I never look forward to this time of year as there are some very selfish poker players out there. I think I am a magnet for people that look and sound like they're about to die sitting next to me. I play live poker all the time and understand there are a lot of germs to be found at every table, but what's with the guy with his fingers always in his mouth !! When my children were sick and I knew they had fever or a bad cold ...I didn't send them to school to infect other kids. We've all been there when this disgusting diseased selfish ass sits right next to you and infects the whole table when he looks like he should be in a hospital. Question: Would you suck on a $25 chip during flu season for one minute if I let you keep it ??? .... A guy actually did it in front of me... Can't say I ever seen him again...lol Any germ filled stories you would like to share ?

saw a slob who doesn't believe in germs suck on a 5 dollar chip once the stipulation was he got to keep the chip and I think 7 dollars extra

There was a reg at foxwoods who used to have really long disgusting nails, I almost puked every time he was at my table.

$25? No. $500? Maybe. $1000? Yes.

Fwiw, it doesn't matter if you suck for a minute or a few seconds, effect is essentially the same. If you keep in mind that monkeys fling their feces at each other (which is much like playing poker) with no ill effects, sucking on a chip should be a-okay.

FWIW i'd do it for a $100 chip.

It is a sickening world hout there. I do my best to keep myself protected with sanitizer, but sometimes there's nothing better than a load of vitamin C drops and doing your best to limit exposure.

Hell you could start a new trend of wearing surgical masks at the table! You could claim it hides tells.

I'm embarrassed to tell this story, but I will anyway.

I have allergies. Usually it doesn't cause me to sneeze or cough much, usually my eyes just get red and itchy.

I was in Tampa and thought my allergies were bothering me. I played poker for 2 days, and my eyes got worse and worse and worse. I finally realized it couldn't be allergies and went to a doctor. Turned out I had pink eye in both eyes. I was rubbing my eyes and touching chips/cards for 2 days straight. I feel horrible thinking about how many people I might have given it to. Had I known I had something contagious I never would have played.

Edit: feel free to call me names, I deserve it. Plus you can't make me feel worse about it than I already do... If you play in Tampa and got pink eye about 3 weeks ago, I sincerely apologize.

I don't care about germs, never have and doubt I ever will. I have a very strong immune system. $5 isn't worth it to me because people would think I'm weird but I'd do it for $25 probably and easily $100. Some people work for two days to make $100, turning it down for something so stupid is horrible.

Got to provide your immune system with some target practice once in awhile.

Do I need to caution about language? Caution: language.

It's the same as going to the movies or eating at the food court plus the poster above is right in that you need exposure to germs.

Was at Hard rock last night In Tampa and everyone is talking about you !

Not even close..

I'm not a doctor, but I'm a big time germaphobe. So take it from me - if you have a fairly healthy immune system and aren't directly coughed or sneezed upon by someone who's sick and contagious, then you should be fine provided you avoid touching your eyes or putting your fingers in your ears or your nose in between washing your hands (or, as a fall back, using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer). If you have an itch on your face, "scratch" it by rubbing your face on your sleeve.

In general, about all you'll find yourself in danger of by putting your hands (or, for that matter, a chip) in your mouth, are stomach bugs and the like.

This time of year I only try to go to larger casinos, since although there are more people there who can "infect" you, it's also easier to table select your way to a spot where most people aren't overtly symptomatic, although that brings up the whole other issue of when people are in fact contagious.

I agree that you need some regular low dose exposure to germs to keep the immune system active - that why I get a flu shot every year, and it's why I DON'T use anti bacterial soap.

flu shots are -EV

I should have been more specific. I played at Derby Lane one day and Tampa Bay Downs the other. I usually play at Hard Rock when I'm in the area, but decided to check out those two places for the first time.

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Antibacterial soap is not good and possibly bad.

The scrubbing action will remove most germs, simply by mechanical action. Having any sort of soap helps this (soap disrupts bacterial walls). If you wash your hands well (in between fingers is the most missed area), any soap in water works equally well.

The antibiotics they put in does persist on your hands, offering some continual protection.

But most of it goes into the sewers, out into the environment, where it breeds superbacteria. And messes with frog dicks. And sometimes causes allergies.

Your skin is crawling with billions of bacteria anyway and each breath you take probably has thousands of spores. Your skin and nose hairs and tears and mucus linings do a pretty good job. Just avoid rubbing your eyes or picking your nose or sucking on poker chips (IMR FFS), and wash your hands vigorously with soap and water, and you'll protect yourself against the baseline germs.

The flu shot is fine as long as you don't think you're Superman and start eating gum you find on the sidewalk. (There are multiple strains of flu and the flu vaccine protects you against the ones doctors in Mar-Apr think will be popular the next Nov-Jan.)

people with colds are a minor issue compared to how many times I cross paths with my villians in the bathroom, only to watch them rush right out back to the game without washing their hands. then rub it all over the chips and cards. u know who u are

Hate it ... and even worse when its someone you've known for years and its the first time you run into him in the bathroom and he just walks out .... Poppy is sloppy

I don't mind the germs, just washing your hands regularly goes a long way. But I do mind the people coughing and sniveling. Sometimes it tilts me to the point where I can't play, if I'm right next to a really nasty person.

Care to elaborate?

I saw a guy at the table take out a dollar after eating his burger+fries and use it to floss with. He then gave it to the cocktail waitress as a tip.

flushots = illuminati shots. they do more harm to your body than good.

http://vactruth.com/2013/02/01/8-damn-good-reasons/

Really? And what are the effects of the tinfoil hat you wear?

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Some people need the shots more than the average Joe. I was in a car accident and got my spleen shattered and had it removed. Getting a small virus can be fatal for me. Other conditions apply here too.

The only way I would play sick is if I had flown in to a series that I had planned put in advance. Anyone gonna tell me they're not playing in that scenario?