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AIBU?

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Original poster

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

894 replies

wildgreyocean · 20/12/2025 15:47

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?!

OP posts:
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EasternStandard · 20/12/2025 19:21

XenoBitch · 20/12/2025 19:20

Shouting spreads droplets and germs.
Keep your shouting and health anxiety to yourself and stay the fuck at home.
No one wants to hear someone aggressive shouting in a cafe.

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True

XenoBitch · 20/12/2025 19:20

Grendel7 · 20/12/2025 19:16

Oh,thats sounds disgusting. I would have shouted at you! Take your germs home and stay there.

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Shouting spreads droplets and germs.
Keep your shouting and health anxiety to yourself and stay the fuck at home.
No one wants to hear someone aggressive shouting in a cafe.

Original poster
wildgreyocean · 20/12/2025 19:20

Puffsox · 20/12/2025 19:19

Wear a mask.Official guidance says not really effective but it is reassuring to others! Of course,you have to remove it to drink your coffee,but it is still a lot better than nothing for allaying anxieties.@

Wearing a mask makes my sinus issues worse.

OP posts:
XenoBitch · 20/12/2025 19:19

LevelHed · 20/12/2025 19:15

Well, you don't HAVE to go in to a coffee shop now do you. People are so selfish.

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OK, so anyone with post-nasal drip/asthma/COPD/lung cancer etc, not go to cafes ever so the worried well can be less anxious.
Hospitality is struggling as it is.

Puffsox · 20/12/2025 19:19

Wear a mask.Official guidance says not really effective but it is reassuring to others! Of course,you have to remove it to drink your coffee,but it is still a lot better than nothing for allaying anxieties.@

Original poster
wildgreyocean · 20/12/2025 19:16

LevelHed · 20/12/2025 19:15

Well, you don't HAVE to go in to a coffee shop now do you. People are so selfish.

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So I can never go in a coffee shop again, because I’ve got a sinus issue,

OP posts:
Grendel7 · 20/12/2025 19:16

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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Oh,thats sounds disgusting. I would have shouted at you! Take your germs home and stay there.

LevelHed · 20/12/2025 19:15

wildgreyocean · 20/12/2025 15:54

Exactly this! I get lingering coughs and my nose almost constantly runs so I don’t know what I can do

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Well, you don't HAVE to go in to a coffee shop now do you. People are so selfish.

Mumtobabyhavoc · 20/12/2025 19:14

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

"I imagine you were braying like an old goat-despite trying to present it as a Jane Austen fart into a tissue-for someone to shout at you."

MN is 🔥 today! 😭😂

TamzinGrey · 20/12/2025 19:10

wildgreyocean · 20/12/2025 19:00

Bring your arm up to your mouth. Inside of elbow, meet lips.

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Oh I see what you mean now. I was trying to get my actual elbow up to my mouth, not the inside of my elbow. Still can't make my lips meet the inside of my elbow but that's probably due to being unfit.

Stressedoutmummyof3 · 20/12/2025 19:06

The world doesn't stop because people have colds and coughs. My DD works in childcare (first winter) and has had a cough and cold for at least two months. It's a risk you take in that job because as we all know children aren't super hygienic.
I wouldn't expect her to hide away. If people are so worried about getting a cold (especially in winter) then they should stay home or wear a mask or just get on with it.
I mean DD and everyone she works with could all self isolate but then I expect you'd all be moaning about having no childcare.

inamarina · 20/12/2025 19:06

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

She wasn’t spitting, fgs! 😩
Everyone agreed with him? More likely no one wanted to be shouted at next. Jeez, this thread…

ChubRubADub · 20/12/2025 19:05

TheWillToSurvive · 20/12/2025 18:16

As someone who is clinically vulnerable I would be distressed to hear your cough and would agree that you should be home recovering and protecting others.

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If someone coughing causes you “distress” you’d be better shielding, as people coughing in public has happened every winter for god knows how long. It’s only since Covid that people have claimed to be “clinically vulnerable” and lost their shit over it though

Mumtobabyhavoc · 20/12/2025 19:05

TamzinGrey · 20/12/2025 18:59

"Yes, of course. I covered my mouth with my elbow and was sat at a table alone. I didn’t cough on anyone’s drinks."

Please can you explain how you managed to cover your mouth with your elbow OP. I'm sitting here in contortions trying to do this and my elbow is refusing to go anywhere near my mouth.

🙄

EasternStandard · 20/12/2025 19:03

TamzinGrey · 20/12/2025 18:59

"Yes, of course. I covered my mouth with my elbow and was sat at a table alone. I didn’t cough on anyone’s drinks."

Please can you explain how you managed to cover your mouth with your elbow OP. I'm sitting here in contortions trying to do this and my elbow is refusing to go anywhere near my mouth.

As in pp inside of.. children are taught to do it at school too these days

Devonshiregal · 20/12/2025 19:02

Thechaseison71 · 20/12/2025 17:08

I assume your employer is fine with you sitting watching Netflix if you have a sniffle. Meanwhile others need to work. Get real

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She was in a coffee shop - and stated she couldn’t stay in because she’d ‘go insane’. Nothing to do with needing to work.

Original poster
wildgreyocean · 20/12/2025 19:00

TamzinGrey · 20/12/2025 18:59

"Yes, of course. I covered my mouth with my elbow and was sat at a table alone. I didn’t cough on anyone’s drinks."

Please can you explain how you managed to cover your mouth with your elbow OP. I'm sitting here in contortions trying to do this and my elbow is refusing to go anywhere near my mouth.

Bring your arm up to your mouth. Inside of elbow, meet lips.

OP posts:
XenoBitch · 20/12/2025 19:00

TamzinGrey · 20/12/2025 18:59

"Yes, of course. I covered my mouth with my elbow and was sat at a table alone. I didn’t cough on anyone’s drinks."

Please can you explain how you managed to cover your mouth with your elbow OP. I'm sitting here in contortions trying to do this and my elbow is refusing to go anywhere near my mouth.

The inside of your elbow. It was advice given out during Covid too.

TamzinGrey · 20/12/2025 18:59

"Yes, of course. I covered my mouth with my elbow and was sat at a table alone. I didn’t cough on anyone’s drinks."

Please can you explain how you managed to cover your mouth with your elbow OP. I'm sitting here in contortions trying to do this and my elbow is refusing to go anywhere near my mouth.

worcesterpear · 20/12/2025 18:59

I can't believe some of the replies on here. Most jobs don't give you time off work for a normal cold/a slight cough. So you could be working all day, maybe with the public, but you're not allowed to go to a coffee shop on your break, or if you do you have to get takeaway?

Original poster
wildgreyocean · 20/12/2025 18:58

To be fair the karma has got me, for being such an evil
vile person. I’ve got a bloody blister from the walk down there.

OP posts:
ArtesianWater · 20/12/2025 18:58

It's an overreaction but maybe he is fearful if elderly. It's true that the NHS is on its knees and there's very little help available. Plus a lot of people are still traumatised by Covid. Maybe he feels vulnerable. I would forget about it OP.

inamarina · 20/12/2025 18:57

Calliopespa · 20/12/2025 17:37

Hilarious? The idea of a book, or the thought of an undertaker?

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Probably the idea of staying on the sofa with every mild cold.

starfishmummy · 20/12/2025 18:55

There are lots of reqaqsqons why people cough. Allergies cause me to cough - am i supposed to stay home?

MrsLizzieDarcy · 20/12/2025 18:54

Given how accessible online grocery shopping is, there is little excuse to go into a supermarket if you're unwell with anything that could be contagious. It's just basic human decency. I had to go to Sainsburys late last night as we had a big family lunch today and I gave one aisle a wide berth completely thanks to the woman constantly coughing down there. It was the cheese aisle too, so very bloody annoying.