Has American culture cross the line into Paranoia?

In reference to other life-forms, both microscopic and not. It seems that people are not questioning the use of Anti-bacterial chemicals of all sorts. Some of these are damaging the ecosystem. Some of these are very nasty.
Microbes, bugs, wildlife of all kinds and being presented as “the bad guys.” Have things gotten out of hand? Are people being duped into spending money for products that do not seem to really keep them healthier?
Answers:
Frankly, yes. At least as far as anti-bacterial soaps and such.
I think most people would be shocked (and grossed out) if they were to be made aware that microscopic bugs live on their skin. Completely harmless.
And the only thing all these products are accomplishing, is to make the organisms more resistant. Everything adapts over time. That's why there are so few effective antibiotics these days. And indeed, bacteria is quickly becoming resistant to those as well.
As far as bugs and wildlife..some bugs are beneficial and very much needed, while others cause disease. And should be controlled.
Wildlife? Most people have been raised in the city. But the cities are encrouching into the countryside, where, of course, the wildlife live.
And since they have no experience with animals, outside of a zoo, it scares the h--- out of some people. They don't know what to do if they encounter an animal, and rather than learn, they want them gone.

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i totally agree with the answer above me and i want to add that contact with microbes actually enhances the immune system because the body learns how to control the population of that particular organism in the body without outside interventions such as antibacterial soaps, antibiotics, etc. children who are raised in homes which are excessively clean are more susceptible to disease because their bodies are not accustomed to coexisting with a normal population of microorganisms.

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