[nobodyknowsyoda]

Probably not good for individuals. I am a germophobe and my immune system is a lot weaker than my friends who share drinks, eat stuff off the floor, eat street food, kiss random strangers etc[0]

Probably great for the population and likely to increase Earth’s carrying capacity of humans, as is the case with most technological progress (hand washing, plumbing, agricultural techniques increasing food production per hectare, micronutrient fortification). We become dependent on these things and as long as they stick around as reliable infrastructure then we are good

It is important to keep in mind, however, that exposing oneself to pathogens from other humans is distinct from exposing oneself to various neutral microorganisms from the environment that help diversify your micro biome and generally make your immune system stronger. “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” does not apply to oneself and Ebola or HIV or even malaria in a very practical sense. Perhaps most relatable to Hacker News folks is that each infection in one’s body offers a nonzero chance of lowering one’s IQ. That should suffice as reason to avoid disease

Edit: [0] I get sick a lot more easily than they do, and uh, it took me 9 months to recover from Covid (long Covid)