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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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XenoBitch · 20/12/2025 17:28

ChattyCatty25 · 20/12/2025 17:23

You asked for people’s opinions, and you’re discovering that not everything thinks it’s reasonable to splutter all over a coffee shop while contagious.

It’s revolting. The man was just brave enough to say what a substantial minority of people were thinking about you.

It takes so little effort to avoid excessively spreading your virus. People have been wearing masks in east Asia for many years.

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The man didn't know why OP was coughing.
A PP upthread said she coughs a lot as she has metastatic lung cancer. Would the man be within his rights to give her both barrels for coughing too?

Original poster
wildgreyocean · 20/12/2025 17:27

EchoedSilence · 20/12/2025 17:26

You have attracted some strange people to your thread 🤣

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It's like they've lost the ability to read.

My favourite one is the one who said my sinus issues are irrelevant and the fact I am coughing means I am contagious. I'll go tell my ENT consultant he was wrong then!

OP posts:
ElsieMc · 20/12/2025 17:27

I am cautious of public coughers since Covid and I am high risk.So I choose to avoid crammed public areas, coffee shops, concerts etc. My choice.

But I went Christmas shopping on a quiet mid week day a few weeks back. An elderly man was with his wife in an aisle I was shopping. He was constantly coughing and blowing his nose then picking up womens pjs for close inspection whilst coughing, sneezing and not covering his mouth. I decided to leave it.

Maybe I am being harsh but the lack of consideration for others was awful.

Megifer · 20/12/2025 17:27

Lostsoultrip · 20/12/2025 17:20

Except they'd have to do that forever whereas people like the op would only need to do it very short term. Nobody is saying the op can't go anywhere but being sensible about where is the right thing to do, particularly at this time of year.

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I dont often get very ill needing to rest, I just feel a bit grim on and off, this can go on for weeks.

Not a single solitary chance am I not going to carry on as completely normal if I feel ok to do so.

EchoedSilence · 20/12/2025 17:26

wildgreyocean · 20/12/2025 17:25

I AM NOT CONTAGIOUS

Read my posts, my god

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You have attracted some strange people to your thread 🤣

SheinIsShite · 20/12/2025 17:26

wildgreyocean · 20/12/2025 17:17

I did cover my mouth properly.

It's 2025. I don't own a mask.

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Nobody owns masks, @wildgreyocean . Ours all went in the bin years ago. We are fully back to 2019 and most other people are too from what I see out and about where a mask is a very rare sight indeed.

The only people who own masks I assume are either medically vulnerable or very anxious. They can wear their own masks until the cows come home. They cannot start pontificating about what others should/could do.

Original poster
wildgreyocean · 20/12/2025 17:26

EchoedSilence · 20/12/2025 17:24

I think the Covid weirdos are loving being able to rant at people again. They must have been over the moon when the 'super flu' made the news.

Seems like it's happened here. Assume that every single cough and sniffle is a bug that will kill everyone

OP posts:
Original poster
wildgreyocean · 20/12/2025 17:25

ChattyCatty25 · 20/12/2025 17:23

You asked for people’s opinions, and you’re discovering that not everything thinks it’s reasonable to splutter all over a coffee shop while contagious.

It’s revolting. The man was just brave enough to say what a substantial minority of people were thinking about you.

It takes so little effort to avoid excessively spreading your virus. People have been wearing masks in east Asia for many years.

Show quote history

I AM NOT CONTAGIOUS

Read my posts, my god

OP posts:
Whyhaveibeencutoutofmamsnot · 20/12/2025 17:25

Lostsoultrip · 20/12/2025 17:20

Except they'd have to do that forever whereas people like the op would only need to do it very short term. Nobody is saying the op can't go anywhere but being sensible about where is the right thing to do, particularly at this time of year.

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I am not fussed about "this time of year" - in fact good time of year for children to get their illnesses as they are not at school and people are off work.

I have had a post cold cough for a week or two can be fine for hours then go into a shop or cafe and the change in air can trigger a coughing fit.

EchoedSilence · 20/12/2025 17:24

I think the Covid weirdos are loving being able to rant at people again. They must have been over the moon when the 'super flu' made the news.

ChubRubADub · 20/12/2025 17:24

ChattyCatty25 · 20/12/2025 17:23

You asked for people’s opinions, and you’re discovering that not everything thinks it’s reasonable to splutter all over a coffee shop while contagious.

It’s revolting. The man was just brave enough to say what a substantial minority of people were thinking about you.

It takes so little effort to avoid excessively spreading your virus. People have been wearing masks in east Asia for many years.

Show quote history

Remind me where in the world Covid started again?

ChattyCatty25 · 20/12/2025 17:23

wildgreyocean · 20/12/2025 17:17

I did cover my mouth properly.

It's 2025. I don't own a mask.

Show quote history

You asked for people’s opinions, and you’re discovering that not everything thinks it’s reasonable to splutter all over a coffee shop while contagious.

It’s revolting. The man was just brave enough to say what a substantial minority of people were thinking about you.

It takes so little effort to avoid excessively spreading your virus. People have been wearing masks in east Asia for many years.

Lostsoultrip · 20/12/2025 17:23

wildgreyocean · 20/12/2025 17:21

Presumably because all these 'vulnerable' people realised how miserable it is and decided they couldn't be bothered

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Just like most people decided they couldn't be bothered to ever think of others.

333FionaG · 20/12/2025 17:22

I had the misfortune of travelling back to the UK on the Eurostar, sitting next to a man who coughed for the entire journey - and not once did he cover his mouth. Shortly after getting home, I developed a full blown chest infection and was really unwell for almost 2 weeks. A co-incidence? Maybe.

FlyingApple · 20/12/2025 17:22

I see that the covid mentality seems to have stuck around.

Original poster
wildgreyocean · 20/12/2025 17:21

XenoBitch · 20/12/2025 17:20

That was the advice for Covid. If you are vulnerable then stay home. Not sure why it is the other way around now.

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Presumably because all these 'vulnerable' people realised how miserable it is and decided they couldn't be bothered

OP posts:
ChubRubADub · 20/12/2025 17:21

IridiumSky · 20/12/2025 17:06

You ‘covered your mouth with your elbow.’?

that’s absolutely fine then, so long as you then screwed up your elbow and put it in the bin.

do you not remember that was what we were told to do during Covid? Presumably as people weren’t then going round touching things with their elbows 🙄

XenoBitch · 20/12/2025 17:20

Sesma · 20/12/2025 17:18

All these vulnerable people should be at home if they are worried about the viral load, not in a cafe.

That was the advice for Covid. If you are vulnerable then stay home. Not sure why it is the other way around now.

Lostsoultrip · 20/12/2025 17:20

Sesma · 20/12/2025 17:18

All these vulnerable people should be at home if they are worried about the viral load, not in a cafe.

Except they'd have to do that forever whereas people like the op would only need to do it very short term. Nobody is saying the op can't go anywhere but being sensible about where is the right thing to do, particularly at this time of year.

Sesma · 20/12/2025 17:19

I think a lot of the Covid curtain twitchers have re emerged

Calliopespa · 20/12/2025 17:18

Spidey66 · 20/12/2025 16:08

Oh good Lord! I've had a very mild cold all week. Tickly cough, mild sinus congestion. I've not stayed home. I've gone to work, gone shopping, met a friend for lunch and walked the dog. Aside from anything else, a bit of fresh air and exercise helps.

You didn't finish your final sentence, which needs "me" on the end of it.

ETA I'm not suggesting you need to stay home but at least own that it is a bit selfish. I mean lots of things are. But when op says she "go insane" staying in, what she really means is it is an inconvenience. Which it is. But call it what it is.

Sesma · 20/12/2025 17:18

All these vulnerable people should be at home if they are worried about the viral load, not in a cafe.

Megifer · 20/12/2025 17:18

tirednessreigns · 20/12/2025 17:04

I think you’re getting a really bad rap on here OP. People who are that worried about colds at this time of year should be avoiding a coffee shop etc. The fact you’ve said that you’ve got a little cough doesn’t mean you have to bunker down for the remainder of the year!

Tbf op isnt getting a bad rap at all, its the tiniest minority who believe op should isolate for weeks over a slight cough 🙄

Original poster
wildgreyocean · 20/12/2025 17:17

ChattyCatty25 · 20/12/2025 17:17

Then you didn’t cover your mouth properly. There is absolutely nothing to stop you masking.

Your sinus issue is irrelevant, the evolutionary purpose of post viral coughs runny noses and sneezes is to spread the virus. Your sinus issue means you’re more vulnerable and find it harder to fight off respiratory infections. So you’ll shed the virus for longer.

I didn’t say you should stay inside, I said you should WEAR A MASK when contagious. Stop being selfish, it’s not hard.

Show quote history

I did cover my mouth properly.

It's 2025. I don't own a mask.

OP posts:
SheinIsShite · 20/12/2025 17:17

EchoedSilence · 20/12/2025 16:53

Bloody hell it's like covid all over again. Coughs can linger for weeks. The country would grind to a halt if we all stayed at home for weeks with a cough.

Absolutely.

You should stay at home and watch Netflix, irrespective of your and your family's circumstances. Only leave the house for approved MN reasons which are basically if you have used up all the food in the house, or if someone's leg is hanging off. No "non-essentials" allowed.

FFS. I thought all the people who populated the threads in 2020 with phrases like "covidiot" and talked about murdering grannies with trips to supermarkets to buy non-essentials had realised the error of their ways and reconsidered. Obviously not.