4 ms·

That’s indeed why they did it, which is silly because there’s zero evidence that paper restaurant menus are a significant risk of covid transmission. It’s pure

That’s indeed why they did it, which is silly because there’s zero evidence that paper restaurant menus are a significant risk of covid transmission. It’s pure hygiene theater.

e-clinton 5y ago
Hygiene theater? That’s just hygiene. You don’t HAVE to bathe everyday, nothing will happen if you don’t. But doing so is just hygiene.
- umanwizard 5y ago
  If you don’t bathe every day, and you have a body that produces a lot of sweat, you will look and smell disgusting to other people. That’s hardly “nothing”.
- CWuestefeld 5y ago
  A year ago it was generally believed that fomites passed by contact was or could be a significant path for spread of the covid-19 virus. This turns out not to be the case - but that hasn't stopped a huge number of organizations from demanding high levels of surface cleansing. If you're just unusually fastidious, I guess that's your right. But when you're claiming (or at least implying) that everyone must conform to those same levels to avoid covid-19 transmission - which is what we're still seeing quite a bit of - then that's hygiene theater.
  - bellyfullofbac 5y ago
    Yeah, the CDC has acknowledged the surface thing [1], but sadly people are still operating on last year's knowledge and stil think disinfection is super important. Meanwhile despite new knowledge that Covid spreads in the air (not just through visible spit)[2], things like good ventilation (e.g. keeping windows open) hasn't really been pushed to people's heads. Maybe it's the failure of media? [1] https://nypost.com/2021/04/05/low-risk-of-catching-covid-from-surfaces-new-cdc-guidelines/ https://nypost.com/2021/04/05/low-risk-of-catching-covid-fro... [2] https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/07/opinion/coronavirus-airborne-transmission.html https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/07/opinion/coronavirus-airbo...
colinmhayes 5y ago
Nah, they did it because it makes it super easy to change the menu. Physical menus rarely change, online menus can change instantly for free.
- greedo 5y ago
  It's definitely not free when you consider the infrastructure behind providing online menus.
  - colinmhayes 5y ago
    Most restaurants already have a website.
  - kevinsundar 5y ago
    IDK I've been to restaurants where its just a QR code linked to a google drive pdf. Doesn't require much infrastructure there.
  - umanwizard 5y ago
    QR code to s3 bucket is basically free.
    - greedo 5y ago
      Most restaurants have no idea what s3 is, much less how to use it.
- elgaard 5y ago
  Then they should just have a big blackboard

That’s indeed why they did it, which is silly because there’s zero evidence that paper restaurant menus are a significant risk of covid transmission. It’s pure hygiene theater.

e-clinton 5y ago

Hygiene theater? That’s just hygiene. You don’t HAVE to bathe everyday, nothing will happen if you don’t. But doing so is just hygiene.

umanwizard 5y ago
If you don’t bathe every day, and you have a body that produces a lot of sweat, you will look and smell disgusting to other people. That’s hardly “nothing”.
CWuestefeld 5y ago
A year ago it was generally believed that fomites passed by contact was or could be a significant path for spread of the covid-19 virus. This turns out not to be the case - but that hasn't stopped a huge number of organizations from demanding high levels of surface cleansing. If you're just unusually fastidious, I guess that's your right. But when you're claiming (or at least implying) that everyone must conform to those same levels to avoid covid-19 transmission - which is what we're still seeing quite a bit of - then that's hygiene theater.
- bellyfullofbac 5y ago
  Yeah, the CDC has acknowledged the surface thing [1], but sadly people are still operating on last year's knowledge and stil think disinfection is super important. Meanwhile despite new knowledge that Covid spreads in the air (not just through visible spit)[2], things like good ventilation (e.g. keeping windows open) hasn't really been pushed to people's heads. Maybe it's the failure of media? [1] https://nypost.com/2021/04/05/low-risk-of-catching-covid-from-surfaces-new-cdc-guidelines/ https://nypost.com/2021/04/05/low-risk-of-catching-covid-fro... [2] https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/07/opinion/coronavirus-airborne-transmission.html https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/07/opinion/coronavirus-airbo...

colinmhayes 5y ago

Nah, they did it because it makes it super easy to change the menu. Physical menus rarely change, online menus can change instantly for free.

greedo 5y ago
It's definitely not free when you consider the infrastructure behind providing online menus.
- colinmhayes 5y ago
  Most restaurants already have a website.
- kevinsundar 5y ago
  IDK I've been to restaurants where its just a QR code linked to a google drive pdf. Doesn't require much infrastructure there.
- umanwizard 5y ago
  QR code to s3 bucket is basically free.
  - greedo 5y ago
    Most restaurants have no idea what s3 is, much less how to use it.
elgaard 5y ago
Then they should just have a big blackboard