Just got shouted at in a coffee shop for coughing in public 🥴

[wildgreyocean]

I know I’m not being unreasonable here but I just need some reassurance! I was in a coffee shop after popping to the shops and got a tickle in my throat. I’ve had a cold all week but nothing too severe. I coughed and next thing I know an old man is shouting at me that I’m being selfish and should be self isolating at home, and “don’t I know the NHS is on its knees?!”

AIBU to think this is a total overreaction to a cough?!

Maybe the old man should stay at home then?

Unfortunately if you go out and about during winter you do assume the risk of catching a seasonal virus.

Genuine question for you: would you rather encounter a stranger who shouts at you for a brief moment (as happened to the OP), or encounter a stranger who gives you a cold? I mean obviously both scenarios aren’t great, but I’m guessing you think the worse scenario is being shouted at which just seems so counterintuitive to me.

I note you have deleted “aggressive” and “lone” to unmake your hyperbole.
I am sorry for your past experience, but that means you are over sensitive if this would spiral you into a panic attack.

The old man could well be asymptomatic with a bug too. But it is ok for him to approach and shout and spread spittle everywhere because he of his health anxiety. Approach a woman on her own and shout. Maybe you could handle that, but I would find that terrifying.

During Covid, he would have been told to stay home.

Yes, from people who are asymptomatic. People like OP who know they have a cold and a cough should not be swanning about sitting in cafes and coughing their heads off. It’s antisocial and selfish.

And the man is also oversensitive if her hears a cough and his mind goes to the NHS collapsing.

No it’s ok for asymptomatic people to be out in public because they feel perfectly healthy. They haven’t a clue they are ill.

It’s not ok he shouted at OP, but OP shouldn’t have been sat in the cafe in the first place.

I’m immunocompromised. I can’t as many people have said on here stay home as it’s for life and I have to balance risk
but people cough and sneeze for all reasons, it could be asthma, a dry throat, swallowed something… I sneezed three times in a row yesterday for no reason! I wouldn’t have bothered about someone coughing

OP has post nasal drip. A PP has lung cancer.
People cough. Cough does not mean death.
I mean, you are accusing me of being hyperbolic but I think you should take a look in the mirror.

I am genuinely very happy that you have beaten cancer.

However that does not mean that everyone else has to lock themselves away. I would be inside for most of the year if I were to isolate every time I got a cold.

If everyone who had a slight cough or cold stayed at home in the winter, the economy would be even further down the toilet. No one would build any immunity either.

His mind is only going there because that’s what the public announcements broadcast to the entire country have been saying for weeks. They’ve been telling everyone stay home if you have a cold or cough because the NHS is dealing with the worst flu season in a decade.

Actually, most shopping is done online these days. It’s the people shopping from home that are driving the economy.

Post them please.
Especially ones about having a cough.
Remember the year.

Exactly this. You should be considerate if coughing or sneezing, but life must go on.

What a bizarre post :/ as if it’s a choice

But yes I’d rather get a cold than be verbally abused in public, yes. I’ve had lots of colds and no they’re not the best fun but they are inevitable to some extent, I can’t remember most of the ones I’ve had. I can however remember much more clearly the times in my life I’ve been verbally abused

Exactly this. You should be considerate if coughing or sneezing, but life must go on.

We’re not at ‘stay at home’ level. It’s not Covid times

That was for the benefit of the striking doctors, once it was clear they were still striking, flu suddenly stopped being mentioned

I think you are right that it was an over reaction to a cough, however i do somewhat understand it.
I went to the supermarket today and there were many people coughing,splutterring and exavating their nose in the aisles.
I know the thoughts i had were unreasonable ( why are these infected people out and about spreading infection when the NHS is under pressure and christmas is almost upon us! )i had the urge to grapple one woman the ground tbh)
Yes, my thoughts were unreasonable ,i didnt though act on any of them....

You’re either exaggerating or you need to get tested for serious conditions because it’s not normal to be ill for most of a year.

Poor form to check someone’s edit and comment on the original 😂

💯very true. Highly immoral.

Same. I can get over a cold. Rest and Lemsip if needed. Being shouted out in public would mean I would isolate at home out of fear, and be a mess.

Unless I am bed bound I go about my normal business when I have a minor illness.
i have to work and shop and live.
if people don’t want me to leave my house with a cold then they can either stay home themselves or pay me to stay home.
but seriously life goes on and it’s not 2020