Qari Perils of the porcelain: Wash your hands! By Eric Wilkins, Staff Writer lovely washroom facilities last week, enjoying those precious few minutes of quiet contemplation whilst surrounded by the walls of the stall, when I heard something quite disturbing. It was almost normal but something was missing. What was wrong? There had been a shuffle of feet into the washroom, a clinking of a metal belt, an inevitable sigh of [= taking advantage of Dougie’s “| don’t understand those who avoid this simple public courtesy. Is it too much of a chore? In today’s exercise-allergic, couch- lounging society, perhaps this is the reason closest to the truth. The sink is awfully far away—sometimes even thousands upon thousands upon thousands of.. relief for several dozen seconds... more clinking...another shuffling of feet...and then a door closing. A door closing? I was left alone in the bathroom, mortified. What is so hard about washing your hands? You walk over, turn on the tap, hit the soap dispenser, and wash. My nonexistent baby sister could do it! I don’t understand those who avoid this simple public courtesy. Is it too much of a chore? In today’s exercise-allergic, couch-lounging society, perhaps this is the reason closest to the truth. The sink is awfully far away —sometimes even thousands upon thousands upon thousands of... micromillimeters. If it’s not blatantly obvious to you yet, this behaviour disgusts me, and I hope it evokes a similar feeling in you. I shouldn’t have to worry about meeting new people. However, with the knowledge that not everyone uses the sinks in the washrooms, the world becomes a scary place. Suddenly the cordial handshake becomes a dubious gamble. Do I really want to meet John? What if I end up having a second-hand meeting with John. I’m quite certain that this is how those inane phobias are born. I think I'll start using those hand sanitizers even more frequently now. It doesn’t stop at handshakes either. That computer you typed on earlier today? Yup. The library book micromillimeters.” you read during lunch? Probably. The drinking fountain button? Mhmm. Every conceivable object you can think of has most likely been handled by some bacteria ridden bum— meant figuratively, but it works either way. I could go on, but it would just turn into the old lecture on why you don’t eat from the bowl of peanuts at a bar. I’ve also noticed that while these people have no shame in walking away without washing their hands, they are embarrassed when confronted about it. | asked a fellow a while ago why he didn’t wash his hands, and while he didn’t answer, he still looked a little flushed. So please, if you’re a non-washer, wash. It takes no time at all and would really do wonders in keeping my piss of mind. Keep it clean, folks. Excuse me smokers but, do you mind? By Naomi Ambrose wheezing, pneumonia, bronchitis, and asthma.” So there you have it smokers! Your cigarette smoking can contribute to a non-smoker’s bad health. And I surely don’t want any more health problems! If we’re looking at it from a legal point, smokers are actually violating TransLink’s no smoking policy too. For the benefit of the smokers who conveniently forget to read, or claim that they’ve never heard about TransLink’s no smoking policy, allow me to fill you in: smoking is prohibited on all TransLink property. This means that smoking is not allowed inside the I am often surrounded by smokers at TransLink’s bus stations in the Lower Mainland. As a non-smoker and frequent commuter, this situation makes me angry for a number of reasons. The most obvious reason would be that second-hand smoke harms even a non-smoker’s health. According to HealthLink BC, “In the long term, people exposed to second-hand smoke have a greater risk of suffering from lung cancer, nasal sinus cancer, heart disease, stroke and breathing problems, including increased coughing, bus shelters, SkyTrain platforms or on the curbside where passengers wait to board the buses. Perhaps the transit officers should impose stiffer penalties against violators to encourage people to follow the rules and regulations. Smokers are also to blame for the disgusting amount of cigarette butts on the ground at the stations. According to cigarettelitter.org, “cigarette filters are made of cellulose acetate tow, not cotton, and they can take decades to degrade.” There is already so much litter around that we now have to contend with cigarette butts. I can’t even count the number of cigarette butts that I see on the ground every day—and if I did have to count them, I probably won’t get to class on time. If you come back to the station five years later, you might just get to see the remnants of the cigarette butt that you threw away at that same spot five years ago. In case you are not already aware, the toxic fumes that you release into the atmosphere from your cigarette smoking also land on my clothes and hair. When I leave my: home, I’m wearing my sweet smelling perfume. However, when I arrive at the station where the smokers are loose, I end up smelling like a chimney. Perhaps you think that your cigarette fumes have.a better scent than my perfume, but I beg to differ. And so I ask you smokers: try to remember that where you are waiting for the bus is in fact a public area. Please show some consideration for those who want to live a healthy life, those who suffer from respiratory illnesses, and those who care about the environment.