Did you just do that?

About every thirty minutes, I hear someone shriek the words “swine flu.” Sometimes it’s in jest. Sometimes it’s paired with fear. And sometimes, the shrieker actually knows someone afflicted with the virus.

Coincidentally, the news is constantly telling people to wash their hands. Because hands spread germs. Especially sickness germs that leak from noses and eyes and mouths.

At the grocery store, there are posters reminding shoppers to keep their hands clean. Fancier stores even have shopping cart wipes.

At work, there are signs about removing germs effectively with soap and water. You’ll usually see these along with all of the HR materials.

Most people have a bottle of hand sanitizer prominently displayed on their desk. They go through the full amount every two weeks because everyone else clamors to use it hourly.

Yet these same people while engaged in conversation, these germaphobes with their hysterical natures, these holier-than-thou clean freaks will (in mid-syllable) put the underside of their middle finger up to the tip of their nose and move the hand upward, using the entire length of their hand to wipe their nose.

While talking. While looking you in the eye.

EWWW. They don’t even realize they’re doing it. They don’t realize they just used their HAND to spread SNOT up to their FOREHEAD.

I see this daily. DAILY. Usually right outside the perimeter of my personal space.

Don’t wipe your snot on your hand while you’re talking to me about your dinner from last night! Have some decency. Use a tissue! Or at least use the BACK of your hand.

Ugh, and some people … snort as they engage in this behavior. SNORT! These are classy white-collar people. People that wear designer clothes and have expensive haircuts.

People with degrees—BAs in sciences and business. People who count calories and do situps.

In other words, people who SHOULD know better. Right?

I guess it’s true—money can’t buy class. But it can sure buy some soap and water.