Seemed like every waiting room had one...

After about 10 seconds, all I would do is see if I could throw a bead hard enough to make it all the way to the other end

As a kid, I never cared how many strands of bacteria were on that thing. Luckily, I was almost always already sick.

I saw the picture, and I could immediately smell the doctor's office.

How do I use this quadratic abacus?

I work at a photography studio and we have that in our waiting room as well! Every night we sanitize it (just use a clorox wipe) and I always spend about 5 minutes longer than I should when I do.

They have this at the Pep Boys I go to to get my oil changed. Playing with this toy is pretty much the highlight of my oil change.

I was at Target the other day playing with this exact toy.

I am a 33 year old adult male.

Now that I have a kid, all I can think of is the gargantuan amount of bacteria that must be coating every inch of that toy. Still fun, though!

I remember these at the doctors office. I got one for my son. They sell them at IKEA. He loves it, plus it is just his germs on it!

These are still everywhere in Idaho.

I remember these! What are they called?

Fun!*

*for 14 seconds until you realize it's not like a bead roller-coaster

they still do...

Alot of them still do

If you touch that thing, WASH YOUR HANDS.

This was always the highlight of my trip to the dentist. Well, that and the box of small toys/stickers/lollipops they kept behind the counter for when you're done.

Always would see it in the doctor's office. Never allowed to play with it, though. THE GERMS!

I never understood these. they just weren't fun. Not in the least.

There was no puzzle to solve, no entertaining action. It was one of the dullest toys I ever played with.

Even as a child, I never understood how anyone thought this was supposed to represent fun.

These only started appearing by the time I was getting just a little bit too old for them. :(

Most doctor's waiting rooms still do. My kids always run straight to 'em, and since it's usually a Dr's office and theyre already sick, i let 'em...

My doctors surgery still has one of these. My three year old was playing with it a few days ago.

They are still everywhere, and I won't let my kid touch it.

I have kids, most of them still do.

I think it must be a law that in order to open a pediatric office of any sort, one of those must be kept on the premises at all times. I was not allowed to touch that or any other toys at the doctor's office (nurse mom, probably saved my life). Now it doesn't matter where I am, if I see one of those I cringe.

All I can think about when I see one is "GERMS, GERMS, GERMS".

I have one of these in my living room.

I have one in my daughter's room. I have no idea how my dad got it.

these best served the purpose of spreading the illnesses that would later strengthen a child's immune system. They're never in a well-visit waiting room.

One of my local doctors surgeries still has one, i'm tempted to play on it every time i'm there. Also, a few Airports still have them in the departure lounge.

They also had one of those green crocodile looking seesaw rides which always felt sticky at the handles...

When I was a kid, I played with these so much on my frequent visits to the pediatrician. As an adult with a kid, I question the motives behind these being in the waiting areas. I know they are just entertaining, but when kid with mystery virus A is playing with it before kid with mystery bacterial infection B right before my daughter, perfectly healthy, comes in for a simple check up... I have to wonder.

Still though, I can't deny her the fun.

I pretty sure if there were still any of these around and doctors did a viral scan on them it would produce readings on scale with the deadly motaba virus.

They still have them

has*

They still have them.... in every waiting room