One of the most freak-out-inducing viral moments this past week involved a woman, caught on video on a cruise ship, using a fork from a buffet dining room to scratch the bottom of her foot.

Naturally, viewers were horrified. Many wanted the perpetrator banned from all future cruises for such crude public behaviour. I fully agree it is quite disgusting. Using a utensil intended for eating makes it worse.

However, if you think about it: is a fork that has touched someone’s scaly foot any more gross than one that has been in someone else’s mouth? If we had to compare, which do you think would have more germs and bacteria?

Ultimately, it should not matter because the utensil will be washed. Right?

In the hospitality industry, there is a tacit understanding between establishments and customers that cutlery and amenities – from forks and spoons to hotel beds and bathroom stalls – are cleaned and sanitised.

We have no clue where and for what a restaurant’s dining utensils might have been used before being placed in front of us. Perhaps we don’t want to know how many mouths they have been in.