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.

I think you are putting yourself before everyone else. A close relative of mine has a compromised immune system. She was told not to get public transport to work.
If you can’t drive, cycle or walk maybe you should look for a different job. If you leave your job they can get a new full time teacher.
I think most of your illnesses come from school.

OP doesn't want to admit that she is an entitled twat.

Also recent evidence shows that being cold makes you more likely to be susceptible to getting ill.
www.healthline.com/health-news/scientists-finally-figure-out-why-youre-more-likely-to-get-sick-in-cold-weather#:~:text=New%20research%20has%20found%20that,colds%20and%20flu%20during%20winter.

I hope to God that OP, who is clearly unable to listen to others views, isn't teaching any of my kids. She seems like she might be a flat earther....

I am sorry you have been so ill, OP.

You do seem determined to argue with everyone that your way is the only right way of behaving. Not everyone agrees with you, which is bound to happen in any group environment, particularly a public space like a bus. Your job makes you no more or less important than anyone else, so I do find that constant argument slightly grating. The school's inability to arrange adequate cover (which I have no doubt is a funding issue if you work in a public school) for you when you are off ill is not anyone else's fault.

If you feel that getting to and from working is the reason you are significantly ill twice a month, then it is time to search for alternatives. You say other transport is not an option, so it seems like you either put up with the bus or find a new job. Could you look into online TEFL teaching or being a specialist tutor?

It's funny seeing the comments freaking out about germs on the bus. When my ex was a bus driver and working late. Before the bus went back to the garage we should shag on the back of it. I think the seats are more grim than the air on it 😂.

OP if you have needs for reasonable adjustments why have you not asked for an access to work assessment ?
that could include assistance with transport costs which would allow you to use taxis to and from work
if your illness/ disability is as severe as you suggest you should request an assessment

If they could get another teacher, I would leave, but they can't. No applications AT ALL, and the job has been advertised several times

@notknowledgeable as someone who's life has been changed completely by illness and has to make decisions daily based on how much something may or may not make me ill I symapthis with you. However many of your comments have annoyed me and I can see from other posters you've annoyed them too and shown that your user name is perhaps very apt.

While being a teacher is a worthwhile career it's just that, there are many more as important or even more important career paths so having an illness and being a teacher makes you no more important than anyone else and that's a fact!

Getting too cold can make two of my illnesses flare up, resulting in either a very painful stint off work and at home in bed or in hospital.

People CAN suffer hay-fever in Winter, as an all knowing teacher I'm surprised you don't know this! It's usually caused by tree pollen.

Our old people often have nothing, no food, no heating and no company. Their free bus pass is sometimes their only way to stay warm and interact with other human beings.

Again I symapthise with anyone that is ill but please lose your sense of entitlement and that you're the only profession that counts and the only person who's symptoms count, if you're using public transport then you have to give an take. Have you applied for PIP? That could maybe help with private transport costs

Your sense of entitlement is astonishing.

Children can get ill from sitting for a prolonged amount of time in a cold environment and those with SEN or health conditions of their own can be even more affected.

I have a condition called Trigeminal Neuralgia. This is called the suicide disease as the pain is considered to be one of the most horrific the human body can endure. This pain is triggered by drafts (amongst other things), such as the conditions you're inflicting on others on the bus. I would never dream of forcing others to be uncomfortable for me. I cannot take public transport because it is not safe for me to do so. If you cannot take public transport without endangering yourself that is your problem to resolve, not other passengers.

You are not more important than others. Your condition, nor your job does not make you entitled to have your way on PUBLIC transport.

@notknowledgeable I’ve read all your posts. The only reason I can think of to object to a window being shut would be if I had a baby with me who was very cold - eg when one of my babies vomited all over every item of clothing I had and I had to take him home in a nappy with my coat over the top. That’s happened once in my life as a parent.

Unless that scenario occurred, I’d be delighted to have an open window. I’m not immune compromised but I absolutely hate sitting in a fug of warm breath on the bus. The joy of cold, clean air hitting me when I get to my stop!

I think it’s better for almost everyone to have a window open tbh. The “I dont want to be cold” brigade are probably wearing coats in January and will be fine.

To the people who have said they’d object to their children possibly being cold in school - OH MY GOODNESS. Our school also has an open window policy and has air purifiers in lots of places too. Again, I’m delighted this happens and my children are rarely ill.

OP, I can’t vote but I’m 100% with you. Promise to stick up for you if I’m ever on your bus!

Well, there are quite a few pages I have not caught up on, but the vote at the front says it all really 60/40. This is pretty much what it is on the bus - about 40% of people want to sit by an open window, and about 60% seem to want every window on the bus tight shut.

Never mind that people could die of covid or flu or chest infections if the windows are shut, but suffer no more than temporary discomfort if the windows are open.

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.

This very strongly illustrates the sheer selfishness among much of the population. "I will put your life at risk to save myself from temporary discomfort" - and no doubt these people are the first to complain if their child does not have a teacher, or their parent does not have health care.

If I sound angry, it is because I am angry. How did we end up with such a self centred, self absorbed selfish population?

Tomorrow the battle will start all over again. I get more and more assertive all the time. I see so many other people over ruled and bullied when they are just trying to get to their place of work safely. I originally was quite meek and mild and backed down and even got of the bus quite regularly. Not now. If I don't stand up for myself and everyone else like me on the bus, then the city really will end up back to sending students home because there are no teacher, and sending elderly people home because there are no carers.

This forum is full of people describing the horrendous affects of the current viruses and bacteria going round. Weeks and months of incapacity in many cases, and multiple hospital admissions. Yet people don't want to take basic hygiene precautions - fine, get ill, whether you are immunocompromised or not, you don't want these germs, but go ahead and get them - just don't force everyone around you to take that risk too, just because you don't want a draught around your neck

If I sound angry, it is because I am angry. How did we end up with such a self centred, self absorbed selfish population?

Oh, the irony.

I'm asthmatic and my kids are asthmatic. Luckily their school doesn't have any policy about having windows open all day as there are plenty of times when they need to be kept warm. Otherwise they'd have to be kept home and unable to access their education.
I don't get the bus, fortunately for me, but a cold draught would set off my asthma and I could quite easily cough until I vomit or worse. I've ended up hospitalised multiple times with asthma attacks.
According to OP it's just a preference though.

With kindness OP, and that is limited as you are not showing yourself in the best light, I think you should speak to a specialist about the level of anger and your skewed ideas.

It’s a bus window. It’s not your window.

To imply the larger percentage (otherwise known as the majority) are self centred and basically dirty is quite rude and frankly childish and silly.

You sound like a perfect candidate for a working from home role as clearly you can’t cope with a non-event on the way to your current one.

Mu thoughts exactly

Wow, your attitude is astounding.

It is not just a bit of temporary discomfort for everyone who sits in a draft. Plenty of people have pointed this out but you are ignoring those posts.

I would also be interested to know what you teach, seeing as it appears that you are the only person in the country who can do it! Just leave - it is not your problem if your school cannot find a replacement for you.

I am cold no matter how many layers I wear

It was me OP was responding too and my condition is made worse by the cold

Same here

The hypocrisy is hilarious. You are the one being self centered and rather obnoxious.

I am a teacher, I am immunocompromised, I am more important than you.

You are not.

You have chosen to ignore posts explaining how your open window can hospitalise them or cause them an insane amount of pain (including myself) but you ignore them as it doesn't fit your narrative.

You say you are tired of seeing people be bullied and then proceed to say how you plan to bully others into letting you have your way.

If you can't see just how messed up your argument is then no amount of AIBU posts are going to change that.

Exactly - everyone is struggling with something and some people can be so selfish

Well said 👏👏👏

Same here. I have mentioned this to op but they have chosen to ignore this!! One rule for them one rule for the rest of us it seems.

I mentioned it as well.

It probably comes under the convoluted reasons she doesn’t want to hear.

If someone is going to die from an open bus window then they have no business being on a bus.

You are being ridiculous.