“Apparently someone at my office thinks cracking the ice cube trays with your hands is a mortal sin,” writes Natalie in Washington, D.C. “My question: Would it really be better if we used other body parts?”
Honestly, when I first read the words “ice gobblers,” I thought this note was going in a different direction. Because not refilling the empty ice-cube tray? Now that’s a crime.
related: Four approaches to ice-cube maintenance
63 responses so far ↓
#1
joshua
I’m not sure I want to know how the note writer was getting their ice out.
Mar 27, 2012 at 9:10 pm rating: 58
#2
Palomon
There’s only one penalty here in Castle Anthrax:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtcSYPjJbgg
Mar 27, 2012 at 9:15 pm rating: 1
#3
Rachel of Cyberia
Most bacteria can’t survive in freezer temperatures. I’d prefer people use their filthy hands than a glass that can crack and leave shards in the ice.
Mar 27, 2012 at 9:21 pm rating: 24
#4
deprogrammed
An ice scoop would be nice, since I’ve seen too many people who don’t wash their hands all day, much less when they leave the toilet. I don’t mess with the communal ice tray; thank goodness we have a ice machine that dispenses through the door. Yes, it’s hooked up to a water source, but the door is locked down – only opened for servicing. Why? Because people are nasty. Especially when you’re not watching.
Mar 27, 2012 at 9:23 pm rating: 44
#5
Guy Paul
That is the work of someone on the verge.
Mar 27, 2012 at 9:24 pm rating: 18
#6
S
Wait … it’s an ice cube tray? How else are you supposed to get ice out of it?
Seriously — I can’t figure this out. I can imagine cracking the tray with your hands and then maybe using a fork or something to lever a cube out (although that seems ridiculous), but if you’re not even allowed to crack it with your hands, then what?
Anyway, when you pull one ice cube out of a tray, your hand only touches the cube you’re taking. So you’re only giving yourself your own germs (if any).
Mar 27, 2012 at 9:28 pm rating: 22
#7
JK
What part of the body do they use to make coffee?
Mar 27, 2012 at 9:30 pm rating: 10
#8
infanttyrone
You are very inconsiderate of others coming after you.
I’ve got people coming after me and you’re sweating over
a few germs and a little bit of particulate matter ?
Well, excuuuuse meee….here’s a can of Lysol.
Mar 27, 2012 at 9:35 pm rating: 53
#9
BigJoe
I assume it’s an ice bucket. The note just says ice container, not ice cube tray. They are complaining about people jamming their hand into the bucket to grab ice, which is a legitimate complaint. Of course the note could be written better.
Mar 27, 2012 at 9:42 pm rating: 6
#10
SeeYouInTea
Wait, so no one else uses their tongue? Damnit.
Mar 27, 2012 at 9:56 pm rating: 35
#11
kermit
SeeYouInTea is right. People should be using their tongues to remove the ice from the ice cube tray.
(I am not buying into the ice bucket explanation because most freezers are not big enough to hold an entire bucket of ice.)
Mar 27, 2012 at 10:07 pm rating: 4
#12
Adriana
If it’s an ice cube container, maybe the note writer should donate a pair of tongs to the office. If it’s an ice cube tray, twist it, then touch only the ice you take. Problem solved!
Mar 27, 2012 at 11:45 pm rating: 6
#13
jadefirefly
If the germs and bacteria can survive the freezer, you’ve got bigger things to worry about than your ice cubes.
Mar 28, 2012 at 12:57 am rating: 12
#14
A
I tap the ice cube tray on the table to release the cubes then I turn the container on the side to empty loosened cubes into my hand. That way my fingers are not all over the other cubes as I try to get my cubes out. Maybe that’s what the note writer was aiming people would do.
Mar 28, 2012 at 1:11 am rating: 1
#15
Stephizzal
Just a quick POI to all the people saying freezers kill germs or germs can’t survive freezing- freezers don’t kill them, they just put them into a state of suspended animation and thus stop them spreading. In my lab, we keep stocks of bacteria at -80 degrees, considerably colder than the typical -20 of a home freezer…but when you thaw em out, they’re fine and grow like crazy! thats also the reason why you shouldn’t refreeze something if you have thawed it once already.
Mar 28, 2012 at 2:33 am rating: 28
#16
Lil'
I don’t use the water/ice dispensers on the door because people press their dirty cups and water bottles against them when they come for refills. I wash my hands EVERY time, get a fresh cup, and scoop my ice from the bucket. I don’t really mind seeing other people do the same, and I don’t really care if the people who are spreading their germs on the dispenser are pissed because I choose to scoop.
Mar 28, 2012 at 7:35 am rating: 1
#17
H for Toy
Ice Gobblers… I wouldn’t want birds in my ice cube trays, either.
Mar 28, 2012 at 8:42 am rating: 2
#18
Dane Zeller
I have no problem with the problem. I’m allergic to ice.
Mar 28, 2012 at 9:46 am rating: 6
#19
amvista
@Ashley- the submitter said that it is a regular ice cube tray.
I have one of those trays at my house and am perfectly capable of removing ice from it while only touching the cubes that will go in my glass, so unless people are rubbing their hands over each and every ice cube, I doubt this is much of an issue.
Mar 28, 2012 at 10:16 am rating: 4
#20
yolanda
Dear germophobe, it’s okay because I used lysol in the icecube water. Enjoy!
Mar 28, 2012 at 10:23 am rating: 25
#21
bookworm
I don’t care how you grab your ice as long as you don’t spend the next four hours crunching on it.
Mar 28, 2012 at 11:29 am rating: 13
#22
kate
Shit, if it’s going to be that kind of a party I’m gonna stick my dick in the mashed potatoes
Mar 28, 2012 at 12:21 pm rating: 26
#23
Nidonemo
Ice Gobblers sounds like characters from an animated after school special.
Narrative: “Oh no kids, it’s the ice gobblers! We have to use our powers of considerate behavior to stop them!”
Kids: “Please stop gobbling the ice! Please stop gobbling the ice! Please stop-”
Ice Gobbler: Please shut the f*** up!
Kids: *gasp*
Mar 28, 2012 at 1:23 pm rating: 15
#24
Jolly
Not my fault you’re a germaphobe. Deal with it.
(or get your own private ice cube tray, if you’re really that crazy.)
Mar 28, 2012 at 6:34 pm rating: 6
#25
angie
My office has an ice maker. So someone was grossed out at people reaching into the tub, so we got an ice scoop.
Which people touch, and then drop into the ice bucket, which kinda defeats the purpose.
Mar 28, 2012 at 9:06 pm rating: 10
#26
mary
doing now why people take ice out with dirty hands when thy could wash them
Mar 29, 2012 at 5:06 am rating: 1
#27
NOOOO
That sounds like something that Gollum would say.
Mar 30, 2012 at 8:57 am rating: 0
#28
redheadwglasses
I’m pretty sure this LW means, there’s a large container of LOOSE ICECUBES in the freezer (ice cubes already having been removed from the trays), and people are digging in with their hands to get ice for their glasses.
We have several ice cube trays in our freezer here at work, and a big removable ice cube BIN to hold the ice that’s ready to use.
Someone keeps a big metal spoon in there for scooping ice out so hands won’t have to be used.
Mar 30, 2012 at 12:16 pm rating: 0
#29
Alrac
It’s true though, people (or bf’s, w/e) should really be more considerate of those coming after them…or not at all.
Apr 10, 2012 at 11:23 pm rating: 1
#30
Whatever
I am Natalie and I sent in this note. To clarify, we do have an ice machine, however, it is broken. So, we’ve been using ice cube trays for the last couple of months.
Apr 11, 2012 at 10:23 am rating: 3
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