To think people at work shouldn't ask 'what happened to your hand?'

[StarShineHello]

Currently have a bandage on my hand due to a skin infection. I have bad eczema which got infected and in a very bad state.

I've had to wrap it up because it's just so gross to see.

Today five different people have asked me what's wrong with my hand.

I don't want to explain my medical issues to strangers.

I understand there's a level of small talk in the bank/shop/post office but to ask someone a medical question just seems rude? It was every shop I went in.

And I just lied and said I burnt myself because I didn't want to go into details about infected skin and my eczema.

AIBU to think people in general shouldn't ask things like that and especially in a professional capacity? It's common sense to not point out something 'wrong' with a customer??

I worry that one day no one will be able to ask anyone anything... Honestly sure they mean well, I'd stick to the burn lie because it's easier and you've started

Sometimes I deliberately make people uncomfortable for asking prying questions. It is amusing to watch them squirm.

Nice.

I give people like you short shrift. It amuses me.

Sounds like a win-win.

You enjoy pushing people's boundaries ? Why is that enjoyable ?

Why do you need to be so snotty about people showing you care and empathy?

But you know what it's weird when you have a huge black eye, it really did look like a punch 👊 and nobody says a word.
I walked in to the office my boss and colleague both looked at me then looked at each other and neither of them said anything. OK I'd only just moved departments so they didn't know me well. But neither of them said a word.

Then later that day I met another colleague who burst out laughing and asked what happened, that was much easier to deal with than the weird looks. It was a drunken trampoline incident.

Wow, the gossiping Cathie's don't like to be denied fodder. My view, as much as it is obviously unpopular, is that very few people enquire out of genuine concern. The majority gain glee from getting juicy gossip to pass on.

I had a skin cancer removed from the side of my nose and needed a small skin graft so I had a pretty large dressing on my face. When I dropped my kids at preschool all the other mums politely made chit chat with me without mentioning it which actually felt quite awkward. It was a relief when one of the 3 year olds asked dramatically what happened to your nose?!

DH said they probably assumed it was cosmetic surgery but who has a nose job on half their nose? He also said they didn’t want to be nosy and then chortled to himself for ages 🙄

So I think if you know someone then expressing concern is normal but I can understand why getting multiple questions from strangers would be annoying.

Honestly, this. It's totally normal to ask, and it's a bit weird not to

Of course people will ask. Out of curiosity or concern/empathy. They are just chatting and showing an interest. It's not rude at all. If you don't want to tell people just make something up as PPs have said, either serious or jokey.

I have a shed load of health conditions. Some I tell people, some I don't. You can pick and choose what you say.

I don’t think people ask because they are unprofessional. People are just engaging and trying to be friendly. Why not keep the response brief and pretend you got your hand on the oven door. That is very boring to hear.

(I liked the post about pretending a baby shark got the hand - that would continue the conversation for sure!).

I think people are just curious/nosey about injuries and health related stuff, really. I had an injury that left me with one leg slightly shorter than the other, plus nerve damage, which means that I need a stick to walk with, and even with that I limp badly. Most people don't question it, but once I was waiting after a gig by my favourite singer, to get a CD signed, and he asked "Oh, what happened to your leg?" I just shrugged, as I didn't want to get into a lengthy explanation. I don't mind though, I know people mean well.

I don't think people have that much time on their hands to go crazy over someone else's bandage.

I hardly think a bandage on someone's hand is juicy gossip..

Jesus some people on this thread!

It would be narcissistic and weird if they didn't ask when you have bandages on your hand. You don't have to lie just say eczema flared up. It's nice that people took notice and care.

🤣

Good grief people won't be able to ask anything soon.

Nothing about your body. About injuries. About relationships or family.

I wonder what people will talk about? The weather? But no opinions of course. Just dry facts. 'The app says it's going to reach 26 degrees'
'Ok'

There really is a parallel universe out there.

I once had a bad bee sting on my hand and walked around the whole afternoon at work with my hand held up as it hurt to have it hanging down - and not one person commented. I was quite miffed (maybe they just thought I was weird!). It's just natural curiosity to ask, and 99% of people wouldn't be bothered by it (and the other 1% are all MNers).

Wow, you must know some really strange people. I don't know a single person who has such a dull life that they would gain glee from gossping about someone with a bandage on their hand.

Oh don't be so ridiculous. I worked in a customer facing role for over 40 years, I couldn't care less if 100 people had asked me every day what had happened if I was sporting a bandage. It was part of my job to talk to people.

Like most people on this thread I don't see it as nosiness. However, this is MN, home of the socially inept, where every little thing is such a drama and something to be offended by.

I bet you're fun at parties

I have elasticated tube bandage on both legs 24/7. It's to keep germs off my skin and keep moisturiser in. I have multiple very severe medical issues (multiple organ failure and diabetes, for starters but also eczema too) that cause circulation problems and oedema. A spot, a rash or even cracked skin can lead very quickly to an open sore, then onto an ulcer. The bandage is white and very noticeable. People out on the street never mention it but medical people, especially nurses not involved in that part of my care, have frequently and quite aggressively challenged me with this nugget, "wha's going on with that then", usually accompanied by a snotty look and an accusatory tone. I explain my heart failure nurse told me do it to protect my legs and why. I remain polite about it but my god does it piss me off. I have enough going on mentally in coping with all the internal warfare going on in my body with all the symptoms, drugs, side effects and drugs for the side effects and blah, blah, blah, without Nurse Judgey Pants sneering at my ugly leg protectors.