To open my window on the bus

[notknowledgeable]

It seems to be a mission for some people to fight to have all the windows on the bus closed, for all of every journey? Why? Before covid this wasn't an issue - now it seems people have a point to make.

I get there can be a chilly draught, but just put your coat on, or put your hood up?

I am immunocompromised, and wear a mask and open the window on my way to and from work. Every single time I get ill, ( currently a couple of times a month) my classes are left with non specialist agency staff. I take all the precautions I reasonably can to keep from catching anything, but this constant battle on the bus every working day is really wearing my down.

But that’s exactly what we’re saying. No one’s needs should automatically trump someone else’s.

What we’re saying is that everyone should at least consider the well being of others around you on public transport, and there’s no single right or wrong answer to whether the windows should be open or shut.

It’s the OP who’s insisting she has some divine right that trumps EVERYONE else in ALL circumstances.

I am also immunocompromised OP, so you have my sympathies there, but I Dont think our needs trump any one elses. I would also rather be cold than warm, so again I do appreciate where your coming from. But there are other valid medical conditions that need to avoid wi dows being open - asthma for example, a chill in the air can bring on an attack, pollen & even pollution can also bring on an asthma attack.

I have trigeminal neuralgia and having a draft on my face is agonising. I can't work with a flare up and it can last for months. It's horrific and I'm not sure I can cope with another episode. However if you explained you needed the window open I would try and compromise by moving seats or holding something over my face because I realise I'm not the only person in the world that is unwell.
I can't believe how dismissive you are of other people's health issues but expect everyone to be so considerate of yours.

@Januarydayssss
Does she actually lean over everybody to do this? 😲

I'd suggest moving nearer to the school you teach at, so you don't have to deal with public transport.

Whilst there maybe a very small minority of people who have medical conditions which means they can't take the cold...I'd say the vast majority of people on buses who are closing windows just want to be warm for comfort. I honestly don't understand why. All those people crowded together, windows covered in condensation, warm environments.... absolutely disgusting

It doesn't cool the air in an even fashion though. The person behind the window suffers from a blast of cold air, which is unpleasant. I think if opening the window just dropped the temperature evenly for everyone, there wouldn't be such opposition. As it is, it tends to be rather uncomfortable for anyone in the firing line of the draught.

Personally I'm happy with the draught in my face ... better than warm germ filled air

She has Raynaud's. She very well could end up being off sick because of the window being open. And even if by chance she didn't end up being off sick, she should just sit crying in absolute agony all day, unable to write or learn because of the pain, because you are so much more important than her? Talk about self centered and self absorbed!

And no, don't try and invent some convoluted scenario in which someone is going to have their life put at risk by the windows being open.
Several people have given non-convoluted, real-life scenarios that could put their lives at risk. Are you calling them all liars?

If I sound angry, it is because I am angry. How did we end up with such a self centred, self absorbed selfish population?
I'm afraid you could look in the mirror and answer that one perhaps. Why are other people being selfish, but you aren't?

I see so many other people over ruled and bullied when they are just trying to get to their place of work safely.
So you will become the bully because you are right and they are wrong?

Don't be daft. I have arthritis myself. None of those things are going to mean you are incapacitated by sitting on a bus with a window open 😂
YOU don't be daft. You are lucky your arthritis isn't affected by the cold. I have arthritis and I can go out in the cold and because I'm moving and my joints are warm, I'm okay, but if I sit still for a while somewhere cold I literally seize up. No it won't hospitalise me, luckily, but it will incapacitate me and I could easily fall and smash my face in. Which would.

I totally understand why you want the window open, but you are incredibly narrow minded to think because you are a teacher your needs somehow trump others. You could get a better mask that help eliminate more germs. As others have said, you are more likely to pick up any germs from school rather than the bus.

I am immune comprised and also have a severe respiratory condition.

I have been advise by many health professionals to stay as warm as possible during the winter months and limit cold air / drafts. I am susceptible to chest infections which leave me hospitalised and hooked up to machines.

Asthma and lung UK even state cold air can make things worse!

It's like a game of bingo
covid ✔️
public transport ✔️
teacher ✔️
goady inflammatory posts ✔️
I think we can call house

Lucky you. Others don't feel the same.

Unless they’re wearing a full face covering they are going to get blasted with cold air right in the face. If you sit at a higher level than the open window or sit behind it you get the full force. The person sitting under the window just gets some nice air.

Depends how many people are on the bus. I don't think there's enough air circulating on a packed full London bus without a couple of windows open.

Typical MN
"AIBU?"
"Yes"
"No. I'm not. Everyone else is. I'm very important don't you know? And everyone else is inconsiderate"
"It would make me quite ill..."
"Nope. No one else gets ill like me"

I agree there should always be a window open on the bus. My only issue with it is that the layout of buses and basic fluid dynamics is that the person sitting by the open window usually doesn't get much of a draught, it's the person several rows behind who gets the full blast. So if you want a window open you should open one in front of you so that you are the one sitting in the breeze.

On a side note I used to sit at the back of the bus whenever possible (cool kid right) and the wind usually seemed to bounce of the back so that it felt like the wind was coming in from the back even though there were no windows there. It always used to amuse me when someone would shout back to me to "close that fucking window it's fucking freezing in here" when actually the ONLY window open on the bus was the one in front of them.

bullies who insist on all windows being closed
what about the bullies who insist on them being open?
how are they different?

Maybe all this stuff is better negotiated in a real life situation rather than on here. In face-to-face interactions, people can better understand each other's needs and concerns.

Depends on whether the OP is as pleasant in real life as on here. I can imagine many refusals if so! 😬

This is the most sensible post on here!

This is a completely bonkers post! I am not letting anyone down by continuing to do my job as often as I physically can.

And yes, there are nurses on the bus! ( and they want their windows open, knowing what they do about the infectious diseases currently circulating, Covid, measles, whooping cough.....)

And yes, there are cancer patients on the bus! And they want their windows open too - obviously - in fact on a couple of occasions I have had to get off, a cancer patient on their way to chemo has got off with me, because travelling with the windows closed could be life or death for her.