system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: Why can human skin endure near frozen water for minutes without repercussions, but not endure boiling water without getting third degree burns?
gpt
So let's consider magnitude here.

"Near frozen" water is around 0 degrees C (32 degrees F).  "Room temperature" for humans is around 20 degrees C (70 degrees F).  So our near frozen water is about 20 (38) degrees off from "comfortable".

Boiling water is 100 degrees C (212 degrees F).  By the same math it is around **80 degrees C (142 degrees F) different** from "comfortable".  

So there you have it - boiling water is a lot hotter than frozen water is cold to humans.