The think that if you are a patient in hospital, that it is the height of rudeness and intrusiveness to attampt to chit chat with your roommates

[user1471516498]

I have a long standing medical condition that means I have to spend quite a bit of time in hospital. Privacy on NHS wards is pretty minimal, so I have always thought that it was polite to keep your curtains closed if possible, and if they have to be open, then you put headphones in, avoid eye contact and generally avoid inflicting yourself on others. And certainly you don't make small talk with complete strangers.
I am not being unfriendly here, I am just treating other people how I would want to be treated. The last thing I want when I am feeling ill is to have to talk to people who I have nothing in common with other than being in the same room.
In all of my many hospital stays, I have never been rude enough to intrude on others, but the two women in my bay are just being insufferable! Is it just me, or is this just downright rude?

Yes he came in many times, he is a really lovey guy and they have a great relationship.

You don’t have to try chit chatting with people if you don’t feel well or you don’t want to. Completely your prerogative to keep your curtains closed and keep to yourself.

You can politely say “I’m really sorry but I don’t feel very well and I’d rather not talk right now.”

I think most posters were just trying to point out to you that many people are different to you, many people like chatting, many people think ignoring each other would be rude. Just trying to point out that other people are different to you and think that other things are polite/rude than you.

You don’t need to change and become like them. You just need to understand that other people are different to you and are most likely just trying to be friendly and while away their own boredom. But it’s totally ok for you to not join in.

Of you are ill and wish silent time you are perfectly reasonable to expect people not to speak to you especially if a topic that may come up is illness and discussion amongst those lines can increase anxiety. Just because you are in hospital does not give everyone the right to start small talk with random strangers. I think the majority of people do not like unsolicited conversation on the tube for example so Why is this OK gonna hospital?

I have been in a packed waiting room and subject to small talk which I found irritating and certainly did not improve my hospital experience but the medical staff seemed to be happy with this level of 'banter'.

A bit of social distancing is why many people of they can go private.

It's not an ill persons responsibility to make people feel less lonely sorry. Possibly the staff have this responsibility but fellow patients are not to be used as some kind of talk therapy surely? I have also seen men starting conversations with young women in waiting rooms and the woman obviously feeling uncomfortable with the conversation.(oncology waiting area).

hospitals should be planned with privacy in mind.

No I didn't miss that post, I was just knackered last night and not really paying attention to what I had and hadn't replied to.

I do drink pints of water in hospital but I would struggle with eating anything at all that's provided or drinking tea and coffee. Probably because I get so insanely anxious in hospital.

And honestly I would never, ever, be intentionally rude to someone who is looking out for me such as a nurse.

I think either option is fine. If you go with the chatty option though you start slow and take signals eg start with a smile and if reciprocated a small comment etc. you don’t just go fully in with a Spanish Inquisition. If people have curtains shut, headphones in, reading etc then you leave them to it. And if you’re the chatty type I think you need to avoid disturbing people who need quiet.

Yabu. It's kind of nice and normal but I get you may not want to talk if feeling rough. But rude? No.

I'd say it's basic manners to be courteous to others - to ignore everyone and put your headphones in is ignorant. You sound like the one who is rude

Headphones! I didn't have any sodding headphones! Emergency admission - no reading glasses, books, toiletries, earplugs, sleep mask and surrounded by women who could talk the hind leg off a donkey and rarely stopped to draw breath. As if that wasn't enough, six hours of visitors every day. They came in shifts. Always two visitors at every bed, for six hours. I have strong autistic traits; I like my own company and I value silence. The medical care was great but the chat was never ending. I was so glad to come home to the quiet and peace.