Page 16 | 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?!

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 20/12/2025 21:05

XenoBitch · 20/12/2025 21:04

She has a post nasal drip. That is not being sick.

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I’ve had a cold all week but nothing too severe. I coughed…

You can’t coop yourself up in your house every time you get a cold. I would be going insane.

I feel a lot better but know that when I’ve had a bug the cough can linger on my chest for weeks after.

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 20/12/2025 21:04

wildgreyocean · 20/12/2025 21:02

I asked if I was BU to think the man overreacted.

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Yes, you are BU

XenoBitch · 20/12/2025 21:04

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 20/12/2025 21:03

Well OP admitted she’s been sick for a week and was still sick so it’s kind of silly to say he’s just unilaterally assumed she was sick. She was sick and probably was visibly looking ill and sick. The man was correct in his observation that OP is sick.

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She has a post nasal drip. That is not being sick.

XenoBitch · 20/12/2025 21:03

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 20/12/2025 21:01

It’s not like I started the thread asking AIBU. OP asked if she was BU.
Yes she was imho.
There is as much point voting YABU as there is YANBU.

If you think there is no point, then why are you even on the thread?

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OP asked if the man shouting at her was being unreasonable, not if her being out with a cough was.

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 20/12/2025 21:03

LighthouseLED · 20/12/2025 21:01

He’s unilaterally decided she’s sick rather than coughing for any other reason.

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Well OP admitted she’s been sick for a week and was still sick so it’s kind of silly to say he’s just unilaterally assumed she was sick. She was sick and probably was visibly looking ill and sick. The man was correct in his observation that OP is sick.

Original poster

wildgreyocean · 20/12/2025 21:03

StandingSideBySide · 20/12/2025 21:02

OP didn't mention the guy going anywhere near her
Or standing up and approaching her
definitely not spitting all over her

Why is this storey changing all the time

OP had a cold all week,
works for the nhs,
went to work all week,
doesnt own a mask or wore one , now has a sinus issue re nasal drip, she had a tickle in the throat and she coughed into her arm whilst in a coffee shop today.
A guy in the coffee shop shouted at her

That's all we know apart from the early posts stating she wasn’t contagious as her family hadn’t become ill

For me it’s more about her going to work for the nhs all week whilst not wearing a mask. Or, more so, for the nhs possibly sacking her for not working whilst she’s ill. !!!!
That’s the shocker really

(although neither of the later were OPs question)

Edited

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My story hasn't changed.

OP posts:

Original poster

wildgreyocean · 20/12/2025 21:02

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 20/12/2025 21:01

It’s not like I started the thread asking AIBU. OP asked if she was BU.
Yes she was imho.
There is as much point voting YABU as there is YANBU.

If you think there is no point, then why are you even on the thread?

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I asked if I was BU to think the man overreacted.

OP posts:

StandingSideBySide · 20/12/2025 21:02

XenoBitch · 20/12/2025 17:49

But shouting and spitting all over a woman sitting alone is fine?

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OP didn't mention the guy going anywhere near her
Or standing up and approaching her
definitely not spitting all over her

Why is this storey changing all the time

OP had a cold all week,
works for the nhs,
went to work all week,
doesnt own a mask or wore one , now has a sinus issue re nasal drip, she had a tickle in the throat and she coughed into her arm whilst in a coffee shop today.
A guy in the coffee shop shouted at her

That's all we know apart from the early posts stating she wasn’t contagious as her family hadn’t become ill

For me it’s more about her going to work for the nhs all week whilst not wearing a mask. Or, more so, for the nhs possibly sacking her for not working whilst she’s ill. !!!!
That’s the shocker really

(although neither of the later were OPs question)

Original poster

wildgreyocean · 20/12/2025 21:01

XenoBitch · 20/12/2025 21:00

Where is the NHS announcement? From the actual NHS... not social media.

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There isn't one. She's posted two articles about Noroviruis ffs!

OP posts:

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 20/12/2025 21:01

ChubRubADub · 20/12/2025 20:56

Of course not. But again you can’t do anything about it, no matter how objectionable you find it, so no point moaning is there.

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It’s not like I started the thread asking AIBU. OP asked if she was BU.
Yes she was imho.
There is as much point voting YABU as there is YANBU.

If you think there is no point, then why are you even on the thread?

LighthouseLED · 20/12/2025 21:01

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 20/12/2025 20:59

He didn’t decide, it’s all over the public announcements in the news that the NHS wants sick people with cold symptoms to stay home.

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He’s unilaterally decided she’s sick rather than coughing for any other reason.

XenoBitch · 20/12/2025 21:00

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 20/12/2025 20:59

He didn’t decide, it’s all over the public announcements in the news that the NHS wants sick people with cold symptoms to stay home.

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Where is the NHS announcement? From the actual NHS... not social media.

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 20/12/2025 20:59

Binus · 20/12/2025 20:58

The adjective free description of the man's behaviour is bad enough in itself. Man shouts at woman because he's unilaterally decided she shouldn't be out in public.

He didn’t decide, it’s all over the public announcements in the news that the NHS wants sick people with cold symptoms to stay home.

XenoBitch · 20/12/2025 20:59

Binus · 20/12/2025 20:58

The adjective free description of the man's behaviour is bad enough in itself. Man shouts at woman because he's unilaterally decided she shouldn't be out in public.

That is what really bothers me about this thread. It is ok for man to shout at a lone woman.

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 20/12/2025 20:58

Sesma · 20/12/2025 20:45

There will be loads of people out with viruses that are not showing yet, they are generally the most contagious and you don't know.

Depends on the virus, chicken pox, yes, a cold/flu no asymptomatic are less contagious than those coughing and sneezing because those viruses are transmitted by airborne droplets from coughing and sneezing. It’s why masks are recommended for a symptomatic person to wear- to prevent them spreading it from their mouths and noses into the air others breathe.

XenoBitch · 20/12/2025 20:58

tinytemper66 · 20/12/2025 20:57

My hiatus hernia often gives me burps and coughs.

Well, according to many on here you need to stay at home.

Binus · 20/12/2025 20:58

The adjective free description of the man's behaviour is bad enough in itself. Man shouts at woman because he's unilaterally decided she shouldn't be out in public.

tinytemper66 · 20/12/2025 20:57

My hiatus hernia often gives me burps and coughs.

ChubRubADub · 20/12/2025 20:56

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 20/12/2025 20:50

No law against having an opinion that it is selfish and antisocial behaviour.

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Of course not. But again you can’t do anything about it, no matter how objectionable you find it, so no point moaning is there.

XenoBitch · 20/12/2025 20:55

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 20/12/2025 20:54

Thank you for not taking the time to click on or even read any of the links you seemed so anxious to receive,

If you had you would have seen that the articles are quoting the UKHSA and NHS bosses, including the chief of NHS London.

It is NHS guidance.

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Then post a link from the NHS

XenoBitch · 20/12/2025 20:55

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 20/12/2025 20:52

I never said you edited a post. I said that saying “aggressive man shouting at a lone women” was hyperbole. You then responded what is hyperbolic about saying a man shouted at her? You deleted the bits that made your initial statement hyperbolic.,

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I did not delete anything. When I edit, I add to it, or change cringy typos. Deleting and changing the context is against MN talk guidelines.

Me saying a man shouting at a woman for coughing is not acceptable is not hyperbolic at all. I can't believe there are that many people on here thinking it is acceptable TBH.

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 20/12/2025 20:54

XenoBitch · 20/12/2025 20:51

Thank you for taking the time but red top papers are not authorities on health matters,

Post actual guidance from the NHS.

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Thank you for not taking the time to click on or even read any of the links you seemed so anxious to receive,

If you had you would have seen that the articles are quoting the UKHSA and NHS bosses, including the chief of NHS London.

It is NHS guidance.

henlake7 · 20/12/2025 20:54

I hate people coughing near me. Logically I know that your more likely to be infectious at the start of an illness, when you might be asymptomatic. Also coughs linger so a cough doesn't necessarily mean they are contagious.
Coughs just sound like germs, don't they!?😂

Original poster

wildgreyocean · 20/12/2025 20:53

SugarandSpiceandAllThingsNaice · 20/12/2025 20:49

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/health/nhs-gp-urges-people-stop-36434520
today

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/london-nhs-chief-says-stay-161845440.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly9kdWNrZHVja2dvLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAAl5XwzPvuFSAK3uXXOaaD7YLruhcBGf8BaZmE5k-5PWQlblmWiAHq9K6vSOKTP35kbQRryNc2OTVTQR3EZbaJcXIMnWI8q7uO3_xevhdA0GmJ2Pdnl0PfNLD4lfmhYBINMeDMYABarH3G54ZFMUUq9Ytgn8XXCzyhxJoI_oPLD6
11 days ago

https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/2147768/brits-stay-home-grim-virus
3 days ago

https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/25701088.nhs-sussex-issues-flu-advice-tells-people-recover-home/
4 days ago

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/health/other/nhs-tells-public-cover-mouth-and-stay-home-as-h3n2-flu-strain-spreads/ar-AA1RWSNK
12 days ago

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/health/other/wear-a-mask-on-tube-if-youre-sick-nhs-warns-amid-rampant-superflu/ar-AA1RZHxQ
11 days ago

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/health/other/ukhsa-says-stop-and-wear-a-mask-in-flu-warning/ar-AA1Sd26I
9 days ago

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/health/other/anyone-with-3-key-symptoms-told-to-stay-home-as-warning-issued-over-unpleasant-virus/ar-AA1SGZiw
yesterday

https://www.msn.com/en-ph/news/other/half-of-nhs-hospitals-are-battling-their-worst-ever-flu-outbreak/ar-AA1Skv8D
6 days ago

and many more

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First - one random "TV medic"

Second - London medic says to not use the tube if you have the flu. Duh.

Third - about Norovirus.

Fourth - NHS Sussex says if you catch the flu you don't have to go to A&E and you can recover at home.

Fifth - 'cover mouth' (as I did)

Sixth - wear a mask if sick. I am not sick.

Seventh - about Norovirus. Again.

Eight - clickbait nonsense to try and stop the strikes.

Nice try though!

OP posts:

shuggles · 20/12/2025 20:53

muggart · 20/12/2025 19:28

it’s not about panicking, it’s about showing common courtesy to your fellow humans.

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Coughs and colds are managed by general "catch it, bin it, kill it" advice, along with regular hand-washing.

Again, isolation has never been a requirement with the common cold, and the expectation would be that people carry on as normal and go to work with a cold.