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AIBU?

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Original poster

To open my window on the bus

440 replies

notknowledgeable · 28/01/2024 12:17

It seems to be a mission for some people to fight to have all the windows on the bus closed, for all of every journey? Why? Before covid this wasn't an issue - now it seems people have a point to make.

I get there can be a chilly draught, but just put your coat on, or put your hood up?

I am immunocompromised, and wear a mask and open the window on my way to and from work. Every single time I get ill, ( currently a couple of times a month) my classes are left with non specialist agency staff. I take all the precautions I reasonably can to keep from catching anything, but this constant battle on the bus every working day is really wearing my down.

OP posts:
GintyMcGinty · 28/01/2024 18:17

@notknowledgeable

Because they are not - nothing you listed is going to put anyone out of action. Hayfever?? in January? no

Yes. There are lots of different causes of hay fever and many causes are present all year round including January.

flea101 · 28/01/2024 18:14

Asthma? Mine is made a lot worse by the cold air, has landed me in hospital etc. all the reasons you have listed! So why does your condition trump that?

Clafoutie · 28/01/2024 18:14

notknowledgeable · 28/01/2024 17:41

Yes, some of the attitudes on here demonstrate exactly what the problem is. So many people think their comfort is more important than the health and safety of others.

One woman last week said she felt cold because she had just washed her hair - that was her reasons for feeling justified in putting the rest of us at risk.

One man in his 30s was so abusive I reported him to the police - he claimed to be a soldier!

I reread these posts some of the people on here genuinely don't seem to be able to see that being a bit uncomfortable simply does not compare with putting people's health in danger. - People really are that entitled!

I was off sick for over a year a while back - and in that whole time, not for a single day did my classes get a specialist teacher. There is no one available to do the job.

I bet the same people who would complain that not liking the cold draught on the bus is a good enough reason to put other people's welfare at risk, complain loud and long when their children don't have a teacher - or when there are no healthcare staff available ( there are HCPs getting the same bus as me who fight on the same side as me in the daily windows battle)

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I completely agree with all of this, and I could have written your post myself OP. I too have a twice-daily bus commute, over an hour each way, am immunocompromised, and find the ‘battle of the windows’really difficult. As someone else said, some people seem to have a massive aversion to fresh air, and would rather sit enclosed in a capsule where moisture can sometimes be running down the insides of the windows, than risk coming into contact with air. I do understand people don’t want to be cold, but on my bus most people are already well wrapped up, and the heating is on. There are also a lot of agressive window slammers. I don’t mind at all if someone asks politely if I could shut the window, as I accept that it is a shared public space, but the people that just lean over you to slam them, sometimes, as you have also encountered, shouting abuse, I just find baffling. I shall think of you in solidarity as I repeat the experience tomorrow! Sadly, people just don’t seem to care about protecting vulnerable people, if it interferes with their own comfort.

Alargeoneplease89 · 28/01/2024 18:11

Grimchmas · 28/01/2024 18:04

You don't get to speak for a whole bus of people, and it's clear you don't understand Immunoconpromise if you think it's just about frequent colds.

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I'm immune suppressed and don't want to sit on a cold bus. I'm glad I have a car because people are so entitled

catelynjane · 28/01/2024 18:11

notknowledgeable · 28/01/2024 17:57

Because they are not - nothing you listed is going to put anyone out of action. Hayfever?? in January? no.

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Of course they're genuine, but I don't think you actually care, you just want everyone to agree with you.

Arthritis can leave people housebound.
Anaemia can cause fainting and severe fatigue.
MS can cause people to be bed-ridden for months on end during a flare-up.
Hayfever may not be an issue in January but I'm sure you don't only want the windows open in January either.

Alargeoneplease89 · 28/01/2024 18:10

saltnvini · 28/01/2024 12:26

Because people are disgusting and want to sit all close together breathing in people's germs

Not necessarily... some people have raynauds and feel the cold.

Hobnobswantshernameback · 28/01/2024 18:07

I'm so glad being immunosuppressed hasn't turned my DC into a self absorbed wanker

Grimchmas · 28/01/2024 18:04

2024HappyNewYear · 28/01/2024 16:19

So a whole bus full of people should all be uncomfortable, cold, and apparently put our hoods up, because OP has decided her frequent colds are all caught on the bus?

You don't get to speak for a whole bus of people, and it's clear you don't understand Immunoconpromise if you think it's just about frequent colds.

Chichimcgee · 28/01/2024 18:01

notknowledgeable · 28/01/2024 17:57

Because they are not - nothing you listed is going to put anyone out of action. Hayfever?? in January? no.

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So your window issue only happens in January? You’re fine with windows closed the rest of the year?

Catdoorman · 28/01/2024 18:00

I'm semi rural, very early morning bus user, it's mostly others getting to work. I've never had a problem with aggression on the bus, although I avoid school bus times because school kids are scary as hell. If someone said they were cold and wanted the window closed, I would close it though. I just think one little window at the back if I'm the only one back there is reasonable.

BananasInThreePieceSuits · 28/01/2024 17:59

notknowledgeable · 28/01/2024 17:57

Because they are not - nothing you listed is going to put anyone out of action. Hayfever?? in January? no.

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I get Hayfever in January Confused

BananasInThreePieceSuits · 28/01/2024 17:59

YABVU. You don’t trump anyone else; it doesn’t matter where you’re going or what you’re doing.

Being a teacher doesn’t make you more important than anyone else.

I would also be one of the people leaning over to close the window.

Duckingfun · 28/01/2024 17:58

Are you saying that you get on the bus, open the window by your seat and someone comes over, leans across you and closes it?
Or are you annoyed that other people have the windows next to them closed?

Newgreendress · 28/01/2024 17:57

Another thing is, people open the windows directly above themselves, so they don't get to suffer from the draught, leaving it to the people behind, while they themselves enjoy fresh air

Original poster
notknowledgeable · 28/01/2024 17:57

catelynjane · 28/01/2024 17:46

I did. I listed a whole load of medical conditions that can be made worse by the cold, but you told me they weren't genuine😂

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Because they are not - nothing you listed is going to put anyone out of action. Hayfever?? in January? no.

OP posts:
Original poster
notknowledgeable · 28/01/2024 17:55

Whinge · 28/01/2024 17:32

Im not talking about colds, I am talking about being ill. I have been hopitalised twice in the last two months.

I'm sorry to hear you've been unwell. But it seems strange to fixate on the bus windows being closed when you spend your days surrounded by pupils. Despite the distancing and open windows it's much more likely your illnesses are from the school environment.

I am sure some of my illnesses are from school, where everything is done to limit the risk. But some will be from the bus, and the bullies who insist on all windows being closed

OP posts:
Longma · 28/01/2024 17:55

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines. at the request of it's author.

flea101 · 28/01/2024 17:55

Why does your health condition trump others that are made worse by the cold?

Longma · 28/01/2024 17:53

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines. at the request of it's author.

Original poster
notknowledgeable · 28/01/2024 17:52

Catdoorman · 28/01/2024 17:21

I have to catch the bus sometimes, I sit upstairs where there are fewer people, but there's always people coughing and sneezing up there, I sit at the back with one window open for airflow. I'm amazed at people who want to breathe in all those germs. I can't afford to get sick.

Yes, I sit away from people if I could. I get on at the start of the journey though, so I don't know where other people will sit or stand later, and it does get very full sometimes, so there is no getting away from people sitting in every seat and standing too. The back is generally the best bet, although that can sometimes be where the aggressive young men congregate

OP posts:
BassoContinuo · 28/01/2024 17:52

notknowledgeable · 28/01/2024 17:43

Because nobody as offered any equally valid reason for their preference of having the windows closed - they are just saying they are uncomfortable, that is all.

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Cold and wind triggers my asthma. I’d really prefer not to have an asthma attack on a bus.

Disturbia81 · 28/01/2024 17:50

Yeah I don't get this, sometimes ends up feeling as hot as summer, everyone wrapped up in a stuffy bus.
Same with houses
Open a window, get fresh air and wrap up warm.

Original poster
notknowledgeable · 28/01/2024 17:50

Allfur · 28/01/2024 17:16

I use buses alot, and am rarely ill, windows shut or open

I guess you are not immunocompromised then! I never got ill before I was immunocompromised, but would always agree to having the window open for anyone who was - its common sense

OP posts:
catelynjane · 28/01/2024 17:49

notknowledgeable · 28/01/2024 17:48

not educated chinese, Russians or Italians! We are talking about scientific facts, not "culture"

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You seem quite happy to ignore all the science that doesn't suit you, though.

Original poster
notknowledgeable · 28/01/2024 17:49

catelynjane · 28/01/2024 17:13

Why would you want to sit in a soup of other people's germs recirculating?

Comments like this just sound a bit silly to me. If you genuinely think buses are "germ soup", what do you think about other enclosed spaces - offices, shops, restaurants, gyms?

You don't get anywhere near as close to other people in these places, and they are far better ventilated

OP posts: