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.

Anyway, so far this week, all buses I have got on have had all windows open, so common sense is prevailing.

it never takes away the fear and worry though, that there might be trouble on the next bus

"Common sense is prevailing" 😂😭

And what if your bus changes to one without windows that open? Most buses on the routes near me are like that and have been for a long time so not a new thing

I actually completely agree with the PP.

You've uttered every excuse to get around yourself and your role meaning you are entitled to the special treatment.

I wonder if wearing a plaque on your chest and back, in bright yellow bold print - 'VERY IMPORTANT IMMUNOCOMPROMISED HIGHLY SKILLED TEACHER. UNABLE TO WORK WITHOUT WINDOWS OPEN. DO NOT CLOSE WINDOWS OR ILL DIE.'

Will help? Because, clearly, you are the most important person on that bus and therefore, everyone must do as you please.

I don't believe for a second that there's multiple other people on the bus that also require a window to be open, and if so, how uncomfortable that bus must be for others who may have health conditions which could be flared up by the cold.

As another person's noted, being next to the open window will do nothing direct to yourself, only cause a cold draft for those behind you.

Your theory, is a manifestation of your fear. Your fear is regarding being ill and catching illness from the bus, therefore you are creating a negative experience each time you get onto the bus, preempting this battle. You likely live in such fight mode, that does nothing for your health either.

You blame all the other individuals on the bus, but cannot find another reasonable solution?

I'd assume your role does not include a phyiscal subject such as Physical Education.

So, why is it not possible to work from home?
Or, commute by taxis the days you do work?
Why is it not possible to move closer to the school?
Why is it not possible for you to walk?
Are you taking all the relevant precautions since you become so unwell? And in each setting where you are in closed contact?

Such as a high quality masks? Hand sanitisation? Ensuring you are at the front of the bus, therefore each time the door open and shuts you get the direct benefit of the air flow change?

You can happily ask someone to move so you can be closer to the doors. I think that's more justified than upsetting the whole bus, to suit you.

I say that it must be uncomfortable for others on the bus, due to your, I would assume obvious upset each time you are is obvious.

I think you really need to dig deep and try and resolve that hatred and anger you have inside of you. Your focus is on your ego, subconsciously or consciously.

There's a lot of research that notes how stress causes further impact on your health.

I'm sorry, but, there will always be another you.

Your job is replaceable.

Your causing all these issues, yourself.

Your job is not more important than your health.

You are not more important than any body else.

If you're seriously that unwell, you need to think about resolving the issues you are having instead of placing such issues with work.

You are letting people down, because the cycle continues because you refuse to stop it.

You leaving will trigger a need for a replacement, even if you state they've tried.

I also wanted to ask,

I'm assuming you never use trains? Because you can't open the window on most trains.

How do you navigate this situation or do you just never travel by trains or underground?

yes I sometimes use trains, and the local trains all have opening windows. I prefer trains to buses, actually, as generally ours are much less crowded, and much better ventilated - there is no train to my work though

wow! There is an awful lot of questions here! - I will ignore the silly first bit

I don't believe for a second that there's multiple other people on the bus that also require a window to be open, well, there often is, and in the last few days all the windows have been open on every journey.

Your theory, is a manifestation of your fear. Your fear is regarding being ill and catching illness from the bus, therefore you are creating a negative experience each time you get onto the bus, preempting this battle. no, my theory is a manifestation of the specialist medical advice I have been given.

You blame all the other individuals on the bus, but cannot find another reasonable solution? no, I blame the ones who insist on closing all the windows, and will fight and get aggressive if anyone wants one open

I'd assume your role does not include a phyiscal subject such as Physical Education. I don't know why you would assume that

So, why is it not possible to work from home? because I am a teacher
Or, commute by taxis the days you do work? because I can't afford it
Why is it not possible to move closer to the school? because I can't afford it, and even if I could, I do not intend to uproot my family and leave my community
Why is it not possible for you to walk? because its three hours in each direction
Are you taking all the relevant precautions since you become so unwell? And in each setting where you are in closed contact? yes, 100%

You are letting people down, because the cycle continues because you refuse to stop it.* *I am not letting anybody down, all that is required to stop this is me being able to open my window on the bus

You leaving will trigger a need for a replacement, even if you state they've tried.There are no replacements, we have had vacancies for years.

There is nothing wrong with my mental health! I do not have hatred and anger inside me. I am simply an immunocompromised teacher who wants to travel safely to work and to be as safe as I can be I need to open a window on the bus, which is my only way of getting to work currently.

But as I said, so far this week, no aggravation - the window openers are outnumbering the window shutters, and none of the window shutters are getting aggressive about it

Haha OP you are a textbook Narcissistic Personality Disorder trope, one who makes everyone else’s lives more difficult with your constant utter inability to see that other people might have needs that are more important than your ridiculous cognitive dissonance.

You sound frightful. Try getting your fellow passengers to crowd fund a taxi, as I’m sure they’d all be pleased to see the back of you and your passive aggressive victim mentality.

I travel on buses a lot and it's awful in winter when the windows aren't open, all stuffed together in our coats breathing in each others germs. End up feeling hotter than in summer!
Pleased to report this last week all the buses have had windows open and it's been so much better. Everyone wrapped up but getting fresh clean air.

Just read your posts OP, weird how we've both noticed it in the last week. Maybe people are realising

· 28/01/2024 14:34

Alwaysalwayscold · 28/01/2024 14:16
**
I don't think public transport is for you..
well, there is no other way to get to work, and no one else prepared to do my job, so either I travel by bus, or a couple more hundred children don't get taught in a core subject.

How far do you have to travel? Would a mobility scooter be a solution? You may not need one for every day activities but it might solve the transport problem. Some of them are pretty nippy and you can pick up secondhand for a reasonable price.

Thank you for taking the time to make a suggestion. Its just under 10 miles so I think likely out of range. I'll look into it though

I would too. Just a quick google has brought up some that go at 18mph.
my husband can’t walk very far so we’re looking into it too, so we can get out for “walks” together.

😂
how is OP making it more difficult than anyone else? you could say exactly the same thing about the people insisting on closed windows in the middle of a pandemic because they don't like feeling chilly and feel much healthier breathing in all those lovely warm virus laden aerosols.
mumsnet makes me laugh.
or cry.
I'll let you get back to burying your heads in the sand, it's warm down there no doubt.

This is funny! if anyone wants an illustration of how the word "narcissistic" has become a faddy fashionable insult to throw around simply because you disagree with someone, here you are!

I am immunocompromised and need to sit by an open window on the bus, to protect my health and my ability to work.

The poster likes ALL the windows closed, apparently! so has decided that I am "narcissistic"!

I don't have any argument with anyone else who wants their window closed or who wants to sit in a warmer part of the bus or anything, I just object to people forcing MY window closed, and making me have to get off the bus to avoid the risks and the aggravation.

but the poster calls me "narcissistic"

The poster seems to think peppering their post with words like "text book" and "cognitive dissonance (sic)" lends them an air of authority of some sort, rather than underlining their total lack of understanding of what the word "narcissistic" means.

I understand the poster has left the site.

I really hope the post is not deleted. I have screen shot it just in case. it is such a classic example of the current fad for the ignorant misuse of the word "narcissistic" to attempt to gain moral superiority over a person you disagree with, and of the contrariness of a certain type of poster who come onto the internet indulge in subjectless aggressive opposition, and of the frame of mind that creates this type of behaviour.

I have already been approached and asked if I have any objection to my thread being downloaded and used in a sociology lecture - for exactly these reasons. 😂

I hope so! That is one of the reasons why I posted, to draw attention to the problem. But I think also the number of cases of measles in a local school on this bus route has probably sharped up a few passenger's thinking!

well, this is looking more promising than I thought - I have been doing a search - it would need to go 20 miles on one charge, there and back, and on very steep hills and some rough terrain - but it looks like this might actually be possible

You don’t need to sit ‘by’ an open window as you will get a much more robust gust of fresh air by sitting a few seats behind it. Opening the window above you might be pleasant for you but it’s a very different story for those sitting behind and more elevated. Your best bet is to sit right at the back as you’ll feel the air from every angle.

OP: No one has health needs that mean the cold is bad for them. All the windows should be open....
Also OP: Oh no. I'm not a narcissist, I get some people might want to be warm. Just my window open is fine

Hmmm

where did I say all the windows had to be opened? I like it when they are, and as it happens this week, every bus I got on had all windows open. I've never argued and fought to open all windows though, only one.

So wrong. I’m an actual degree-qualified counsellor who absolutely understands what I’m saying, even if you don’t. It’s extremely cathartic to be able to speak freely when faced with such terrible, divisive social skills as yours outside practice. NPD types are on a spectrum and very often are horrified to realise it. You are clearly not one of these, which is a shame as awareness is often transformative to sufferer’s social lives. What happens in your brain when other people complain or make requests? Does it offend you? What kind of person do you imagine causes a previously peaceful group people to react with such irritation that you have to avoid them? Why do you think your contribution to teaching bears the slightest relevance to others’ temperature choices? These are far more relevant questions for a sociology study than the usual self-aggrandising version you’re inventing.

O you are back! welcome back! I thought you had gone because when I tried to tag you in to an answer, I couldn't and received a message to say you were no longer on this site - I will try and tag you here and see if it works @Numberfish

edit - yes! you are fully tagable now!

I'm happy to hear this thread may be analysed in a sociological study. However, I think it is humourous how you think you will come off well.

You have spent the entirety of the post belittling other health conditions that would require the windows closed, ignoring any evidence that contradicts your opinion, claimed you are the only person who could possibly be able to perform your job (therefore I assume you teach some obscure specialist course?) and hypocritically branded others as bullys quickly followed by declaring your willingness to fight anyone who wanted to close a window.

Please feel free to post the recorded lecture here, I think given the state of the country we could all do with a good laugh!

It isn't anything to do with how I "come off" - It is to do with the responses, many of which are abusive, oppositional, irrational, and convoluted in the extreme. Somebody upthread called me "narcissistic" for needing to follow medical advice and protect my health by opening the window by my seat on the bus 😂Other posters have invented complicated, convoluted reasons why me opening one window next to my seat on the bus endangers the lives of others 😂Its a perfect illustration of typical oppositional online behaviour - that is its value to sociology students.

And thank you to all the nice constructive posters. Sorry I didn't thank you all individually - the thread ran away from me a bit and I missed quite a lot of posts. It does seem to have been a peaceful week on my buses and those of colleagues, so who knows!? maybe the message is getting out there a bit.