Page 14 | Just got shouted at in a coffee shop for coughing in public 🥴

wildgreyocean · 2025-12-20T15:47:30+00:00

I know I’m not being unreasonable here but I just need some reassurance! I was in a coffee shop after popping to the shops and got a tickle in my throat. I’ve had a cold all week but nothing too severe. I coughed and next thing I know an old man is shouting at me that I’m being selfish and should be self isolating at home, and “don’t I know the NHS is on its knees?!” AIBU to think this is a total overreaction to a cough?!

XenoBitch · 20/12/2025 21:26

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 20/12/2025 21:25

One symptom of a respiratory illness is a cough. OP knew for a fact she had a respiratory illness for a week and was not yet fully recovered.

There is no point defending her behaviour with what ifs that never happened.

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And one symptom of being an utter cunt is shouting at lone women in public.
Where are the NHS guidelines to get this man self isolating?

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 20/12/2025 21:26

XenoBitch · 20/12/2025 21:24

NHS guidance says you can go out if you feel well enough.
My nasty colds have been body aches and headaches. Maybe a bit ot snot.

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It also says to wear a mask, only go out if you need to and avoid exposing others. If OP had to have her special coffee, why couldn’t she have had it to take away??? She deliberately maximised exposure to others.

XenoBitch · 20/12/2025 21:26

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 20/12/2025 21:25

One symptom of a respiratory illness is a cough. OP knew for a fact she had a respiratory illness for a week and was not yet fully recovered.

There is no point defending her behaviour with what ifs that never happened.

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She has a post nasal drip.

Original poster

wildgreyocean · 20/12/2025 21:25

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 20/12/2025 21:22

Or unilaterally decided that they should go to the back of the queue.

Yes the shouting was not on, but OP’s attitude of I have had a cold all week but instead of getting a coffee to take away, I’ll just sit in the cafe drinking it and coughing. She even said that if my cold is actually Covid, it wouldn't make a difference to her. She would have done it anyway.

Selfish and entitled.

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That's not actually what I said.

I said "what difference does it make"

Because I am at the tail end of it, and it doesn't change what has gone before.

OP posts:

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 20/12/2025 21:25

XenoBitch · 20/12/2025 21:18

What guidelines?
There is nothing about coughing.

A cough can be anything.

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One symptom of a respiratory illness is a cough. OP knew for a fact she had a respiratory illness for a week and was not yet fully recovered.

There is no point defending her behaviour with what ifs that never happened.

XenoBitch · 20/12/2025 21:24

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 20/12/2025 21:22

Or unilaterally decided that they should go to the back of the queue.

Yes the shouting was not on, but OP’s attitude of I have had a cold all week but instead of getting a coffee to take away, I’ll just sit in the cafe drinking it and coughing. She even said that if my cold is actually Covid, it wouldn't make a difference to her. She would have done it anyway.

Selfish and entitled.

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NHS guidance says you can go out if you feel well enough.
My nasty colds have been body aches and headaches. Maybe a bit ot snot.

rocky horror GIF by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 20/12/2025 21:22

Binus · 20/12/2025 21:19

Like not shouting at people because you've unilaterally decided they shouldn't be out in public.

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Or unilaterally decided that they should go to the back of the queue.

Yes the shouting was not on, but OP’s attitude of I have had a cold all week but instead of getting a coffee to take away, I’ll just sit in the cafe drinking it and coughing. She even said that if my cold is actually Covid, it wouldn't make a difference to her. She would have done it anyway.

Selfish and entitled.

NorthenAdventure · 20/12/2025 21:22

wildgreyocean · 20/12/2025 15:53

It’s definitely not a nice cough but also, is a cough ever nice? It sounds a lot chestier than it is because thanks to ongoing sinus issues I get post nasal drip from even the most minor of hay fever.

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I had a cough like that for about a month ago couple of years ago. Of course I didn't stay at home. The man was mad.

Oldtigernidster · 20/12/2025 21:21

Some people do believe the NHS is on its knees. We hear it all the time. Just ignore him.

BFhelp2024 · 20/12/2025 21:21

The comments on this thread are absolutely insane. OP has a cold not the bubonic plague!

Megifer · 20/12/2025 21:21

StandingSideBySide · 20/12/2025 21:19

A cold is a respiratory illness
The nhs advice the pp linked is for those with respiratory illnesses

So it is relevant to you

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It is not relevant as op felt well enough to carry our her normal activities.

StandingSideBySide · 20/12/2025 21:19

wildgreyocean · 20/12/2025 21:15

neither of these are the NHS saying people with a COMMON COLD should stay at home.

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A cold is a respiratory illness
The nhs advice the pp linked is for those with respiratory illnesses

So it is relevant to you

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 20/12/2025 21:19

wildgreyocean · 20/12/2025 21:17

Please point me to the NHS webpage that says if you have a common cold you should be isolating at home.

Hint, there isn’t one. Because it’s not 2020. As much as you want it to be.

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They have listed it as “respiratory illnesses” because that is the umbrella term which includes a common cold, the flu, Covid, pneumonia, whooping cough, etc.

It would be the height of inefficiency to publish separate announcements for each respiratory illness. Especially since you can’t tell which one you have without a blood test because the symptoms are the same.

Binus · 20/12/2025 21:19

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 20/12/2025 21:17

I did not say they were mandatory. Lots of things are not mandatory but still socially expected. Like standing in a queue.

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Like not shouting at people because you've unilaterally decided they shouldn't be out in public.

XenoBitch · 20/12/2025 21:18

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 20/12/2025 21:14

He wasn’t right to shout full stop. But OP shouldn’t have been there in the first place. If you go out coughing, then you risk upsetting people who rightly think OP should be following the guidelines.

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What guidelines?
There is nothing about coughing.

A cough can be anything.

EasternStandard · 20/12/2025 21:17

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 20/12/2025 21:16

Ffs, you know that a common cold IS a respiratory illness?

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People don’t have to stay at home for a cold.

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 20/12/2025 21:17

EasternStandard · 20/12/2025 21:16

There’s no mandatory guidelines. It’s really not 2020 anymore.

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I did not say they were mandatory. Lots of things are not mandatory but still socially expected. Like standing in a queue.

Original poster

wildgreyocean · 20/12/2025 21:17

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 20/12/2025 21:16

Ffs, you know that a common cold IS a respiratory illness?

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Please point me to the NHS webpage that says if you have a common cold you should be isolating at home.

Hint, there isn’t one. Because it’s not 2020. As much as you want it to be.

OP posts:

Megifer · 20/12/2025 21:17

wildgreyocean · 20/12/2025 21:15

neither of these are the NHS saying people with a COMMON COLD should stay at home.

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Ive got second hand cringe from all the "here is the link that proves my point"....and the link goes on to indeed disprove their point 😭💀

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 20/12/2025 21:16

wildgreyocean · 20/12/2025 21:15

neither of these are the NHS saying people with a COMMON COLD should stay at home.

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Ffs, you know that a common cold IS a respiratory illness?

EasternStandard · 20/12/2025 21:16

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 20/12/2025 21:14

He wasn’t right to shout full stop. But OP shouldn’t have been there in the first place. If you go out coughing, then you risk upsetting people who rightly think OP should be following the guidelines.

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There’s no mandatory guidelines. It’s really not 2020 anymore.

Megifer · 20/12/2025 21:15

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 20/12/2025 21:12

Here is the UKHSA
https://ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2025/12/02/how-to-avoid-catching-flu-covid-19-and-other-respiratory-illnesses-this-winter/

“If you need to go out, then avoid close contact with anyone who you know is at higher risk of becoming seriously unwell.”

and
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/people-with-symptoms-of-a-respiratory-infection-including-covid-19

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"If you are feeling unwell, stay at home "

Op wasn't feeling unwell.

Original poster

wildgreyocean · 20/12/2025 21:15

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 20/12/2025 21:12

Here is the UKHSA
https://ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2025/12/02/how-to-avoid-catching-flu-covid-19-and-other-respiratory-illnesses-this-winter/

“If you need to go out, then avoid close contact with anyone who you know is at higher risk of becoming seriously unwell.”

and
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/people-with-symptoms-of-a-respiratory-infection-including-covid-19

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neither of these are the NHS saying people with a COMMON COLD should stay at home.

OP posts:

PurpleGirl59 · 20/12/2025 21:15

It sounds very upsetting, but IMHO you did nothing wrong.

Sadly, people dying or being hurt from COVID could have affected this older gentleman's friends/spouse/family so his perceptions are on high alert. It's only 5 years since we were in the middle of the pandemic.

Try not to take his outburst too personally, even though it wasn't fair to take his fears out on you.

I hope you're feeling fully fit now.

Orwellwasright2020 · 20/12/2025 21:15

XenoBitch · 20/12/2025 21:12

But if he was not, was he still right to shout at her? Not a passive aggressive eyeroll, but actual shouting at a lone woman?
I bet he would never have shouted at a man.

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100% percent guaranteed, he would not have shouted at a man.