Live data from Hacker News

Coronavirus: the second-weirdest solution?

scottaaronson.com

1–10 of 52 posts

Re: Coronavirus: the second-weirdest solution?

#3
This substance already exists: biter nail polish.

Apply it on your fingers, and you'll want to avoid touching your mouth at any cost.

On a side note, so many buildings still put doors at the entrance of toilets forcing you to touch the door right after cleaning your hands (or to use a napkin to touch the handle).

Re: Coronavirus: the second-weirdest solution?

#6
The only practical takeaway from these suggestions IMO is that "you might still derive great personal benefit from imagining them so covered".

In the real world, there are a few things that could help prevent these outbreaks from bringing the whole of society to a grinding standstill, namely the invention of something that kills targeted viruses directly (thought I read something along those lines a while back). And/or the insight that the way we have constructed modern society is simply conducive to pandemic outbreaks.

The tendency for people to work from home, be schooled from home and getting goods delivered home should not be viewed as a desperate measure, instead it is the way we probably will organize our lives moving forwards, and get a lot of life standard improvements while at it. Not to mention the time and energy we would save by bringing commutes down to a bare minimum.

Re: Coronavirus: the second-weirdest solution?

#9
post #2

I'm confused. If you don't want people to touch a railing, why have a railing?

If I am running down stairs in the subway I hover my hand above them without touching it in case I need something to hold onto in the event I trip.

I will not want to be the guy that dies of a broken neck tumbling down the stairs because I didn't want to touch the hand rail.

Re: Coronavirus: the second-weirdest solution?

#10
Some people suggested using copper handles in hospitals, since it has antimicrobial properties. I think the practical problem was that you need to clear the oxidized parts or it doesn't work. There were some other suggested materials too.

On a lighter note, people seem to adapt their behavior just fine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgYL4rZC0v8

Post reply on HN