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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:
Original poster
notknowledgeable · 28/01/2024 15:48

catelynjane · 28/01/2024 15:46

I listed a load of them up-thread.

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Nothing genuine there, nothing that is going to leave students without teachers

OP posts:
Original poster
notknowledgeable · 28/01/2024 15:48

Blueirishrock · 28/01/2024 15:40

This is really unfair on your students.

They are probably relieved when you are off and they get the supply teacher you disparage so much.

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Any supply teacher will also have all windows open, as it is school policy for all staff

OP posts:
catelynjane · 28/01/2024 15:46

notknowledgeable · 28/01/2024 15:44

such as what?

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I listed a load of them up-thread.

Original poster
notknowledgeable · 28/01/2024 15:45

Newgreendress · 28/01/2024 15:24

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

Because it's the inside and people expect it to be warmer than the outside. Why don't you take your coat/jumper off? Being in distraught inside feels worse/colder than being outside.

Edited

how would taking my coat off protect me from pathogens??? It wont

OP posts:
Original poster
notknowledgeable · 28/01/2024 15:44

Stompythedinosaur · 28/01/2024 15:21

It's a communal environment, so you have to negotiate and potentially go with the majority wishes.

Your needs don't trump everyone else's. Others may have equally good health reasons for wanting the window shut.

such as what?

OP posts:
Blueirishrock · 28/01/2024 15:40

notknowledgeable · 28/01/2024 14:32

All the windows are open and I stay more than 2m away.

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This is really unfair on your students.

They are probably relieved when you are off and they get the supply teacher you disparage so much.

DillDanding · 28/01/2024 15:39

You sound like an entitled pita, OP.

You are not more important than anyone else on the bus.

Blueirishrock · 28/01/2024 15:38

Minglemangle007 · 28/01/2024 13:26

But if you open "your " window then the person behind gets to sit in a cold draught, it's the window in front you need to open so you can enjoy the draught.

This.

And some people feel the cold more than others. If you like fresh air and being outside so much, ride a bike.

If I am on a bus it’s to get away from the elements and cold, so close the bloody windows.

CatamaranViper · 28/01/2024 15:34

Because my bus goes down the A1 as fast as its little wheels will carry it which means it's not just a draft but a blast of ice cold/wet air right in my face. I'm not being sat for an hour like that. Even with a coat and a hood, it's horrendous and painful. Bloody torturous at times when it's wet as well.

You're not more important than everyone else because you're a teacher btw.

catelynjane · 28/01/2024 15:29

notknowledgeable · 28/01/2024 15:16

Nobody has a NEED for the windows to be closed on the bus - many people have a need for them to be open

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Really?

What about people with seasonal allergies or hayfever?
People with health/respiratory conditions who struggle to breathe in cold air?
People with arthritis or other joint issues?
People with MS or anaemia or any other number of conditions made worse by cold weather and air?

Newgreendress · 28/01/2024 15:27

Also, opening the window is the waste of heating - which is on for a reason

SeemsSoUnfair · 28/01/2024 15:26

My niece is immunocompromised, and it is a bitch (as she drives to work being on a bus is not an potential cause for her catching viruses). It is not only immunocompromised teachers who have issues, her workplace has been supportive up until now, but after her latest hospitalisation this month they are now asking if her job working with people is really compatible for her health condition. She has no idea what other type of work she can do, or if they can dismiss her for frequent absences (she is registered disabled now for her health condition).

We take precautions if with her, she takes as many sensible precautions she can, but she accepts the world is a big virus laden place and it cannot be sanitised or adjusted, negatively impacting others, just for her.

If you are wearing a proper mask, should block any viruses making the open window redundant?

PaulCostinRIP · 28/01/2024 15:25

Move to another part of the bus if the window was already shut when you sat down.

Your preferences don't tip anyone else's.

Newgreendress · 28/01/2024 15:24

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

Because it's the inside and people expect it to be warmer than the outside. Why don't you take your coat/jumper off? Being in distraught inside feels worse/colder than being outside.

Freshstarts24 · 28/01/2024 15:24

Surely the bus is well ventilated anyway due to the doors opening every couple of minutes all day?

I would never have the nerve to open or shut a window in a public space with other people, not without asking first, which I also wouldn’t do.

Stompythedinosaur · 28/01/2024 15:21

It's a communal environment, so you have to negotiate and potentially go with the majority wishes.

Your needs don't trump everyone else's. Others may have equally good health reasons for wanting the window shut.

Comedycook · 28/01/2024 15:20

TinyYellow · 28/01/2024 15:06

It’s January. Windows should be closed in a moving vehicle, unless the heating is doing its job well. The heating never seems to do it’s job well on busses.

Anything that involves making others uncomfortable for your own benefit is selfish.

But those people sitting in the bus are going to be getting off and walking outside. They will have coats on. They will have been waiting outside at the bus stop. Unless you're a newborn baby or very elderly or it's arctic conditions, being a little bit cold is not the end of the world. I'd rather be a bit chilly on a bus journey than pick up a virus and be unwell for a week.

Original poster
notknowledgeable · 28/01/2024 15:16

catelynjane · 28/01/2024 15:03

Why do your needs and job trump everyone else's, though?

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Nobody has a NEED for the windows to be closed on the bus - many people have a need for them to be open

OP posts:
Original poster
notknowledgeable · 28/01/2024 15:14

TheBeesKnee · 28/01/2024 15:11

It might be time to learn to drive, OP!

I do find it interesting though that you're blaming the bus rather than a room full of children for your illnesses. On balance, it's probably both.

I am not able to drive for medical reasons.

And yes, some of the infections I catch might be from school. But the school does everything it can to protect immunocompromised teachers - all windows open, no crossing crowded corridors, etc. The bus is a far more likely suspect in most cases

OP posts:
TheBeesKnee · 28/01/2024 15:11

It might be time to learn to drive, OP!

I do find it interesting though that you're blaming the bus rather than a room full of children for your illnesses. On balance, it's probably both.

TinyYellow · 28/01/2024 15:06

It’s January. Windows should be closed in a moving vehicle, unless the heating is doing its job well. The heating never seems to do it’s job well on busses.

Anything that involves making others uncomfortable for your own benefit is selfish.

catelynjane · 28/01/2024 15:03

notknowledgeable · 28/01/2024 14:45

If people want teachers in schools, people are going to have to make it possible for the immunocompromised ones to get to schools ( 4 out of the 6 in my department, incidentally)

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Why do your needs and job trump everyone else's, though?

KreedKafer · 28/01/2024 15:03

I don’t think your needs and preferences trump everyone else’s. Most people don’t like to travel with the windows open in January because most people don’t like to be uncomfortably cold. Of course they’re going to shut windows if they’re freezing, or indeed if they would rather not be inhaling traffic fumes. The air on most busy bus routes is far from ‘fresh’ and just as your fellow passengers don’t know that you’re immunocompromised, you don’t know if any of your fellow passengers have health conditions affected by air quality.

Also, from an environmental point of view, opening windows on a heated bus means an awful lot of energy is being wasted.

Longma · 28/01/2024 15:02

This reply has been withdrawn

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

catelynjane · 28/01/2024 14:58

Having the window open doesn't exactly bring in loads of fresh air - it's normally just a load of exhaust fumes.