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  #1  
Old Aug 05, 2014, 06:31 PM
JoeS21 JoeS21 is offline
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Title pretty much says it all. If you want a gross clarification keep reading; if not, just respond.

I was sitting in the bus today and a grown man sat right next to me and kept sneezing or coughing gross crap all over my arm and lap. The first time, it was disgusting and I wish I spoke up then but wasn't sure what to say. Of course, being in the bus, many other people would have heard me. After about the third time, I told him, "Excuse me, my arm is wet from your sneezing. Can you please cover your mouth better?" I felt like wiping it on him but didn't want a fight. If it matters he was of a different race than myself. (I try not to dwell on that last part other than how it influences how my response might be seen by others. I know that having a bad experience with someone from a different race can breed racism and I don't fall for that. His behavior has nothing to do with others IMO.)

How would you handle that?

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  #2  
Old Aug 05, 2014, 06:36 PM
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flours flours is offline
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Things like these can really distract me. I usually look at people really angrily and make sure they notice and that other people also notice and then go away. Sometimes I say something, too.
Thanks for this!
JoeS21
  #3  
Old Aug 05, 2014, 06:56 PM
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hvert hvert is offline
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What I do is so passive aggressive that I don't even want to admit it -- but I spent a few months in a foreign country where it seemed that everyone just walked around coughing on me, without bothering to cover their mouths. I would cough back at them. It sure made them move away!
Thanks for this!
JoeS21, MissBelle00
  #4  
Old Aug 05, 2014, 07:00 PM
JoeS21 JoeS21 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hvert View Post
What I do is so passive aggressive that I don't even want to admit it -- but I spent a few months in a foreign country where it seemed that everyone just walked around coughing on me, without bothering to cover their mouths. I would cough back at them. It sure made them move away!
Too bad I didn't have to throw up.
  #5  
Old Aug 05, 2014, 07:02 PM
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Silent Void Silent Void is offline
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I can't post what I would say without getting banned.
Thanks for this!
JoeS21
  #6  
Old Aug 05, 2014, 07:09 PM
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flours flours is offline
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this doesn't mean that it's any less disgusting but people did a lot worse things sitting next to me in the bus than coughing.
  #7  
Old Aug 05, 2014, 07:19 PM
JoeS21 JoeS21 is offline
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I could just say, "bless you" after the first incident. That acknowledgement, if you will, might be enough for them to start covering their mouth/nose better.

Grossness warning:
If not, the preface of, "bless you," the first time might pave the way for a second, "bless you" followed by, "Can you please cover your mouth better? It's getting on me." That might be a respectable request.

(The trouble I have is coming up with a way to say this that will put the negative attention where it belongs, and not on me.)
Thanks for this!
SnakeCharmer
  #8  
Old Aug 06, 2014, 08:01 AM
BobbyDavis BobbyDavis is offline
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It would depend if they were male or female.
  #9  
Old Aug 06, 2014, 01:27 PM
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~Christina ~Christina is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BobbyDavis View Post
It would depend if they were male or female.

Why would it matter what sex they are ?
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  #10  
Old Aug 07, 2014, 11:43 AM
Anonymous100141
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Joe, humans have always fascinated me and equally as much, nearly driven me down a burrow of insanity.
  #11  
Old Aug 07, 2014, 12:06 PM
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Perna Perna is offline
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My stepmother taught me a very good sarcastic, "Excuse You!" that I use on my husband when he belches, farts, etc. I would have used that and then maybe demanded to be let up to go sit/stand elsewhere if he didn't take care of it. I can understanding needed to sneeze a lot I do that but not without covering my mouth, turning away, apologizing, etc.
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