What does the idiom ''touch something with a 10-foot pole'' mean?

The expression is, 'I wouldn't touch that with a ten foot pole'.

It usually refers to a topic of conversation, expressing an opinion or refusing to answer a hypothetical question. It is a casual saying, one that would be commonly used with friends and peers. It means you refuse to engage in the topic of conversation raised or to give an opinion. By invoking the ten foot pole it means you aren't getting any where near that question.