Must You Lick That Page?

This may have turned your attention in the past, but today I want to bring your attention to the page.

What's with people licking their fingers every time they flip a page in a book, magazine or periodical? TV Guide, academic coursebook, voting pamphlet? Cookbook, auto manual, calendar? Lick lick, lap lap. Does that actually assist in the turning of a page?

And, if you're going to lick your fingers and touch a page, please don't ask me to hold your reading material after that. Unless of course you enjoy anxiety as much as I do!