General Forum

So among other tendencies I probably have, I have often been labeled a germaphobe.  I don't necessarily disagree with that, but I am not really concerned with germs themselves.  I just don't like things that aren't clean touching me or my things.  And it really isn't completely like this.  If I need to do something outside that requires getting a little dirty it isn't a problem.  But I will make sure to wash my hands completely before doing something else.  Basically I don't want my things, myself, or my workspace to be dirty.  And I probably wash my hands more often than normal.  I also do not like getting used things.  So much so that I would rather just not have things than getting something used if it is something I have to touch often.  There are some exceptions to this, but in general this is my normal feelings.  

I have been accused of being bougie because of this, but it really comes down to just being grossed out by things.  The other day even I went to a place where they had pastries and I noticed a fly landing all over the things behind the glass.  Is this really a big deal?  Probably not.  But I ended up just ordering a soda.  

As a card collector though, one of the main ways to get cards is getting them used.  It's kind of implied in the whole "trading card" name.  For the most part, I have never had too much of a problem in the small amount of trades I have made, or purchased from a card shop.  However there was a time I went to a card shop and there was a card I wanted that was not in a penny sleeve.  I couldn't help thinking how many people have touched this card while it has been here?  What makes this irrational is that even if it was in a penny sleeved, it could have been touched with who knows what countless times.

The ironic thing, is I don't use penny sleeves to store my cards.  I just have them neatly organized in BCW boxes.  But I have often thought about sleeves, mainly because I can show them to others without worrying about dirty hands and also if I ever get some vintage card I like I can just sleeve it without worrying about where it has been since the 1950s.  

But the thing is, the whole penny sleeve solution annoys me.  They slide around, they cost more money, thick sleeves don't fit in my current 3200 count boxes very well, and I also don't really like how the sleeve scrunches up when holding the card by the edges.  But I still lean towards this to solve my issue.  Card pulled raw out of a dime box with questionable stain?  Put it in a new sleeve!  I don't know.  Maybe I should just buy a microfiber cloth and wipe down any questionable cards I get with it just to soothe me mentally.  

Anyone else have this same feeling as me?

The quick answer is "no".  But my wife would be just like you if she collected cards  :)

My son who lives with me is 33. You just described him. He doesn't collect, but this is him. Lol. Lol. I'm going to have him read this. Lmao. 

I am not really sensitive about dirty hands like some people, but my wife sure is....so some of that tendency rubs off on me...so I wash my hands after sorting cards or opening mail before eating something, as you never know who handled them before and how they washed their hands, or not at all...

mark

You need to check out George Carlins standup about germs.  Exposure to germs builds up your immunity.

Do a little research and you'll find germs/bacteria/viruses can only survive about 24 hours on cardboard. 

This was the first thing I thought of too...

GCA

Sometimes I eat dirt when out in the garden, not that I mean too but that tomato just looks tooooooo good.

Over the weekend I bought that loose card I wanted.  So I guess that is some growth.  And I don’t mean like growth on the card.  

Do you prefer the clean white backs of the 1980s 90s OPC to the gray backed Topps?  I wonder if those Topps didnt fall of the truck into a mud puddle?  Think about that........