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?!

Of course not. But again you can’t do anything about it, no matter how objectionable you find it, so no point moaning is there.

My hiatus hernia often gives me burps and coughs.

The adjective free description of the man's behaviour is bad enough in itself. Man shouts at woman because he's unilaterally decided she shouldn't be out in public.

Well, according to many on here you need to stay at home.

Depends on the virus, chicken pox, yes, a cold/flu no asymptomatic are less contagious than those coughing and sneezing because those viruses are transmitted by airborne droplets from coughing and sneezing. It’s why masks are recommended for a symptomatic person to wear- to prevent them spreading it from their mouths and noses into the air others breathe.

That is what really bothers me about this thread. It is ok for man to shout at a lone woman.

He didn’t decide, it’s all over the public announcements in the news that the NHS wants sick people with cold symptoms to stay home.

Where is the NHS announcement? From the actual NHS... not social media.

He’s unilaterally decided she’s sick rather than coughing for any other reason.

It’s not like I started the thread asking AIBU. OP asked if she was BU.
Yes she was imho.
There is as much point voting YABU as there is YANBU.

If you think there is no point, then why are you even on the thread?

There isn't one. She's posted two articles about Noroviruis ffs!

OP didn't mention the guy going anywhere near her
Or standing up and approaching her
definitely not spitting all over her

Why is this storey changing all the time

OP had a cold all week,
works for the nhs,
went to work all week,
doesnt own a mask or wore one , now has a sinus issue re nasal drip, she had a tickle in the throat and she coughed into her arm whilst in a coffee shop today.
A guy in the coffee shop shouted at her

That's all we know apart from the early posts stating she wasn’t contagious as her family hadn’t become ill

For me it’s more about her going to work for the nhs all week whilst not wearing a mask. Or, more so, for the nhs possibly sacking her for not working whilst she’s ill. !!!!
That’s the shocker really

(although neither of the later were OPs question)

I asked if I was BU to think the man overreacted.

My story hasn't changed.

Well OP admitted she’s been sick for a week and was still sick so it’s kind of silly to say he’s just unilaterally assumed she was sick. She was sick and probably was visibly looking ill and sick. The man was correct in his observation that OP is sick.

OP asked if the man shouting at her was being unreasonable, not if her being out with a cough was.

She has a post nasal drip. That is not being sick.

Yes, you are BU

I’ve had a cold all week but nothing too severe. I coughed…

You can’t coop yourself up in your house every time you get a cold. I would be going insane.

I feel a lot better but know that when I’ve had a bug the cough can linger on my chest for weeks after.

He most certainly did, as he had no idea why OP was coughing. The NHS have not in any way shape or form told people with coughs they should all be staying at home.

I have given a factual description of his behaviour. There is not one word of it that's even remotely at issue.

Exactly. If there was an NHS one, then it would be one link from the NHS... not shit from social media.

They do stay locked away because people are inconsiderate and selfish.

Their lives cost more because they have to do this (shop online)...then we tell them we are removing their benefits and MH from the isolation is a lie. You couldn't make this stuff up...never criticise benefits spend increasing from taxes if this is your view

I didn’t tag you OP or say you had changed your story

There'll be a book out soon though 🤣

no idea why I tagged myself here either

Here is the actual guidance from the NHS on colds. No advice to stay home and avoid others unless you have a high temperature or you're too unwell to do normal activities. Guidance on avoiding spreading it doesn't include advice to stay at home and avoid others.

'Probably'.

Telling that you've now started to make things up. This is not something you can do when you've decided others are wrong for insinuating aggression. You have no idea how OP looked.