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hg00 comments on Open thread, Nov. 16 - Nov. 22, 2015 - Less Wrong Discussion

7 Post author: MrMind 16 November 2015 08:03AM

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Comment author: Tem42 22 November 2015 04:58:07PM 2 points [-]

If he is a rationalist, I would expect that he has a good grasp of when it is socially pragmatic to shake hands, and when he can operate under Crocker's rules and request not to shake hands. I also expect that he is smart enough to have an antibacterial wipe in his pocket to use after shaking hands (but not use it until he is out of sight in the gardens).

Comment author: Soothsilver 22 November 2015 07:25:05PM 1 point [-]

What do Crocker's rules have to do with this? Also, it seems carrying antibacterial wipe to use after shaking hands is excessive. The chance that he'll suffer serious health problems from infection by handshake is so small that I doubt even the time taken for all these efforts is worth it.

Comment author: SanguineEmpiricist 28 November 2015 02:25:25AM *  1 point [-]

You quoted him saying he did not shake hands, that to a lot of us seems a bit excessive. Tem42 tells us that it is more plausible to carry antibacterial wipe for hygiene concerns as opposed to a blanket bank on shaking hands, which to us, is rather strange.

If the cost/benefit is <not shaking hands > vs <shaking hands and using anti-bacterial wipe>. It seems like the latter is more plausible, especially cause the article also said he shook hands and left.

Comment author: Soothsilver 28 November 2015 01:50:27PM 1 point [-]

I think the most plausible is that he does shake hands and he does not use anti-bacterial wipe, merely that he mentioned to the reporter "I prefer not to shake hands to keep myself safe" and that the reporter exaggerated.