high temperature is not seen for 72 hours. This is a long time for another person to be infected from this. MORE INFORMATION: http://www.manipalcureandcare.com/preventive/Flu-Influenza.aspx

Comment from danbloom

WedAMPDTE_Rthth

http://northwardho.blogspot.com/2009/08/scott-adams-of-dilbert-fame-wonders.html

Comment from danbloom

WedAMPDTE_Rthth

Scott, about the shoulder-shake, i changed the name to shoulder-touch. Google it. Hat tip to Professor Solomon in Maryland who first broached this subject with his book about UFOs, in which he described a similar human to alien shoulder touch greeting. I thought to myself: THIS MIGHT BE AN IMPORTANT WAY FOR HUMANS TO GREET EACH OTHER IN THIS AGE OF PANDEMIC SWINE FLU OUTBREAKS! From Professor Solomon's book: "Can I Smoke Aboard a Flying Saucer?" (pdf) "He raised his right arm and I thought he was going to shake hands. But he laid his open palm down on my left shoulder, which was evidently their form of greeting or salutation."

Comment from danbloom

WedAMPDTE_Rthth

Scott In all seriousness, i say let's go for the shouldershake: looks like this: http://northwardho.blogspot.com/2009/08/as-swine-flu-spreads-globally.html

Comment from danbloom

WedAMPDTE_Rthth

As Swine Flu Spreads Globally, Handshakes Are Out and Namaste, Japanese-style greetings and *Shouldershakes* Take Over as Human Greetings in the Age of Pandemics! http://northwardho.blogspot.com/2009/08/as-swine-flu-spreads-globally.html Doctors now advise about NOT shaking hands or kissing on the lips or even cheeks as a form of greeting as the SWINE FLU PANDEMIC spreads worldwide, putting millions at risk. So as handshakes go out of fashion, upon doctors' medical advice, a new kind of human greeting is taking over, and for want of a better word, it is being called the SHOULDERSHAKE. Other alternatives include Namaste greetings, based on Indian traditions, and Japanese style bow greetings. And more: new alternative greetings will likely spring up, too. Send in your ideas and suggestions with photos to: bikolang@gmail.com To do a shouldershake, extend your right hand out straight in front of you with the palm down, place it gently on the person you are greeting's right shoulder, as he or she does the same to you. This way, your hands do not TOUCH and no germs or bacteria are exchanged, flesh to flesh. See photos for illustrations. Will this catch on? Perhaps. Hat tip to Professor Solomon in Maryland who first broached this subject with this blog in his book about UFOs, in which he described a similar human to alien shouldershake greeting. I thought to myself: THIS MIGHT BE AN IMPORTANT WAY FOR HUMANS TO GREET EACH OTHER IN THIS AGE OF PANDEMIC SWINE FLU OUTBREAKS! From Professor Solomon's book: "Can I Smoke Aboard a Flying Saucer?" (pdf) "He raised his right arm and I thought he was going to shake hands. But he laid his open palm down on my left shoulder, which was evidently their form of greeting or salutation."

Comment from Namaste

TuePMPDTE_Rthth

Hand shake is in electronic parlance: "wired" Namaste in electronic parlance: "wireless" Lets go "wire-less" and "worry-less" Lets spread "awareness" not "SwineFlu"

Comment from hanitah

MonPMPDTE_Rthth

Check out this website http://www.swine-flu-tracker.com/ that tracks the spread of swine flu, it really puts things in perspective.

Comment from Navion

MonPMPDTE_Rthth

OK, I'm a little late to this party, but there's a Canadian TV add running that goes "The Monks at Oka knew how to make cheese like the back of their hands" so perhaps we could greet people by pelting them with curds or maybe Kraft Single Slices. In Quebec, only fulll-on plates of Poutine would do.

Comment from Fernando_Bicudo

MonPMPDTE_Rthth

Well, we may turn ourselves into japanese people. :-)

Comment from caliope

MonAMPDTE_Rthth

The Thai wai is nice. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thai_greeting

Comment from dnrc@mudshark.com

SatPMPDTE_Rndnd

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/05/01/swine.flu.etiquette/index.html?eref=rss_topstories "Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN's chief medical correspondent who has been covering the epidemic from Mexico, is advocating the "el-bump," or bumping of elbows, as a greeting."

Comment from Leora

SatAMPDTE_Rndnd

This is why Canadians and Elbonians will outlast these pandemics. We're always wearing mittens.

Comment from bumrocky

FriPMPDTE_Rstst

A guy in my office always either: a) Crosses his right arm over his chest and nods his head, similar to a roman salute b) Puts his hands together in front of his chest and nods his head. Both perfectly acceptable greetings, in my mind. I'm also good at giving a small salute (salutation!)

Comment from kalirion

FriAMPDTE_Rstst

My work's company wide email was a bit more reasonable: * Wash your hands frequently, especially after greeting people, and/or use hand sanitizers where soap and water is not available * Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. Wash your hands afterwards * Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth to keep germs from entering your body. * Avoid close contact with people exhibiting symptoms of illness * Practice other basic good hygiene practices

Comment from pheloniusfriar

FriAMPDTE_Rstst

"Health Canada" has a solution, and they recommend elbows as well: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iv_pdEEbwLE

Comment from tragicmishap

FriAMPDTE_Rstst

Sex with a condom. My public education learned me that condoms prevent the spread of disease.

Comment from drazen

FriAMPDTE_Rstst

We already have a Western greeting that accomplishes this. It's called "waving." I usually do it right-handed, with just two fingers (index and middle) raised, and the ring finger bent halfway down touching my thumb, sweeping from my left to right, typically accompanied with a brief casual greeting such as "Yo." Alternately, there is the "snap your finger, point at the person, and make that kinda toolish tch-tch tongue click sound" And as many others have suggested, a nod is good too. It is what I use to greet people when I see them in the halls at work, especially multiple times a day.

Comment from hyperactivex

FriAMPDTE_Rstst

Scott - expand your horizons a bit ... look to eastern civilizations ... you'll find many ways of greeting that are respectful, warm and yet do not involve physical contact. Forearm bump? I thought you'd be a little more imaginative!

Comment from argenbert

ThuPMPDTE_Rthth

i'm all for the chinese/japanese respectful nod. there is a reason for that. they've lived long in this pest'ed world. they KNOW man, they KNOW

Comment from DiscomBob

ThuPMPDTE_Rthth

I'll give up my handshake when pigs fly.