1: If the floor is toxic, then it’s stupid to have that rule
and
2: If the floor is toxic, then it’s stupid to BE there (aside from men’s restrooms).
My rule’s better (of course I think that): If it hasn’t picked up lint, prickles or generic “glip” from the floor, then it’s as edible as it ever was. Even if it dropped yesterday. And if it has and you can blow it clean, then it’s equally edible. I may have come by this by having been raised in a family with quite a few kids. By parents who taught me to forage for berries, miners lettuce, etc. And walk upstream for half a mile looking for manure or dead a dead critter (1/2 mils is a long way in a stream channel) before drinking from the stream.
It’s one of the traditional duties in being an adult: Teasing children with entertaining nonsense, making them think, toughening them up. And instilling in them a sense of humor when they figure things out. And they pass it on. Will the circle ever be unbroken?
A while back, actual microbiologists did a study. If the food and floor are dry, it takes hours for significant contamination to occur…just brush off any obvious dust and dirt and you’re fine. If there’s moisture on either, though, contamination takes milliseconds.
I read somewhere—sorry, don’’t remember where—that the 5-second rule is okay as long as the food is high in sugar or high in salt content. It also implies that your floor is clean.
If something dry falls on a dry floor, it’s ok? Picture your pharmacist counting out your little prescription tablets by 5s, and one slips and hits the floor.
An old man was sitting on a park bench reading a news paper when a young woman walked up with a baby stroller and sat down on the other end of he bench.
She proceeded to take a baby out of the stroller an sit it in her lap.
The baby began squirming and crying, so the mother took out a pacifier and put it in the babies mouth.
The baby settled down for a few moments, and then spat the pacifier out and onto the ground in front of the bench.
The mother immediately reached down, grabbed the pacifier off of the ground, and put it back into the baby’s mouth.
No, he doesn’t. It takes mere microseconds. It also greatly depends on what has hit the floor. Hard, non-porous smoother surfaces tend to take on less bacteria, etc., whereas with porous, soft items it is near immediately.
It is funny how things get spread (haha) and persist!
Ratkin Premium Member about 2 years ago
It’s because of his microbrain.
sirbadger about 2 years ago
It used to be the 3 second rule, but he’s slowed down a bit with old age.
MichaelAxelFleming about 2 years ago
Lying to children is funny? Oh, wait. Santa Claus, Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy.
Zykoic about 2 years ago
For kids it’s natural immunity building.
Templo S.U.D. about 2 years ago
Indubitably, Nelson’s friend.
hariseldon59 about 2 years ago
I don’t think anyone truly believes there’s any truth in the 5 second rule. It’s just an excuse to eat something that’s fallen on the floor.
Erse IS better about 2 years ago
I have long had two talking points about this:
1: If the floor is toxic, then it’s stupid to have that rule
and
2: If the floor is toxic, then it’s stupid to BE there (aside from men’s restrooms).
My rule’s better (of course I think that): If it hasn’t picked up lint, prickles or generic “glip” from the floor, then it’s as edible as it ever was. Even if it dropped yesterday. And if it has and you can blow it clean, then it’s equally edible. I may have come by this by having been raised in a family with quite a few kids. By parents who taught me to forage for berries, miners lettuce, etc. And walk upstream for half a mile looking for manure or dead a dead critter (1/2 mils is a long way in a stream channel) before drinking from the stream.
syzygy47 about 2 years ago
My dictum is more concise: What doesn’t kill me makes me fatter.
i_am_the_jam about 2 years ago
Disproved by Mythbusters™.
Kwen about 2 years ago
Why is his friend grey skinned and looking like a tiny adult?
The Reader Premium Member about 2 years ago
I thought he was an expert in microtimeology.
PraiseofFolly about 2 years ago
It’s one of the traditional duties in being an adult: Teasing children with entertaining nonsense, making them think, toughening them up. And instilling in them a sense of humor when they figure things out. And they pass it on. Will the circle ever be unbroken?
JoeStoppinghem Premium Member about 2 years ago
If it’s on the floor, it is no more.
sandpiper about 2 years ago
As a kid, that rule applied to the race between me, the cat, and the dog.
iggyman about 2 years ago
Tell them the truth, Earl, once you pick it back up you have to wipe it off before eating!
dvandom about 2 years ago
A while back, actual microbiologists did a study. If the food and floor are dry, it takes hours for significant contamination to occur…just brush off any obvious dust and dirt and you’re fine. If there’s moisture on either, though, contamination takes milliseconds.
goboboyd about 2 years ago
Not applicable to my kitchen floor. Yet, I’m still tempted. If it’s good enough for Julia Child….
ANIMAL about 2 years ago
Nope – Sorry – Uh uhhh – I’m not buyin’ it..!!!
Redd Panda about 2 years ago
Lying to kids is the only fun I have left.
Remember, eating dirty things, boosts your immune response.
chromosome Premium Member about 2 years ago
Depends on what it is. If I can wash it off effectively or peel it, I’ll still eat it even if it’s been on the floor longer than 5 seconds.
trainnut1956 about 2 years ago
It’s the “three-second rule”, Gramps!
Zebrastripes about 2 years ago
Every kid grows up with all these tall tales and have to decipher for themselves if they believe or not..lol
Daltongang Premium Member about 2 years ago
No kid, Earl just knows a lot about micro-mythology.
hk Premium Member about 2 years ago
It is 5 seconds in Florida, anywhere else you are safe for 30 seconds. Builds you immune system.
MuddyUSA Premium Member about 2 years ago
Wait, he can’t even pronounce it!
Snuffles [Previously Helikitty] about 2 years ago
In 5 seconds 20% of the bacteria on the floor can get on a piece of bread.
tomfromthe50s about 2 years ago
Originally, it was THREE seconds, and it was a joke!
David Huie Green LoveJoyAndPeace about 2 years ago
You must admit, germs have very short legs and arms…if you can call them legs and arms.
kendavis09 about 2 years ago
My 5 sec. rule: If it hits the floor, it’s in the garbage is less than 5 secs.
Debra Gilbert Premium Member about 2 years ago
I don’t eat anything off the floor because I know where my dog’s feet have been
Spiffy about 2 years ago
The five-second rule applies in my house where germs are slow. It does not apply in the food court at the airport where the germs are wicked fast!
kab2rb about 2 years ago
I Think depends on the location, heavy travelled no, resturants or buffets no, factories no.
paperphrique about 2 years ago
I read somewhere—sorry, don’’t remember where—that the 5-second rule is okay as long as the food is high in sugar or high in salt content. It also implies that your floor is clean.
heathcliff2 about 2 years ago
Did the cookie fall on the germs? Sooner. Oh, is that appropriation? That occurred in Oklahoma. Maybe the germs left.
Moonkey Premium Member about 2 years ago
If something dry falls on a dry floor, it’s ok? Picture your pharmacist counting out your little prescription tablets by 5s, and one slips and hits the floor.
RonBerg13 Premium Member about 2 years ago
An old man was sitting on a park bench reading a news paper when a young woman walked up with a baby stroller and sat down on the other end of he bench.
She proceeded to take a baby out of the stroller an sit it in her lap.
The baby began squirming and crying, so the mother took out a pacifier and put it in the babies mouth.
The baby settled down for a few moments, and then spat the pacifier out and onto the ground in front of the bench.
The mother immediately reached down, grabbed the pacifier off of the ground, and put it back into the baby’s mouth.
The old man grinned and asked, “5 second rule?”
And the mother replied, “No, fifth child rule.”
jbcuster about 2 years ago
Cute!
w16521 about 2 years ago
Aw the naivety of children.
Otis Rufus Driftwood about 2 years ago
I always thought it was the ten second rule.
Chrisdiaz801 about 2 years ago
I’m amazed that kid knows how to pronounce microbiology. Good for him.
comicalUser about 2 years ago
No, he doesn’t. It takes mere microseconds. It also greatly depends on what has hit the floor. Hard, non-porous smoother surfaces tend to take on less bacteria, etc., whereas with porous, soft items it is near immediately.
It is funny how things get spread (haha) and persist!