To offer a stranger a tissue?

[dudsville]

Honestly, I was waiting to see a thread about this as I saw her typing away afterward! I will presume for now she was not a mner or that she just had better things to communicate about.

I take the same train everyday. I sat next to someone I had seen before but we have never exchanged any pleasantries, it's a commuter train on a busy line. She sneezed and proceeded to seem to struggle with lots of sniffing and nose wipes with furtive clothing touches after.

I've thought about this before. If I was ever in that situation I would be very grateful if someone offered me a tissue.

So, I offered her a tissue.

She did not want it. All fine. But of course I sat there neurotically pretending that what had just happened was perfectly normal. It wasn't normal, was it? I crossed a social barrier that says we must ignore others at times like these???

I gave a man a whole packet of tissues when he had a nosebleed on the train. He was very grateful!

You would have to be ridiculously sensitive to turn down a tissue from a stranger when you really need one.

Good morning, thanks all and thanks Ceebs, that is what I meant!

I'm emboldened by this and shall hence forth be offering tissues (yes clean, untouched, straight from the packet) without embarrassment. I must admit, I've had to scroll past the descriptions of some of your experiences. It really is a nauseating experience. That's one of my main reasons for wearing headphones.